This article will try and explain the destruction of the wildlife and natural resources of this great province we call home. After many years of belonging to different conservation NGOs, I have come to realize that if we do not stand up and voice our concerns, most of what we have enjoyed for our lifetimes may be lost for the next generation.
In today's world everything seems to revolve around the all mighty dollar and filling governments and industry coffers. Today many of the decisions around the growth of the economy are taking precedence over our wildlife and natural resources.
Our wildlife and natural resources have no voice so we must speak for them and we must start to be heard by the leaders of today. The wildlife and resources of this province belong to all of us, and all decisions made by governments must include the voice of the people on behalf of the wildlife and natural resources. Too many times these voices are just ignored and industry and government plow ahead with their plans.
One example is happening on the eastern side of the province. A company was given the green light to proceed with a new peat moss processing plant in the Nipawin area. The people of this province were notified of this project only after an environmental impact statement was approved. There seems to have been no consultations with the stakeholders of the area and with the people of this province.
After a little digging around, I learned that this area is home to species at risk, the Woodland Caribou.
The Woodland Caribou have called this area home for millennium and it is a known fact this area has been an important calving ground. There is collared data from animals within this region to support this fact. The herd in the area is slowly decreasing from the pressure industry is putting on them. There is also data stating there are other species at risk that call the Pasquia Peat Bog home.
When I dug a little deeper into this, I was not surprised there were no public consultations with the stakeholders. The government seems to accommodate the industry a little bit more than the wildlife and natural resources. As I began to complain and voice my concerns over what is happening and going to happen to the area, government came back with the response that it will be put on hold for awhile. What does this mean, we are just going to put it on the back burner for a while and let the stakeholders cool down? Are they then going to go ahead with the destruction of the habitat that the Woodland Caribou calf in and call home. We must start to voice our concerns a little bit louder to government and industry.
The recovery strategy for Woodland Caribou is mandated by both the federal and provincial governments. With more and more of our natural landscape disappearing, how can they just give approval for a project that will do nothing but destroy the habitat they need to survive? Why do they not stand up for the wildlife and just say no to industry.
This is where the people have to be the voice and shout loud and clear "what's in it for wildlife?"
The destruction of the habitat is becoming a major factor in the health of our wildlife resources. If there is no habitat for them to call home what will become of them, will they slowly disappear from the landscape never to return?
We are at a point in time where we must start to protect this land and set aside as much as we can for our wildlife before it is too late. The way to do this is to make sure that our voice as a stakeholder is heard and that our recommendations are followed through within their plans that may affect the wildlife and natural spaces.
Together we can make a difference, and protect it for future generations to enjoy. Stand up and voice your concerns, talk to your neighbour, join a club, talk to your MLA and tell them that you are the voice for wildlife. We the people must be the voice for those who cannot speak, and this is why the story must be told.
