Whistler Real Estate Co Ltd, #137- 4370 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4

Multiple parcels of land in the Pemberton Valley totaling more than 750 hectares received Wildlife Management Area designation from the Province last week. Officials from one local group that’s been working towards wetlands protection around the village for decades say they’re glad to see that finally happening.

“Our club is on record (for) trying to protect the Green River wetlands way back in the 1960s, so this has been a long, long process,” said Allen McEwan, secretary for the Pemberton Wildlife Association (PWA).

McEwan said there is not one single, distinct area that has received the designation, but rather several smaller pieces of land around Pemberton that add up to more than 7.5 square kilometres.

“It follows along some old river channels in the upper valley and picks up some existing wetlands here and there on Crown land,” said McEwan. “Probably the biggest single area is down along the Green River at the base of Mount Currie.”

An announcement from the Ministry of Forests last Wednesday (Dec. 7) explained that the designation “prioritizes conservation of wildlife, fish and their habitats,” and that it also “allows the ministry to make regulations to better manage the wildlife area.”

McEwan said the announcement is significant for a couple of reasons.

“One is that we’ve lost a lot of our wetlands due to dyking and drainage systems here, so it’s important to maintain what we do have left,” he said. “Secondly, this will ensure that future uses of these lands take into consideration the wetland values, first and foremost.”

Other local officials like Mount Currie Chief Lucinda Phillips applauded the ministry’s decision.

“The Lil’wat Nation is pleased to see the protection of these wetland areas within our traditional territory,” she said in the provincial announcement. “Healthy wetlands contribute to the overall health of our lands, water, plants and animals, which are integral to the culture and well-being of Lil’wat people.”

McEwan said members in his association were thrilled with the news, having opened talks with the Province to have the designation applied back in the mid-1990s.

“Some of the members who were involved in the initial discussions some 15 years ago weren’t in attendance at our most recent meeting, but obviously we’re really pleased with the announcement.”

Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre also expressed her excitement over the ministry’s announcement last week.

“Pemberton residents know the beauty and value of the floodplains between the Lillooet and Green rivers,” she said. “Designating these wetlands as a Wildlife Management Area ensures they remain in their natural state for wildlife and for future generations to appreciate.”

McEwan added that the opportunity exists to have the management area expanded and that the PWA is already working towards that goal.

“Private property that currently has wetland value, and could be acquired if the funds were available, could then be added to the Wildlife Management Area to see it left that way in perpetuity,” he said. “We’ve been in communication for over a year now with (a local family) regarding a beautiful little wetland just adjacent to the village. Unfortunately, to date, we haven’t managed to come up with the funds required to purchase the property, but they would like to see it set aside as a wetland and included in this management area.”

The Province also announced the designation of a new Wildlife Management Area near Burns Lake last week, bringing the total number of management areas in B.C. to 28

Eric MacKenzie

Whistler Question