The federal government will contribute $16 million over four years to the Ktunaxa Nation to create an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the Qat乌鸦传媒檓uk area, which includes the Jumbo Valley, in the Purcell Mountains of southeast B.C.

乌鸦传媒淲e were just advised of this, and of course we are excited about it,乌鸦传媒� said Kathryn Teneese, chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, 乌鸦传媒渂ut we have had no opportunity to finalize the details and our council has not had a chance to discuss this.乌鸦传媒�

She said she will be able to provide more information toward the middle of September.

An Aug. 26 letter from Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski, states that the project will include mapping, assessment of cultural and biodiversity values, negotiations to buy out conflicting land tenures, and a stewardship plan.

The letter states that the offer of funding is conditional on the successful negotiation of the project details and the signature of a contribution agreement.

乌鸦传媒淭he project contains high elevation ecosystems that support headwaters of ecologically-important watersheds that regulate water flow and provide habitat for close to 300 at risk species, as well as old growth ecosystems,乌鸦传媒� McKenna wrote.

乌鸦传媒淚t will conserve and protect habitat for wildlife, including five species at risk such as Whitebark Pine (Endangered) and Grizzly Bear (Western Population) (Special Concern). This project will also conserve and protect draft critical habitat for one Priority Species, the Southern Mountain Caribou (Threatened).乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭his has been a long time coming,乌鸦传媒� Stetski said. 乌鸦传媒淚 appreciate the years of hard work by the Ktunaxa Nation and many of my constituents to ensure Qat乌鸦传媒檓uk is protected for future generations.乌鸦传媒�

A proposal for a year-round ski resort in the Jumbo Valley has been in various stages of development, court challenges, and controversy for three decades.

In 2015, former provincial environment minister Mary Polak found that the developer, Glacier Resorts Ltd., had not completed enough construction work proceed with the project.

Her decision meant the expiration of an environmental assessment certificate, which the proponent needed to continue developing the resort.

The company took this to court, and earlier this month the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld Polak乌鸦传媒檚 decision that effectively cancelled the resort project.

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bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
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