National

UNESCO says World Heritage site "likely" in danger

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Jun, 2021 10:01 AM

A United Nations agency says Canada's largest national park is now so threatened that it could likely be placed on the list of World Heritage sites in danger.

UNESCO released the finding on Alberta's Wood Buffalo National Park this week.

It says despite the federal government's $60-million action plan for the park, it continues to be threatened by development in both British Columbia and Alberta.

The report says long-term issues created by B.C.'s Site C dam remain to be worked out and that plans to release water from the tailings ponds on Alberta's oilsands are a large concern.

UNESCO says it wants to send another review panel to have a first-hand look at the park.

Melody Lepine, spokeswoman for the Mikisew Cree, welcomes the UNESCO report and says a healthy park is essential to her people's way of life.

Wood Buffalo is the world's second-largest freshwater delta and is home to millions of songbirds that migrate throughout North America, including endangered whooping cranes.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau condemns deadly attack at church in Nice

An attacker armed with a knife killed three people at a church in the Mediterranean city, French authorities said, prompting the country to raise its security alert status to the highest level.

Trudeau condemns deadly attack at church in Nice

Vancouver Police identifies city's 15th homicide victim

The VPD’s Major Crime Section is continuing to investigate Mr. Wanke’s murder. His remains were found in a large recycling bin in the water off of Kits Point on October 18.

Vancouver Police identifies city's 15th homicide victim

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

O'Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue, part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Prisoners transferred to the units are supposed to be allowed out of their cells for four hours each day, with two of those hours engaged in "meaningful human contact."

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

The report's authors say it is more evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting visible minorities, who are more likely to live in overcrowded housing and work in jobs that put them more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.