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Wildsight lauds Teck donation to Lot 48
Money saved the day and public education laid the foundation for the conservation of Lot 48, says Wildsight.
The release followed Teck Resources Limited’s May 28 announcement that it was giving the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) $2 million to go toward the purchase of the controversial Lot 48, located south of Fairmont Hot Springs on the east side of Columbia Lake.
The donation completes a significant ecosystem of great importance for wildlife and the Ktunaxa Nation, states a Wildsight press release. Wildsight has worked on land use proposals and wildlife science for several years for the Lot 48 property and adjoining provincial park and wetlands management area.
“Wildsight is very happy that Teck’s contribution will allow the Nature Conservancy of Canada to complete the purchase of this parcel of land,” said Ellen Zimmerman, a Wildsight board member. “We are very grateful to all the donors and community members who stepped up to make this solution work.”
Zimmerman said the 127 hectares are surrounded by more than 7,000 hectares that are already protected for wildlife and low-impact recreational use.
“Lot 48 was the final piece of the puzzle, the last link in the chain, ensuring that this area is protected, from lakeshore to mountain top, for its amazing ecosystem and cultural values. Residents of the adjacent communities and the entire East Kootenay let decision makers know how important it was to include Lot 48 as part of the protection of the entire east side of Columbia Lake ”
Wildsight has focused on communicating the area’s substantial ecosystem values to residents. “This is rare low elevation grassland ecosystem and lakeshore habitat.” Zimmerman said. “It’s part of a healthy wildlife corridor and also has significant cultural values, particularly to the Ktunaxa Nation. It would have been a shame to lose its ecological and cultural integrity.”
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