Home »
BCBHA also concerned over South Purcells tenure apps
The British Columbia Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BCBHA) is encouraging all outdoor recreational users to register their comments to two adventure tourism applications in the Southern Purcell region recently submitted to the provincial government.
Frontcounter BC recently received applications, one from Armour Mountain Lodge (Northwest Mountain Experience Ltd.) for a Commercial Recreation Tenure covering 10,000 ha in the Armour Mountain/Coppery Creek areas and the other by Retallack (1155768 BC Ltd.) for Mulitple Use Adventure Tourism encompassing 71,000 ha in the Purcells – both west and northwest of Kimberley.
The BCBHA stated in a press release it has concerns with both of these commercial recreation applications because “they will result in the continued erosion of our shrinking backcountry areas in the Southern Purcell Mountains. The potential for disruption of high value wildlife movement and habitat connectivity as well as the fragmentation of existing low use wilderness is significant.
“BCBHA is dedicated to protecting fish and wildlife populations and habitat as well as maintaining quality hunting and fishing recreational experiences in our province. We hold wilderness values and wild spaces close to our hearts and continue to champion the need to retain what we have remaining that is true backcountry.”
Here are links to the two proposed recreational land use tenures that will encompass much of the Southern Purcell range and encroach on some of the last remaining wilderness in the area.
Review the Northwest Mountain Experience Ltd. application
Comments for this application will be received until May 6.
Review the 1155768 B.C. Ltd./ Retallack application
Comments for this application will be received until June 13.
“We encourage you to review these applications and consider the implications for our wildlife and remaining wilderness. Both of these tenures overlap de-facto wilderness areas and include the core wildlife habitat outside of the adjacent protected areas,” the BCBHA stated.
The BCBHA meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Inn in Cranbrook.
This is the second public group to state concerns about the tenure applications this week. Wildsight stated April 26 it is worried about impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Wildsight is hosting a town hall meeting in Kimberley at Centre 64 on Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
e-KNOW
