January 14, 2013
Province Approves Land-management Plans for Largest Protected Area of Boreal Shield in North America
– – –Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi First Nations Finalize Plans for Land Management Within Proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site
Land-management plans for the Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nations have been finalized and approved, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
The protected areas and managed lands are part of the Pimachiowin Aki UNESCOWorld Heritage Site nomination for a 43,000 square-kilometre area of boreal shield straddling the Manitoba-Ontario border.
“This is an example of what we can achieve when governments and First Nations work together to protect the environment and create sustainable economic opportunities,” saidMackintosh. “Thanks to the efforts of these First Nations to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage values of their traditional-use areas, the Pimachiowin Aki-nominated area is now the largest legally protected area of boreal shield in North America.”
“Our communities along the east side of Lake Winnipeg know that our elders had many traditional practices that protected the land for the next generation, because they knew our lives were directly tied to the land. Land-use plans complement those traditional practices in a modern setting,” said Joe Owen, Pimachiowin Aki board member for Pauingassi.
“Right now it’s really important that we keep the land healthy. The water is still good, the plants and trees are strong. We want to make sure that it stays that way so that the animals remain healthy and the land continues to produce clean air for people here and around the world. Our land-use plan is one way to do that,” said Augustine Keeper, Pimachiowin Aki board member for Little Grand Rapids.
“As Canadian governments seek more productive ways to work with Aboriginal peoples to grow northern economies while protecting ecological treasures like the boreal forest – the world’s largest intact ecosystem – they can look to Manitoba’s Pimachiowin Aki partnerships for guidance,” said Mat Jacobson, manager, boreal conservation, Pew Environment Group. “The Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage site will be a model for sustainable development, responsible conservation and respect for First Nations.”
The Pauingassi planning area is just over 3,100 square kilometres. Approximately five per cent of that is designated as commercial and the remaining 95 per cent is protected with limited development allowed.The Little Grand Rapids planning area covers more than 4,700square kilometres. Approximately 11 per cent of the area allows for commercial development and the remaining 89 per cent provides full protection of boreal forest, rivers and waterways with limited development.
“Protecting this vital ecosystem of lakes, rivers and wetlands is also an important part of our government’s efforts to restore the health of Lake Winnipeg,” said Mackintosh. “The area contributes 11 per cent of the total flow into Lake Winnipeg but just three per cent of the nutrient loading that is harming the lake. These land-use plans will help keep Lake Winnipeg’s cleanest source of water unpolluted.”
The minister noted the First Nations and the province have reached agreements to implement the plans through the creation of stewardship boards with priorities for implementation to be land and resource-use management and monitoring, education programs and eco-cultural tourism.
The Little Grand Rapids First Nation planning area is part of Atikaki Provincial Park, which will be managed in accordance with an existing management plan but included in the new land-management plan, the minister said.
The traditional-use areas of Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nations also extend into Ontario. These areas and the respective land-use plans have been recognized under Ontario’s Far North Act.
Both plans support the establishment of a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east side of Lake Winnipeg and northwestern Ontario, Mackintosh said. Approved land-management plans for the Poplar River, Bloodvein and Pikangikum First Nations’ traditional-use areas and two provincial parks are also part of the UNESCO bid.
A new book of maps, images and stories profiling the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site land and the Anishinabe people who are leading the nomination is now available at McNally Robinson Bookstore, 1120 Grant Ave., Winnipeg. The Pimachiowin Aki Cultural Landscape Atlas was written and produced by University of Manitoba with support from Pimachiowin Aki.
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