The Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (EVRLT) is making progress towards purchasing property that would create a wildlife corridor around Fernie.
EVRLT Executive Director Kevin LaRoche says they have secured $2.35 million towards their goal.
“The fact that we succeeded in raising $1.75 million from the federal government and $600,000 from a private philanthropist demonstrates that there is significant support for conservation, connectivity and sustainable use projects in the Elk Valley,” said LaRoche.
“We’ve also attracted attention and support from conservation organizations across the province and in the Rocky Mountain states.”
Urban development in mountain valleys, such as where Fernie is located, can create an environment that is ripe for wildlife conflict.
LaRoche says this phenomenon is also known as an ‘urban dam,’ which he says can be seen in Canmore, Alberta.
“When I lived there, it was a town of 500 people and mostly centred in the valley bottom. As time went on, the city has grown substantially and it has grown across the valley on either side,” said LaRoche.
“That’s what creates an urban dam and makes it extremely difficult for wildlife to cross the valley. In turn, creates conflict and can spiral into a significant problem.”
The EVRLT wants to prevent Fernie from befalling the same fate by securing a piece of land along the west slope of the Elk Valley.
LaRoche says the land will total about 1,000 hectares and stretch from the Fernie Alpine Resort to an area around Mount Fernie, Fairy Creek Falls, and Mount Proctor.
“This will establish a corridor around Fernie to provide a wildlife bypass. To that end, we’re interested in acquiring various pieces of land and where we can’t, we’d like to work out connectivity agreements with those landowners,” said LaRoche.
With $2.35 million raised so far, that amounts to 30 per cent of the EVRLT’s goal.
“We not only have to acquire the land itself, we also have to set up a stewardship fund to meet the cost of land ownership in perpetuity,” said LaRoche.
“In our view, we would need $7.5 to $8 million to make that particular acquisition.”
Most recently, the EVRLT has piqued the interest of Fernie City Council.
“Council has agreed that this is a proposal worth considering, so City staff have been instructed to sit with us when we’re ready to see if we can arrive at an accommodation that would see them participate in this proposal,” said LaRoche.
“One of the things that has been proposed is that the City would acquire the trails through these lands as linear parks.”
The EVRLT is turning to other conservancies, major corporations, private foundations and individual philanthropists.
You can support the initiative here.
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