September 22, 2009, 3:59 pm
A team of scientists from the United Nations is
visiting Glacier National Park, assessing potential threats posed
by mining plans in Canadian wildlands upstream of the park.
Glacier, in partnership with adjacent Waterton Lakes National
Park in Canada, was named a World Heritage Site in 1995; that
UNESCO designation recognizes the area's spectacular natural
resources, including its diversity of wildlife and its role as a
"biological crossroads."
But several Canadian companies are interested in resources that
lie just beyond the two park boundaries - namely coal, gold and
coalbed methane. British Columbia's provincial government already
has granted exploration permits in the Canadian Flathead River
drainage, which flows south into Montana to form Glacier Park's
western boundary.
The transboundary dispute has simmered for years, with
downstream interests concerned that industrialization of the
headwaters will impact fisheries as well as wildlife corridors on
both sides of the border.
The debate was elevated to the global level earlier this year,
when a dozen environmental groups - representing 400,000 people -
petitioned UNESCO to declare the parks a World Heritage Site in
danger. In response, the World Heritage Committee has sent a
mission to the parks to assess the threats, consult with
stakeholders and prepare recommendations.
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