New conservation area next to Kootenay National Park a boon for grizzlies and other wide-ranging animals
As development pressures increase in the Rocky Mountain Trench, wildlife habitat for species, like grizzly bears, is shrinking and becoming more disconnected. To counteract this, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has added a new conservation area that links to a network of already protected and conserved lands in the region to give wildlife the room they need to thrive.
The new Geddes Creek Conservation Area encompasses 193 hectares (477 acres) of Douglas-fir and montane spruce forest, open grassy habitat and a seasonal creek north of Radium Hot Springs on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The conservation area is adjacent to Kootenay National Park to the east and overlooks the Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area in the valley bottom below. This makes it an important piece of the Radium wildlife corridor, identified by the Kootenay Connect initiative as an area critical for at-risk species and wildlife movement.
These corridors are essential for wide-ranging species like grizzly bear, which are facing increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation due to development and land conversion. Grizzly bears are known to travel through Geddes Creek in search of food, mates and denning sites.
The conservation area also provides excellent winter foraging habitat for large mammals like elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer and white-tailed deer when conditions higher on the mountains become harsher in the winters. Endangered American badger also find open grassy habitat here to burrow and hunt for Columbia ground squirrel.
The land’s previous use as a Christmas tree farm has resulted in denser forests than would be found in this area naturally. NCC is collaborating with Parks Canada to determine next steps for the benefit of the land and the species that use it. NCC is also engaging with local First Nations to develop a better understanding of the cultural values of the land.
An access management plan is being developed so that Geddes Creek can be used by the public for walk-in access on its pre-existing trails.
This critical land purchase was made possible through funding from the partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada, the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program and the Regional District of East Kootenay’s Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund.
Quotes
”Conserving areas such as Geddes Creek is essential for us to better coexist with nature. By keeping critical wildlife corridors open and free from increasing development, we can reduce human-wildlife conflicts and ensure animals have safe places to move freely and live out their life cycles. We are excited that Geddes Creek fits into the network of conserved and connected lands in the Rocky Mountain Trench, enhancing the overall impact on species and ecosystem health.”
— Richard Klafki, Canadian Rockies Program Director, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“The Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada share a common vision of creating resilient landscapes that deliver lasting conservation outcomes to support the conservation of biodiversity and ecological connectivity around existing national parks. Protecting the Geddes Creek area will improve wildlife corridors for several species, including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and elk.”
— Melanie Kwong, Executive Director, Alberta, Parks Canada
“Our Columbia Region board is very pleased to help protect this important area in the Columbia Valley. The Geddes Creek property is a valuable travel corridor for grizzly bear and bighorn sheep, and securing critical habitat is a key step to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.”
— Jen Walker-Larsen, Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, Columbia Region Manager
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Facts
- This project is part of the Landscape Resiliency Program, a partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada to support resilient landscapes by conserving up to 30,000 hectares near national parks.
- Strategically conserving land near national parks expands habitat connectivity, helping to ensure that nature can continue to deliver the services that all living beings depend on, such as flood mitigation, carbon sequestration and pollination.
- Keeping critical wildlife corridors open and free from human development reduces human-wildlife conflicts and ensures that animals have safe places to live and move freely.
- Over 70 red- and blue-listed species (considered at-risk in the province) are associated with the East Kootenay grasslands and open forest landscape.
- Geddes Creek is located within a regional climate change corridor, and its diverse habitats offer a refuge for species affected by climate change. It also neighbours a climate change refugium, which is an area that is predicted to remain relatively stable despite changing climate conditions.
- The Columbia Valley Wetlands, located in the valley-bottom below Geddes Creek, are the longest uninterrupted wetland area in western North America and the only portion of the Columbia River in an unaltered state. The wetlands support thousands of migratory waterfowl, threatened amphibians and healthy populations of wide-ranging mammals, including grizzly bear.
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses, and government to protect and care for our country’s natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
The Landscape Resiliency Program is a collaboration between Parks Canada (PC) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) that will conserve up to 30,000 hectares of forests, wetlands, shoreline areas and grasslands near Canada’s iconic National Parks. A total of $30 million will be invested from now through March 2026 to strengthen landscape resiliency in these areas and create connected pathways for the movement and dispersal of wildlife. The conservation of these areas will help reverse biodiversity loss and mitigate the impacts of climate change. PC and NCC share a common goal of protecting the ecological integrity of these lands and waters for today and for the future by working with local landowners, partners, Indigenous Nations and communities.
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