A United Nations agency's report on environmental threats to Canada's largest national park shows the urgency of the problem, said a representative of the First Nation that originally raised concerns about Wood Buffalo National Park with UNESCO.
The document, released last week and the latest version of Alberta's Northwest Territories Frontier Park study, acknowledges threats from dams, asphalt development and climate change.
Melody Lepine of the Mikiseau Cree First Nation said the report is clearer than ever about what needs to be done and when to keep the park ecologically healthy.
"I think experts recognize that there is a sense of urgency now," he said Wednesday.
The Mikiseau Cree brought their concerns about Wood Buffalo, a World Heritage Site, to UNESCO about a decade ago.
Traditional users of the park have seen water levels in the park drop over the years, which they believe is caused by the Bennett Dam in British Columbia. They also worry that oil sands and tailings farming threaten water quality.
UNESCO responded to these concerns in 2016, when a study found that those fears were well founded. Ottawa has launched an $87 million plan to better manage and monitor water in parks
A new report examines how this program works. He concluded that there was no need to revoke the park's World Heritage status at this time and welcomed the project's various initiatives, such as the creation of wilderness areas.
But according to UNESCO, only two of the park's 14 targets are improving, five are stable and seven are declining.
Five of its 17 recommendations were related to tar sands, including calls for tailings risk assessments, environmental protection reforms, dam restoration plans that do not threaten the park, and consideration of new projects in light of projects already developed.
While most of its recommendations have been made before, the new report offers a timeline. A risk assessment should be carried out by the end of next year. Waste recycling plan to be developed by 2026; And regional planning should "accelerate" planning.
Lepin said the delay was caused by a UNESCO team visiting a community bordering Fort Chipewyan Park.
"They heard about this emergency when they visited Fort Chipewyan. We are very concerned."
LePine said the concern grew after the release of asphaltic wastewater from Imperial Oil's Carl site, about 70 kilometers north of Fort McMurray.
"The Carl incident really highlights the importance of cleaning up tailings."
Gillian Chou-Fraser of the Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society agreed that the new report is more difficult.
"This is much stronger in oil sands management drilling, which requires more specific and comprehensive measures to improve waste management."
Kendall Dealing of the Pathways Alliance, a group of all major oil sands producers, said its members "value Wood Buffalo National Park and the rich diversity of life it supports."
In a statement, Dilling said efforts to manage the industry's environmental footprint are unprecedented, noting that the desert area surrounding the park was created after oil sands companies leased the area.
"For a decade, we will build meaningful engagement with Indigenous groups in all aspects of our operations and environmental activities."
It did not answer specific questions about risk assessment, monitoring or waste management.
Alberta Environment and Parks spokesperson Benji Smith said the province is reviewing the report as it works to restore the tar sands. He said, waste will not be collected without detailed analysis.
"Work is underway to determine whether water can be safely extracted from the tar sands in the future," he said in an email.
"Tor mine water will not be approved for release until it is conclusively proven that it can be done safely and there are strict regulatory processes in place to ensure safety. Human health and environmental health.
Parks Canada released a statement welcoming the UNESCO report.
"The report notes that significant progress has been made in implementing the action plan," it said. "The Government of Canada has worked closely with partners to advance research, environmental monitoring and ecological restoration projects in the park
It did not respond to the report's recommendations, including calls for additional funding to improve water levels. The Ottawa Wood Buffalo funding program ends this year.
Lepin said that while many of UNESCO's recommendations were rejected, it was still worth the group's involvement.
He said some progress has been made. And the threat to wood buffalo is now being taken seriously.
"We've really shown the world, we've shown Canada that our concerns are real and substantial."
