NEWS RELEASE

TLC EXPANDS PROTECTED CLEARWATER WETLAND AREA

Land Trust launches campaign to raise $75,000 to protect migratory wildlife corridor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2018

Clearwater, BC – Just in time for World Wildlife Day, The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) announces the protection of 11.2 hectares of wetland in the Clearwater River Valley and is launching a fundraising campaign to protect a further 4 hectares of wildlife corridor.

Since Wells Gray Provincial Park was established in 1939, the southern border of the park has been extended several times. As a result there are two southward lobes of park land, but no designated wildlife corridors connecting them. This has forced the park’s large wildlife – deer, moose, cougar, bobcat, grizzly, black bear, wolves, coyotes – to cross private land twice each year as they migrate between their winter and summer ranges. As the Clearwater River Valley becomes more developed this causes greater concern for the continued survival of the wildlife that call it home.

“The Clearwater Wetland and Wildlife Corridor project seeks to ensure permanent connectivity for large mammals migrating east and west between their winter and summer ranges in southern Wells Gray Park,” said Trevor Goward, lichenologist, naturalist and TLC Volunteer Warden.

TLC previously secured a portion of the wetland in the Valley through the combination of direct purchase and a donation made through the Ecogift Program. TLC has launched this second phase of the project to further support the wildlife that transverse this corridor each year.

With the wetland parcel successfully acquired this month for $17,900, TLC looks to protect the southern wildlife corridor. Having raised $25,000 for a refundable deposit on the wildlife corridor, TLC is looking to raise the remaining $75,000 in order to complete by purchase by the end of 2018.

“We have raised more than one third of the total cost of this phase of the Clearwater Wetland and Wildlife Corridor and are looking forward to completing the acquisition by the end of 2018,” said Cathy Armstrong, TLC Executive Director. “I invite the public to join TLC Members and donors in protecting this habitat at risk to significant development pressure.”

Donors interested in supporting the acquisition can make tax-deductible contributions to the Clearwater Wetland and Wildlife Corridor project by calling 1-877-485-2422 or visiting TLC’s website at www.conservancy.bc.ca.

About The Land Conservancy of BC:

The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia. TLC’s primary mandate is to benefit the community by protecting habitat for natural communities of plants and animals. Founded in 1997, TLC is membership-based and governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors. TLC relies on a strong membership and volunteer base to help maintain its operations.

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Media contact
Cathy Armstrong
TLC Executive Director
Office: (250) 479-8053
Email: carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca