On October 25th 2021, the Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks reaffirmed the Government of Alberta’s intent to sell 15,000 acres of publicly owned land to Mackenzie County in northern Alberta. AWA does not support the sale of public lands, especially when it will destroy native boreal habitat by converting this land into new agricultural space. “The public lands within Mackenzie County serve important ecological services by providing habitat and movement corridors for wildlife in the area,” said Phillip Meintzer, AWA Conservation Specialist. “The sale and conversion of these public lands could have severe impacts on species at risk within the region.” 

“We have to approach any proposals recommending the permanent conversion of forested lands to agricultural production very cautiously,” said Chris Smith, Conservation Analyst with CPAWS Northern Alberta. “The boreal forest plays a crucial role in retaining some of the largest carbon stocks in the world, and the permanent removal of large tracts of forests will be detrimental to Alberta’s work on addressing climate change.”  

As stated in the Legislature this proposed sale violates the principle of reconciliation and would further fragment the boreal forest. Without assurances from Alberta Environment and Parks that First Nations’ and ecological concerns have been sufficiently addressed, AWA and CPAWS strongly oppose this sale.