Canada's largest national park risks losing world heritage status
The world’s second-largest national park is under threat from a destructive combination of climate change, oil and gas development and hydroelectric projects, according to a new report from the Canadian government.
Wood Buffalo national park, which straddles Alberta and the Northwest Territories, was placed on Unesco’s endangered list in 2017, and Canadian authorities were given one year to develop a solution to stem the rapid deterioration of the park.
The UN body warned that inaction would “constitute a case for recommending inscription of Wood Buffalo national park on the List of World Heritage in Danger”.
But ahead of a Unesco meeting in Bahrain this week, the federal government’s report has confirmed problems are only getting worse: “Desired outcomes for the world heritage values are not being met,” said the report.
photo credit: Thomas James Caldwell