CPAWS Northern Alberta

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CPAWS Northern Alberta

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Northern Alberta Chapter CPAWS is Canada’s pre-eminent, non-profit wilderness protection organization.

CPAWS Northern Alberta has championed the protection of Alberta’s diverse natural heritage since our establishment in 1968 as the first regional chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Together, we are working to keep at least half of Canada’s public land and water wild – forever.

09/03/2026

🔥Curious about some of the impacts forestry has on wildfire behaviour?

As the industry that has the largest direct human-caused disturbance in Canadian forests, there are several different pathways that forestry practices can influence wildfire behaviour.

This includes:
1. Changes to microclimates
2. Modifications to fuel characteristics
3. Increased number of ignition points
4. Shifts in patterns of landscape cover
5. Changes in forest stand structure and species composition

While conventional forestry practices that prioritize timber production have been linked to increased fire activity, more ecologically informed approaches have the potential to reduce wildfire risk and contribute to long-term forest resilience.

Visit our StoryMap using the link below to learn more about this research and our wildfire recommendations: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/009db8d7bba1467a8fefe416ac0b943a

09/01/2026

🐟 Meet the provincial fish of Alberta: the bull trout.

💧This Threatened species is an important indicator of healthy freshwater ecosystems. Because they depend on cold, clean, well-connected waters, their presence (or absence) can tell us a lot about the health of our rivers and headwaters.

🤝 Healthy headwaters mean healthy bull trout.

08/26/2026

Three new sub-regional draft plans prioritize industry development over the recovery of and herds with already limited remaining habitat.

ℹ️ Within a short timespan, YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) has released the Caribou Mountains, Red Earth, and Berland draft sub-regional plans for public engagement.

⚠️ All of which support the continued destruction of critical habitat, while promising restoration and recovery efforts decades into the future.

⏲️Restoration cannot replace the protection of old growth forests that caribou need TODAY. The drafts lack evidence to show that restoration alone (which takes decades) is enough to support recovery.

🗣️ Albertans deserve sub-regional plans with credible and measurable pathways toward recovering species at risk.

🔗 Learn more by reading our joint statement https://cpawsnab.org/all-news/albertas-sub-regional-plans-continue-to-put-industrial-development-ahead-of-caribou-survival-and-recovery/

08/20/2026

🦬 Wood Buffalo National Park is facing mounting pressure - and this month, an international team is back to assess whether enough is being done to address it.

The 2026 Reactive Monitoring Mission is examining the state of Canada's largest national park and following up on the 17 recommendations issued after the previous mission in 2022.

💧At the heart of the concern is water. The Peace-Athabasca Delta has been a life-giving place that supported Indigenous communities and thriving ecosystems for millennia.

Now, the Delta is on life support - with more frequent dry periods, decline in biodiversity, changes to water quality, and more risks on the horizon, like climate change and growing oil sands mines.

⚠️ With environmental safeguards being removed and growing pressure to build new infrastructure upstream of the Park, your voice is needed.

✉️ Let federal and provincial Environment Ministers know that you care about the future of Wood Buffalo National Park by sending an email.

🔗 Find the template here: https://cpawsnab.org/all-news/wood-buffalo-action/

08/18/2026

⚠️Action Alert⚠️

Wood Buffalo National Park, our largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has long been celebrated for its ecological and cultural importance. But these days it is facing pressure.

📅From August 16–23rd, an international investigation, called a 'Reactive Monitoring Mission', will be taking place to assess the ecological condition of Wood Buffalo National Park.

🚩The last mission was in 2022, and the World Heritage Committee gave Parks Canada 17 recommendations to address growing threats to the Park.

ℹ️ Now, a new mission has begun to assess whether adequate progress has been made to protect the ecological health of the Park. If not, Wood Buffalo National Park may be listed as a World Heritage Site “In Danger.”

🫶 Show our environmental ministers that you care about the future of Wood Buffalo National Park and urge them to take strong action to protect the region.

🔗Head to the following link to send an email using our template: https://cpawsnab.org/all-news/wood-buffalo-action/

08/13/2026

✨ Swipe to take a trip through Wood Buffalo National Park! An ecologically and culturally rich region stewarded by Cree, Dene, and Métis communities long before the park’s creation.

🦬 You may now know the park as a haven for at-risk migratory birds, boreal woodland caribou, and wood bison (hence the name).

⚠️ While Wood Buffalo is the largest national park in Canada, upstream of it lies another large footprint — the Athabasca oil sands.

💧 For decades, tailings ‘ponds’ have been leaching contaminants into the Athabasca River, impacting Wood Buffalo, wildlife, and communities downstream. Without intervention, the extent of tailings infrastructure is set to keep growing.

🔗Learn more about Wood Buffalo National Park and tailings at https://cpawsnab.org/our-work/national-parks/wood-buffalo-national-park/

08/07/2026

What determines how a wildfire starts, spreads, and behaves?

☀️Weather
🍂Fuel
⛰️Topography

🌎 Climate change and forest management decisions play a substantial role in influencing some of these factors, shaping wildfire risk across the landscape.

🌳 While we need stronger action on climate change, fuel management is a tool we can use to reduce wildfire risk. However, research shows it's most effective when strategically prioritized near communities, where it can better protect people, homes, and critical infrastructure.

🙌 Effective wildfire management isn't about broadly removing trees off of the landscape, it's about using the right tools in the right places.

🔗 Learn more at https://cpawsnab.org/wildfire-in-alberta/

08/05/2026

Alberta is on track to become the home of North America's largest thermal coal mine. ⚠️

ℹ️ The Alberta Energy Regulator has just approved an expansion to Coalspur's Vista Mine near Hinton, Alberta, which is already the largest thermal coal mine in Canada. Once again the AER shielded a mining company by deciding not to hold a regulatory hearing.

🚩Albertans have repeatedly been assured that our headwaters would remain protected from new open-pit coal mines on the Eastern Slopes, but this approval entirely undermines those commitments.

New mining areas, tailings infrastructure, wastewater management facilities, and years of long-term environmental damage will be the result of this approved expansion.

🔗 Read our full statement here: https://cpawsnab.org/all-news/aer-approves-major-thermal-coal-mine-expansion-in-albertas-eastern-slopes/

07/30/2026

Come join us for our last FREE River Valley Walk of the season!🍃

📅Thursday, August 13th, 2026: Our walk will start by taking in the artwork at ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art Park. We will carry on with a 3 km loop through Queen Elizabeth Park and Nellie McClung Park, stopping to enjoy the native plants and views of the river valley along the way.

👟Make sure to bring footwear for walking on gravel trails, a water-bottle, a snack, and an extra layer in case of light rain or wind.

⏲️Weather permitting, we will meet at 6:30 pm by the parking lot for the ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art Park (10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Rd).

This is an event with limited spots. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket so people on the waitlist will have a chance to join. 🫶

Head to https://cpawsnab.org/event/ to register 🔗

07/28/2026

✨ Say these affirmations with us! ✨

✨ We envision an that fully embraces and protects our lands, waters, and wildlife.

✨ We envision an Alberta that cares for a growing network of protected areas and supports Indigenous-led conservation.

✨ We envision an Alberta that safeguards our headwaters and from the harms of new coal mines.

✨ We envision an Alberta that develops land-use plans and policies that support the recovery of woodland and other species at risk.

🌲While these affirmations won’t happen overnight (we wish!), continued public pressure is key to securing lasting protection for nature. Thank you for continuing to show up!

Subscribe to our newsletter to be alerted about simple actions you can take to help move conservation forward in the province. https://cpawsnab.org/subscribe/

Address

Suite 627, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square (Milner Public Library)
Edmonton, AB
T5J2V4

Website

http://www.cpawsnab.org/

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