News Release

After years of calling for action, woodland caribou habitat and a vast lowland region including the Overflowing River preserved for future generations

WINNIPEG – The Wilderness Committee is congratulating the Manitoba government on protecting parts of the Red Deer Lake area as a new Wildlife Management Area, which bans industrial activity. Over the last several years, many Manitobans spoke out through the Wilderness Committee, asking that the wetlands and woodland caribou habitat of this region be permanently protected from development.

“Today’s announcement helps preserve the beautiful Overflowing River, and an important woodland caribou range,” said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee. “After so many years of letter-writing, Wilderness Committee members and supporters are going to be very pleased with this.”

The Red Deer Lake area is remote and largely undisturbed, providing a safe haven for woodland caribou that shy away from development. While new protected areas are always needed, today’s announcement protects a much smaller section than was originally proposed back in 1999, or again in 2011.

“This is a first step for protection of the Red Deer Lake area,” said Reder. “Next we need to see preservation of more caribou habitat, and the elimination of coal mine claims from these wetlands.”

The establishment of the Red Deer Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) comes as the Manitoba government unveiled a new strategy for protecting more of Manitoba, called Places to Keep. The strategy commits the government to protect 17 per cent of the province by 2020.

“Reaching 17 per cent protection would make Manitoba a leader among the provinces,” said Reder. “It’s important to recognize, though, that much more than this is needed – across Canada and around the world – to provide a healthy and prosperous future for the next generations.”

The Wilderness Committee has been calling for protection of 20 per cent of the province by 2020. Scientists have stated that at least 50 per cent of the boreal region needs to be protected.

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For more information, please contact:

Eric Reder | Manitoba Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee
(204) 997-8584

Additional resources:

Places to Keep: Manitoba’s Protected Areas Strategy
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/protectedareasstrategy/index.html

Wilderness Committee educational report Wild Manitoba: 5 Natural Treasures at Risk, including the Red Deer Lake area:
https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/publication/wild_manitoba_5_natural_treasures_risk