News Release

Canadian United Minerals Confirms Intent to Mine in Tombstone Territorial Park

December 9, 1999 – Whitehorse, Yukon – Conservation organizations applaud today’s Yukon government agreement with First Nations on the boundaries of two large new protected areas in the territory: Tombstone Territorial Park (216,400 hectares) and the Fishing Branch (540,000 hectares). The core protected area at the Fishing Branch River will be flanked by a Habitat Protection Area of 100,000 hectares, a designation that allows for carefully managed development.

“We wholeheartedly support the Yukon government’s decision to endorse the boundary recommendations of the local planning teams, and respect the wishes of both the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Vuntut Gwitchin,” said Juri Peepre, chair of the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and regional co-ordinator of World Wildlife Fund’s Endangered Spaces Campaign.

“With these progressive decisions on the park boundaries, we are heading towards a major conservation achievement – but the job is not done yet. The Yukon government still has to live up to its promises and national commitments to protect lands free of industrial development,” added Peepre.

Today’s boundary decisions do not address the more than 100 mining claims that could, if developed, still threaten the ecological integrity of these two parks. The Yukon government has failed to set out a clear path for phasing out mining claims.

“The Yukon and federal governments are ducking their responsibilities on the mining claims in these two parks. Neither the Tombstone or Fishing Branch areas are fully protected from mining yet and we will continue to press both governments to ensure these pristine wildlands remain intact forever,” said Juri Peepre.

A public campaign in support of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in efforts to protect the Tombstone region began in 1993. During the last year, CPAWS also participated in the Local Planning Team work to recommend the boundaries for the Fishing Branch protected areas. Today’s announcement marks the first protected areas established during the current NDP government’s mandate.

Juri Peepre
CPAWS-Yukon
Telephone: 867-393-8080