An assessment of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site identifies the Glacier Discovery Walk, now the Glacier Skywalk, as an example of a development that poses a high threat to the heritage site.
The assessment, which is still in draft form and will not be finalized until next year, was completed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature鈥攁n advisory board to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee鈥攖o provide a projection of the potential for the site to conserve its values over time.
The draft was completed last year and rates threats to World Heritage Sites from very low up to very high. In the category of commercial/industrial development, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site is rated high.
"Recent approvals of the [Glacier Skywalk] project in JNP and four season use of the Norquay ski area have been observed with concern because of their conflict with the ecological integrity objective of national parks," states the assessment.
"Achieving a balance among the multiple objectives of maintaining access to parks, facilitating stewardship and environmental education opportunities for the public and supporting ecological integrity will be a challenge."
For Kim Wallace, a vocal critic of the skywalk, which is currently being built over the Sunwapta Valley, the assessment reaffirms everything she's been saying for the past two years.
"Heritage is our legacy. It's what we pass on to future generations.
"And from day one I thought the [Glacier Skywalk] wasn't something I wanted to pass on to future generations. It doesn't belong in a national park, and now there's an international organization affirming my gut feeling.
According to the IUCN鈥檚 assessment guidelines, a high threat rating means 鈥渢here are clear threats to the site, and current and/or predicted future impacts are likely to result in significant negative effects on the site鈥檚 values and integrity.鈥�
The controversial skywalk, set to open in May of 2014, was approved by Parks Canada Feb. 9, 2012. The announcement was made in Ottawa by Environment Minister Peter Kent, the minister responsible for Parks Canada.
Despite the draft assessment, Jasper National Park Supt. Greg Fenton, who was ultimately tasked with the decision of whether to allow the construction of the 400-metre boardwalk or not, stands firmly behind last year鈥檚 decision.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see the skywalk being in opposition to or fundamentally creating problems with the designation or the attributes that led to the designation,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here was a very significant public consultation process, a very detailed environmental assessment process and there are sufficient mitigations to ensure that any negative impacts can be mitigated to an acceptable level.
鈥淐onversely, the visitor offer of the skywalk that鈥檚 under construction now would in fact enhance the opportunities for people to learn about the natural environment and the elements of the world heritage site, [like] glaciation, which was a fundamental or very important element that led to the designation.鈥�
In the draft assessment, the mountain parks heritage site had other threats rated at high, as well鈥攆or example, in water management and invasive non-native species鈥攁nd in other areas, it is rated at very high.
The potential for very high threat was listed for temperature changes, drought, flooding and habitat alteration, all as a result of climate change. It was also listed for visitation management goals. The justification for that rating is that national and provincial parks 鈥渁re subject to broader government management objectives, including funding priorities.鈥�
The draft then speculates on the effects the 2012 budget cuts will have on each park鈥檚 ability to do its job. 鈥淯nder the current funding situation, the impact on management capacity will be significant. Monitoring capacity may also be restricted, limiting data for informed management decisions.鈥�
Because of these high and very high threats, the overall rating for the mountain parks heritage site is high.
The draft assessment is not yet final and is subject to edits, so the IUCN declined to comment.
鈥淲hen the [assessment] is final, it will be released for public use and at this point IUCN will be able to comment,鈥� wrote Mariam Kenza Ali in an email.
The 51暗网 received its copy of the assessment from Jill Seaton of the Jasper Environmental Association. The association was consulted during the assessment process last year and was asked to identify issues that might adversely affect the site.
The final assessment should be complete in early 2014. Fenton said Parks Canada staff were consulted during the initial process and will have another opportunity to provide feedback on the assessment in the coming months.
The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks heritage site is comprised of Jasper, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national parks, as well as Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber provincial parks.
