The issue:

Plans to clear cut and log in Kananaskis Country — specifically the Highwood River drainage area — are to begin in August 2017.

The drainage basin that will be affected includes Etherington, Baril, Fitzsimmon and Cataract Creeks.

Why it matters:

The Upper Highwood Watershed in Kananaskis is a special place of high conservation value for all Albertans.

The watershed is a place where healthy ecosystems support vibrant populations of native plants and animals from grizzlies to westslope cutthroat trout; where unspoiled views and natural solitude provide ample opportunities for recreation and tourism; and where healthy aquatic and riparian habitats supply clean water and flood protection for the downstream communities in which we live and work.

We envision a future for Kananaskis Country and the Highwood area that allows these things that matter to us all to continue to flourish. But all of this is under threat by clear-cut logging plans that will be carried out by a BC-based company if we don't act now.

What we are asking for:

We respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to
declare a moratorium on logging in the Upper Highwood near the junctions of Highways 541, 40, & 940 immediately and urge the Government of Alberta to assess the impact of clear-cutting in all of Kananaskis. Over the long-term we ask the Government of Alberta to invite conversations with Albertans to consider the environmental value of our wild lands and watersheds for water quality, tourism, low-impact recreation compared to clear-cut logging.