The Sayisi Dene First Nation, Northlands Dene Nation, Barren Lands First Nation, and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation—together as the Seal River Watershed Alliance—are leading the way to permanently protecting a vast 12-million-acre landscape of forests, wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers in Northern Manitoba. And they need your help.
The Seal River Watershed is one of the few remaining intact watersheds of significant size in the world. Not only is the watershed a biodiversity-rich hotspot it also acts as a natural climate solution. Within this watershed there are large wetland areas that act as carbon “sinks”. Carbon sinks absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in trees, soils, mosses, and phytoplankton that live in water. They are very important in offsetting the effects of climate change.
A key factor in their case for permanent protection is also the strong prevalence of birds. Audubon has been working with the Alliance on a co-led research project and report that showcase the global importance of the region. In fact, it provides critically important breeding and migratory stop-over habitat for millions of birds of hundreds of species including the White-crowned Sparrow, Common Loon, and Arctic Tern. And the birds are not alone. They are joined by caribou, bears, beluga whales, and countless other species that also thrive here.
Earlier this year the Seal River Watershed Alliance signed an historic Nation-to-Nation-to-Nation agreement with the Manitoba Government and Government of Canada—a major step forward in the process to protect the watershed. This agreement allows the three governments to formally work together on a feasibility assessment for an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) and potentially, a national park reserve (NPR), in the Seal River Watershed.
This is where you come in. The Seal River Watershed Alliance and Parks Canada are collecting public feedback. Whether this is a place you have visited, plan to visit, or simply a place you want to keep safe for birds like the White-crowned Sparrow, you can help the Seal River Watershed Alliance move forward with their plans to permanently protect this amazing ecosystem for people, birds, and the planet by completing the short survey before August 23.
The most important point you can make is that you fully support the proposed national park reserve in addition to an Indigenous Protected Area in the Seal River Watershed on page 4 of the survey. If you would like, here is some additional information that may be helpful to consider when completing the survey. Keep in mind that most questions are optional:
On page 2:
The Seal River Watershed is rich in biodiversity supporting iconic species like polar bears, wolverines, gray wolves, and barren-ground caribou. It is also a critically important breeding and migratory stop-over location for millions of birds of hundreds of species like Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Loons, Blackpoll Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Swainson’s Thrushes, and Palm Warblers.
Wetlands play a vital role in the fight against climate change. The Seal River Watershed is a globally important landscape for mitigating climate change and should be considered a hot spot for conservation planning due to its massive carbon deposits.
The proposed protected area would not only protect a healthy, intact watershed, but also help advance reconciliation, sustain Dene and Cree cultures, strengthen Nation-to-Nation-Nation partnerships, and provide a sustainable regional economy for the communities in the watershed.
On page 4:
Including this proposed Indigenous Protected Area and national park reserve in Canada’s conservation goal of protecting 30% of its lands and waters from development by 2030 would help safeguard the natural climate solutions found in the region’s peatlands and forests. It would also protect the incredible abundance of biodiversity in this amazing region, as well as demonstrate how respecting Indigenous leadership can create a healthier and more sustainable future for all of us.
