| April 27, 2010 B.C. GOVERNMENT EXPANDS GILPAN GRASSLANDS PARK VICTORIA - Gilpin Grasslands Park near Grand Forks will grow by 124 hectares, protecting habitat for several species-at-risk. “Gilpin Grasslands Provincial Park is a beautiful piece of nature and our government is committed to protecting our natural heritage for generations to come,” says Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater. “Grand Forks is well-known for its bighorn sheep herds, and expanding this park will help protect them and other wildlife.” The park, located six kilometres east of Grand Forks, is being expanded by 124 hectares as a result of a private land acquisition. The land acquisition involved a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Environment and The Land Conservancy of B.C. The addition contains essential habitat for provincially blue-listed bighorn sheep and other species at risk (including western rattlesnake, gopher snake and badger) and retains significant grassland values. Primary access to the upland portions of the park and the new park addition is along the Gilpin Creek Forest Service Road. The total area of the park will be 912 hectares. A bill introduced in the B.C. Legislature today will also establish seven new “Class A” provincial parks, one new conservancy and make land additions to nine other existing provincial parks. Amendments to the schedules of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act are regularly required to establish new parks and conservancies, to add land to existing parks and to modify the boundaries of parks and conservancies. - 30 - | |
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