Skógræktarritið - 15.05.2001, Síða 115

large mammals including moose,
eik, mule deer, whitetail deer,
caribou, plains bison, mountain
sheep, mountain goat, wolves,
black bears and grizzly bears in
population densities of global
importance. Few places in the
world match the natural features
of the M-KMA in terms of species
groupings, remoteness and mini-
mal development. The area is
also well endowed with rich ener-
gy and mineral resources. In gen-
eral, oil and gas reserves domi-
nate the eastern portion of the
area while a variety of metallic
and non-metallic resources can
be found in the central and west-
ern portions of the area. Valuable
timber resources are also present
in the southern portion of the
area (Land Use Coordination
Office 1997b).
The 1997 Muskwa-Kechika
Management Plan sets out some
ambitious objectives to address
the unique beauty, biodiversity,
cultural importance and resource
wealth within the M-KMA, speci-
fying that the management
intent is to ensure that wilder-
ness characteristics, wildlife and
its habitat are maintained over
time while allowing resource
development and use, including
recreation, hunting, timber har-
vesting, mineral exploration and
mining, oil and gas exploration
and development. The integra-
tion of management activities
especially related to the planning
and development of road access-
es within the area is central to
achieving this intent. The long-
term objective is to return lands
to their natural state, as much as
possible, as development activi-
ties are completed (Land Use
Coordination Office 1997b)
(Figure 1).
Pressures in the M-KMA
Of all the activities within the M-
KMA, the oil and gas sector is
currently the most active and will
likely create the greatest man-
agement challenges. With the
recent increases in oil and gas
prices, there is renewed interest
in exploration and development,
and this has led to a sharp
increase in the number of seis-
mic, drilling, facilities, and
pipeline applications (Oil and
Gas Commission 1999). The oil
and gas rich Western Canada
Basin extends west into the M-
KMA. While to date the majority
of the oil and gas activity is out-
side of the M-KMA boundaries,
given the high prices, there is
increasing pressure from industry
and a desire by government to
complete the pre-tenure plan-
ning within the M-KMA and thus
open planned areas to oil and
gas development. One of the oil
and gas exploration initiatives
that received a high degree of
review and discussion occurred
at Chicken Creek in the Upper
Sikanni area. This is an impor-
tant wildlife area and particular
care is being paid to monitor any
impacts.
Whereas the forest sector is
one of the province's largest
industries, the Muskwa-Kechika
Management Area is unique, in
Figure I. Location and Principle
Features of Muskwa-Kechika
Management Area.
SKÓGRÆKTARRITIÐ 2001 I.tbl
113