Elk Valley Regional Land Trust Receives Major Grant to Acquire Alpine Trail Lands

The Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (the “Trust”) has received a grant of $750,000 from a Federal Government Fund administered by Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC) to support its acquisition of 92 hectares (227 acres) on Fairy Creek known as the “Alpine Trail Lands”.

The Alpine Trail Lands provide habitat for 17 sensitive, threatened or endangered species (including grizzly bear, the American badger and cutthroat trout) and are a key part of a vital connectivity corridor on the West Slope of the Elk Valley.

The Trust has reached an agreement in principle to acquire the lands from their present owner, subject to terms which remain to be satisfied. The funds will be disbursed to the Trust if and when the transaction closes.

Support for this project is from the Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trust Conservation Fund, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, administered by WHC.

“This is a bedrock contribution to our fund to acquire the Alpine Trail Lands. It validates the Land Trust’s conservation and connectivity plan, which is intended to provide a functioning wildlife corridor around the City of Fernie. It’s by no means all the money we need to make the acquisition, but it’s a very solid start. Other donors and potential donors will be much encouraged, as they should be”.” Roger Swierstra, Vice President, Elk Valley Regional Land Trust.