UNESCO’s world heritage committee will consider a petition from 11 Canadian and U.S. conservation groups asking that Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park be designated a world heritage site in danger.

The request, made by Sierra Club B.C., Wildsight, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society among other groups, follows Cline Mining Corp’s proposed mountain top removal coal mine development in B.C.’s adjoining Flathead River Valley.

“The Flathead River Valley provides critical habitat for rare and endangered species that migrate to and from Waterton-Glacier, and it has the highest density of grizzly bears in the interior of North America,” said Wildsight’s Ryland Nelson.

“We’re asking the world heritage committee to assess potentially grave impacts on water and wildlife in Waterton-Glacier, given that B.C.’s land use plan for the Flathead River Valley prioritizes mining and energy development,” Nelson added.

Sierra Club spokeswoman Sarah Cox says the mine proposal will remove tonnes of coal and dump waste rock upstream from the park.

Waterton-Glacier will become the 31st world heritage site in danger and the only one in North America, if the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization committee decides to add it to the list.

The mine proposal is under review by the B.C. government.

The park is about 275 kilometres south of Calgary on the U.S., Alberta border.