Look after our protected areas

Dear Editor: “McKenna to speak on proposed National Park,” (Courier, Aug. 17).

First I would like to state some very important facts, dated January 1993.

“The Ashnola Wildlife Management area A Management Proposal Parks and Wilderness area,” prepared and submitted by Anthea D. Bryan, RPB10 wildlife biologist and Alan D. Peatt, RPB10, wildlife biologist states: Parks involved: Cathedral Provincial Park, 33,454 ha Manning Provincial Park, 66,500 ha Pasayton Wilderness Area, 214,504 ha Chopaka Mountain Natural Area, 1,871.7 ha

Total area in the Similkameen Watershed: 316,329.7 ha (781,334.35 acres)

In July 2017, the Diamond Creek fire crossed the U.S. border into Canada’s Ashnola Watershed and 11,500 ha burned.

In July 2018, Placer Mountain fire burned approximately 2,350 ha McBride Creek fire No. K61241 Snowy Mountain fire No. K51238 approx. 13,359 ha as of August 17, 2018 and still growing.

Ashnola fire of 2018 remains still unknown.

People have abused these areas for years by dumping garbage, furniture, tree prunings etc., 60 to 70 km from the red bridge on logging roads and trails.

Is it not more important to look after our protected areas we already have than to create another national park to be neglected?

Karl Wabnegger Keremeos