In an area covered in ice and glaciers across northern British Columbia and Alaska, shrinking glaciers are leaving behind thousands of miles of new rivers that could provide future habitat for salmon. There is sex. While these new watersheds could be a lifeline for salmon populations that have struggled in recent years, mining companies have identified large mineral deposits in many locations, prompting mining and fish advocates and There is a conflict between them.a Recent policy forums was announced on science We outline these emerging land use conflicts and identify current oversights in environmental policy and opportunities to improve the management of these soon-to-be exposed habitats.
The Mineral Title Act is a British Columbia law that allows mining interests and companies to claim ownership of land without significant government oversight or consultation with First Nations.of fraser river gold rush The Mineral Tenure Act was the driving force behind the establishment of the British colony in British Columbia in the mid-1800s. direct means Removal of indigenous peoples from watersheds that they have relied on since time immemorial for their livelihood and spiritual purposes.
![A distant view of an abandoned mine with rust-colored water flowing through it.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/abandoned-mine-650x487.jpg)
Climate change and rising temperatures in the region have allowed mining interests to lay claim along emerging lands near rivers that were previously buried under shrinking ice and glaciers.However, research shows that these emerging river It would also provide important habitat for struggling salmon populations in areas threatened by mining. This leaves a disconnect between B.C.'s mining and conservation policies. The latter currently fails to protect the future and new habitat of at-risk species like salmon.
Faced with this disconnect, researchers at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Hereditary chief of the Gitanev indigenous peoplesUniversity of Montana and Taku River Tlingit First Nation We formed partnerships and collaborated on policy forums (short academic papers incorporating policy recommendations and research findings). The paper, published last fall, is the culmination of their research to understand the impact of mining claims on future salmon habitat revealed by glacial retreat and provide recommendations for future policy. It is.
![A man wearing a hat taking notes near salmon swimming in the river](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jonathan-Moore-650x366.jpg)
![A man wearing a hat taking notes near salmon swimming in the river](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jonathan-Moore-650x366.jpg)
Jonathan Moore, professor of aquatic ecology and conservation at SFU and lead author of the paper, emphasized the importance of this issue, saying, „In some places in northern British Columbia and Alaska, retreating glaciers are „It's creating a hotspot of salmon habitat as well as mining opportunities.“ pressure. „
This paper evaluated 114 watersheds identified in the region between British Columbia and southeastern Alaska (transboundary regions) that are likely to provide future salmon habitat as glaciers retreat.
The issue of this mining claim, which overlaps with potential salmon habitat, is highly spatially concentrated. More than half of the area of such threatened habitat is located in just 25 of the 114 transboundary watersheds. Researchers also showed that more than half of Canada's future habitats have moderate or high mineral potential, indicating a strong potential for future mining pressure and claims.
![Two people standing on the bank of a river with mountains in the background](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jonathan-Moore-Mark-Connor-650x434.jpg)
![Two people standing on the bank of a river with mountains in the background](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jonathan-Moore-Mark-Connor-650x434.jpg)
This research comes at a pivotal time in Canada's debate over mining interests and Indigenous rights. The BC Supreme Court ruled in September last year: Mineral Tenure Law Breached Duties In consultation with First Nations, it directed British Columbia policymakers to modernize the Act by June 2025.
„These changes are not going to happen quickly,“ said Tara Marsden, one of the study's co-authors and Wilp Sustainability Director for the Gitanev Hereditary Chieftains. “Mineral tenure laws not only violate the rights of indigenous peoples, they also undermine the stewardship of ecosystems for future generations.”
In addition to efforts to reform mineral tenure laws, various First Nations have created or are working to create Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas (IPCAs) that integrate climate change concerns and holistic perspectives into environmental management. Masu. These IPCAs are defined as follows: Indigenous Expert Circle as “lands and waters in which Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous law, governance, and knowledge systems.” The use of IPCA returned autonomy and governance of the land to indigenous peoples.
Moore told GlacierHub that the co-researchers chose to use a policy forum rather than a traditional research paper format because they wanted to „not just pose a problem, but a specific way to address this challenge.“ „To provide a forum to discuss what policy options are.“ The authors highlighted the development of more IPCA, proactive policies in the United States and British Columbia (similar to US legislation) for the protection of glaciers and their surrounding habitats as a key recommendation. Argentina)and an overhaul of mineral tenure laws to enable forward-looking and balanced land use planning.
![glacier with mountains in the background](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/glacier-northern-bc-650x435.jpg)
![glacier with mountains in the background](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/glacier-northern-bc-650x435.jpg)
The work of these researchers reveals broad global challenges. As climate change rapidly changes the Earth's ecosystems, environmental policies may struggle to keep up. The study „makes clear that we need to ensure that[environmental law]protects not just the habitats of today, but the habitats of tomorrow,“ Moore added.
michael gerrardSabin, director of Columbia University's Center for Climate Change Law, emphasized the breadth of the challenge. “Almost no country in the world has land-use policies that are responsive to climate change. Changes caused by climate change are making large tracts of land unsuitable for many human uses, but Declaring either unavailable would have huge economic implications and would be met with fierce political opposition, he said.
Recent policy forums have emphasized the need to simultaneously address economic interests, proactive climate resilience, and indigenous rights. „With our land use planning and protections, we're not saying no to every industry; we're saying let's do this in a good way,“ Marsden explained. “This is a globally significant opportunity to get many things right, including the rights of indigenous peoples, meaningful protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, and climate resilience.”