EVR and the Fernie Rod and Gun Club announce $250,000 contribution in support of the Wigwam Flats Ecosystem Enhancement Project
Elk Valley Resources (EVR) and the Fernie Rod and Gun Club today announced a $250,000 contribution by EVR to the Fernie Rod and Gun Club to support the Wigwam Flats Ecosystem Enhancement Project.
The Wigwam Flats Ecosystem Enhancement Project (WFEEP) is designed to restore and enhance 250 hectares of grassland and open forest ecosystems within the Wigwam Flats/Mount Broadwood area, located south of Fernie, B.C.
“EVR is proud to support the work the Fernie Rod and Gun Club is doing to restore important wildlife habitat and improve biodiversity in the region,” said Mike Carrucan, CEO, EVR. “EVR is committed to creating lasting benefits in the Elk Valley which includes supporting important environmental stewardship work such as this collaborative project.”
The goal of this project is to improve the critical habitat for species including bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose. Through numerous activities, including planting native seed mixes to support wildlife foraging and reducing tree density to improve sightlines, the project aims to improve the biodiversity and function of this well-known vital habitat. These efforts will be monitored regularly to evaluate the progress.
“We’re grateful for EVR’s longstanding support and commitment to important projects that enhance habitat in the Elk Valley,” said Kevin Marasco, President, Fernie Rod and Gun Club. “Wigwam Flats is a valued place for wildlife, community members and First Nations Peoples, and by restoring and enhancing open forest and grasslands it will improve this special place for future generations.”
In addition to the Fernie Rod and Gun Club and EVR, WFEEP partners include Yaq̓it ʔaꞏknuqⱡi ‘it First Nation, Province of B.C., Columbia Basin Trust, The Nature Trust of BC, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resource Society, the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council, and Biodiversity Pathways.
“We commend the Fernie Rod and Gun Club for taking the lead on this important restoration work, and we applaud Elk Valley Resources’ strong support for conservation in the region,” said Richard Klafki, Program Director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “Working together on large-scale land management projects—like the WFEEP—is one of the most effective ways we can build a thriving, resilient future for people, wildlife and nature as a whole.”
The WFEEP is a five-year project that will continue FRGC’s long standing restoration efforts on Wigwam Flats. The project is a continuation of FRGC’s 125-year commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation in the region.
Pictured in the photo above from left to right: Jay Jones, Senior Lead, Lands & Conservation, EVR, Todd Penke, FRGC member and Project Manager for Biodiversity Pathways on the Wigwam Flats Project, Kevin Marasco, President FRGC, Tyler Temple, secretary, FRGC, Dave Roberts, Director, FRGC, Joe Caravetta, Co-director of the Wigwam Flats Project, Tammy Ogden, Community Relations Coordinator, EVR