UNESCO help sought for US-Canada cross-border parks

Source: SUSAN GALLAGHER, Associated Press via Taiwan News, 2009-06-22

"Two parks along the U.S.-Canada border in the Northern Rockies are up for consideration to receive special attention by a UNESCO committee meeting in Spain this week.

"The state of conservation at Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta is on the agenda for the meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. That meeting in Seville, Spain, is scheduled to open on Monday and continue for a week.......

Eleven groups want it declared a World Heritage Site in Danger. The groups say Waterton-Glacier is at risk from potential coal mining in southeastern British Columbia. A provincial official, Bill Bennett, says there's no basis for concern.

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park

In 1932 Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada) was combined with the Glacier National Park (Montana, United States) to form the world's first International Peace Park. Situated on the border between the two countries and offering outstanding scenery, the park is exceptionally rich in plant and mammal species as well as prairie, forest, and alpine and glacial features.