World Heritage field report formally sent to UNESCO; endorses more protections for Waterton-Glacier area
Efforts by the governments of British Columbia, Montana, and the United States seemingly have removed mining-related threats to Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park. But an international team of scientists believes both Canada and the United States must work harder to protect the resources of the International Peace Park.
Though the field team's final report to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee presented in July in Brazil did not differ in tone from some of the tidbits that leaked out following the field team's visit to the two parks last September, its formal presentation put on record the team's concerns over the long-term health of the two national parks.
Officially, the UNESCO team said mining in the transboundary Flathead watershed to the north of Glacier and west of Waterton Lakes would pose tremendous threats to the two parks.