New Alberta parks make unprotected B.C. stand out 'like sore thumb'

Environmentalists in the Kootenays say it's time British Columbia stepped up and matched its neighbours to the east.

Alberta's NDP government just created two new parks in theRocky Mountains,covering100,000 hectares ofthe Castle Wilderness area,on the border with B.C.

Non-profit environmental groupWildsightnowwants B.C. to match Alberta in the nearby Flathead RiverValley, where environmentalists have long dreamed of a new park.

"Now really more than ever we have the Flathead, which stands out like a sore thumb as a big, unprotected area adjacent to other protected areas," saidRylandNelson, Southern Rockies Program Manager.

The B.C. government did remove mining from the Flathead, but manyenvironmentalists say that's not enough and Wildsight is pushing for full protection.

"If you look at a map, the southeastern portion of B.C. is devoid of any protected areas, while beingcompletely surrounded by protected areas," said Nelson.

"It's time B.C. stepped up and protected the crown of the continent."