TAZIN LAKE UPLAND AND
THE SELWYN LAKE UPLAND ECOREGIONS

	- Saskatchewan Environment

Tazin Lake and Selwyn Lake Upland eco-regions are located as far north as you can go in Saskatchewan. They lie next to the Saskatchewan-Northwest Territories border. These lands are home to the Dené people of Northern Saskatchewan. Their communities include Black Lake, Stony Rapids, Fond du Lac and Wollaston Lake.

Tazin Lake Upland eco-region is comprised of rugged Precambrian in the east, and Athabasca Delta in the west. It is wintering range-land for the barren-ground caribou (Beverly-Quaminjiriag Herd).

Selwyn Lake Upland ecoregion is Saskatchewan's only true taiga landscape and tundra (Arctic Butte). This area is also wintering range-land for barren-ground caribou.

CPAWS-Saskatchewan is working with the local people to locate and protect wilderness sites in the two eco-regions. Our involvement is occurring through the Athabasca land use plan. This land use planning process is a joint project of the Province and the Dené Nations and will make decisions on how the land and resources will be managed and how wilderness, ecological and cultural values will be protected. We are working in partnership with the Prince Albert Grand Council and its Dené communities.

- Photo by Branimir Gjetvaj

Three new sites are recognized by the provincial government and have been afforded 'interim protection' while the Athabasca land use plan develops. The sites are Tazin Lake in the northwest, Chapppuis/Fontaine Lakes in the north central and Misaw Lake in the northeast. Unfortunately, the 'interim protection designation' does not protect the three sites from activities that threaten them the most --- mineral exploration and development. This 'interim' designation is important however, because it establishes recognition that these areas need protection in the future, but if protection is to be meaningful, mineral activities must not be allowed.

CPAWS continues to work with others to establish meaningful protection of the three sites.

LEARN MORE :

CPAWS Work in the Forest An overview of CPAWS Saskatchewan's conservation work in the forest.

The Athabasca Land Use Plan Learn about the largest regional planning initiative ever undertaken in Saskatchewan.

The Athabasca Region Learn about the "Land of Little Sticks."

The Athabasca Sand Dunes Discover Saskatchewan's largest "desert".

Cree Lake   coming soon...

Special Places Read stories about special places in Saskatchewan including the Athabasca Region.