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Originally Posted by vid
Banff is very environmentally responsible to maintain that designation. It can be lost; two places in Germany lost it about a year ago.
The reason that part of the Boreal is being considered is because it is unblemished. Except for some First Nations and limited forestry activity, it's very much intact. Building high voltage corridors (not just the one in Manitoba but the one connecting Manitoba to Toronto) will disrupt the environment.
I'm not really sure what benefits aside from bragging rights come from the UNESCO designation though.
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There are almost 1000 world heritage sites (WHS). Only one in Germany lost its designation. Dresden is only the second property ever to have been removed from the World Heritage List. The Oman´s Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was delisted in 2007.
Environmentally friendly or not (tour buses, stores, hotels) the Town of Banff has way more environmental impact (especially being located in the most valuable wildlife habitat and corridor, the Bow Valley, in the area) than a powerline will have on the east side of Manitoba. Plus there is also Jasper, Lake Louise, Field and Jasper townsites. How do you think those areas get power. The WHS is littered with power lines all over. Plus there are major highways throughout, as well as lodge style accomadations everywhere. So you may wish to reconsider your argument Vid.
You are correct in your guess that the only benefit to being a WHS is the bragging rights. I do not think that is worth the $300 million in construction costs and the 100s of millions in the cost of lost power through electricty trickle that will occur over the lifetime of the project to run the line on the West side.
Also the corridor connecting Manitoba to Ontario would be well south of the proposed WHS.