Koopmans, R. 2011. Ajax will forever change the Jacko Lake grasslands. Kamloops Daily News.
Iverson, K. 2004. Grasslands of the Southern Interior: Grasslands cover less than one present of British Columbia’s land area. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Victoria, British Columbia, 6pp.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/grasslands_si.pdf
Figure 1. Image of proposed Ajax Mine, Kamloops, British Columbia (http://armchairmayor.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/so-just-how-big-is-ajax-well-its-soooo-big/)
Mining, for the most part, tends to be a financial and economic benefit for the communities that surround it; bringing in, ideally, a large profit as well as presenting many available jobs. However, mining likely does not have such a positive impact on the environment and conservation issues. Just outside of Kamloops, B.C. there is a proposed open-pit copper gold mine called Ajax Mine. It is expected that this mine will have at least a 23 year working life and is expected to bring in plenty of income and jobs for Kamloops citizens (Koopmans 2001). Despite these advantages, many Kamloops and surrounding residents are reluctant for the building of this mine due to conservation issues, such as grasslands and wildlife.
Within the area of the proposed Ajax Mine, more specifically Jacko Lake, there are “classic grasslands”, which are grassland areas that have ecological value despite the prior and current human use (Koopmans 2001). Because of industrial development, such as mine development, and home building, B.C. has a diminishing amount of grasslands, down to a mere 1% (Koopmans 2001, Iverson 2004). This quantity does not seem to be increasing as, according to Dr. Lauch Fraser, grasslands are incredibly difficult to restore as a result of being relatively unproductive in comparison to other ecosystems.
In conjunction with the grasslands, wildlife conservation will also be affected by the building of Ajax Mine. Many of the animals that do live within the grasslands may not be seen on a regular basis, but they are present. The animals of this area are habituated in the grasslands surrounding Jacko Lake and the disturbance of the grasslands will directly alter and obstruct the habitat for the various species living in this area, causing relocation or death if not able to relocate (Koopmans 2001). If the animals habitat isn’t removed, there is a large chance that animals and birds, such as great blue herons, will be forced to relocate as a result of the “large construction-related noises causing stress and nest abandonment” (Koopmans 2001).
On a conservational stand point, I feel as though it is risky for Kamloops to allow the development of Ajax mine. Grasslands in the interior of British Columbia are considered endangered and destroying another portion of grasslands will not help the issue (Iverson 2004). If the grasslands are already having difficulties flourishing due to the hot temperatures and multiple disturbances, such as motorized vehicles or cattle grazing, one would think that it will be additionally difficult for the grasses to replenish themselves after such destruction of Ajax mine. Furthermore, once the animals relocate due to their habitat alteration, there is no guarantee that they will return when their habitat is rebuilt. Needless to say, if Ajax mine is developed, there will be a sizeable blow to the environment, including the grasslands and wildlife.
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