Peace Region among 'most magnificent places on earth' says Royal BC Museum

NortheasternBritish Columbia'sPeace Region is filled with natural wonders, according to the Royal BCMuseum, which hasembarked on a series of meetings to share that knowlegewith local residents.

"We want to make sure people understand what they have," said museum curator Richard Hebda, who is leading themeetings,whichhighlightthe area's biodiversity.

The meetings come at a time when the region is undergoing heavy economic development, including the construction of a large hydroelectricdamand hydraulicfracturingfor natural gas.

While the Victoria-based museum does not take astandon BC Hydro'scontroversial Site C dam project, it wants the community to be aware of its rich heritage before future decisions are made.

The dam project faces multiple lawsuits from landowners and First Nations groups whose land will be flooded by the project.

"The Peace is really special," Hebda said. "It has amazing things about it wilderness, rich biological diversity, rich in ecological processes."

Hebda said the museum's meetings areaimed at the people who live in the Peace region. He said sometimes people often don't appreciatethe natural bounties foundin their own backyards, which is why the museum is holding the public meetings.

'Most magnificentplace'

He described the Peace Region as "one of the most magnificent places on earth."

"There are some amazing things that are of world importance," he said, pointing out there are tens of thousands of fossils that have never been studied.

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"Iknow for a fact that some of themwill provide new information onlife that no one has known before on the history of life onearth," he said.

With files from the CBC's Daybreak North

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