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Hamburg, 7th August 2003 deutsche Version... Resorts: Environment / International Shell prevents protection of Wilderness in Canada Protest letters to Shell accumulate in opposition to the energy company' s environmentally harmful natural gas developments in the Castle Wilderness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Currently, Shell is expanding its natural gas activities in the Castle Wilderness, an ecologically important wilderness area located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Activists of the environmental organization ROBIN WOOD responded this afternoon by protesting in front of Shell Germany’s office in Hamburg. The activists delivered over 2,000 protest letters to Shell, which ask the energy company to withdraw its operations from this ecologically sensitive region. Canadian conservation organizations have been part of a long standing battle to establish legislated protection for the Castle Wilderness. This area is not only important because of its high species diversity. The Castle is also a key movement corridor for grizzly bears within the USA/Canada Rockies. Shell has ignored the region’s ecological importance, and proceeded over the past 40 years with the development of over 50 natural gas wells. Shell’s operations, which include the construction of pipelines, roads, seismic lines, and natural gas processing facilities significantly contribute to the fragmentation of this important landscape. “We would expect Shell finally to cease its operation in this area”, says Rudolf Fenner, campaign coordinator for World Northern Forests at ROBIN WOOD,“ yet the opposite is true“. This year alone, Shell will start its new seismic program, involving about 5,000 explosions, in the hope to increase its natural gas production. Part of these seismic activities will take place in an area requiring prime protection. “Over 2,000 protest letters addressed to Shell”, according to Fenner,“ show how outraged the people in Germany are about the company's operation in the Castle.” Through its activities in Germany, ROBIN WOOD supports US and Canadian campaigns led by conservation groups such as the Sierra Club of Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and the Natural Resources Defence Council. Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at any time: Rudolf Fenner, Expert on Forests, PH: +49 40 380 892 11, wald@robinwood.de Ute Bertrand, Press Spokesperson, PH: +49 40 380 892 22, presse@robinwood.de background information: http://www.robinwood.de/wald/onlineprotest http://www.castlewilderness.ca.