Teck Resources, a large Canadian mining company, announced Oct. 17 that it will spend $18.5 million to acquire nearly 28 square miles of land in southeast British Columbia for conservation purposes.

The land in the Elk and Flathead river valleys held by Tembec Inc., a large timber company, will be used to preserve wildlife and fish habitat.

It includes the Flathead townsite, located about 17 miles southeast of Sparwood, B.C., an 11.6 square-mile stretch along the Alexander Creek, and about 11.6 square miles in Grave Prairie.

“While not amenable to mining, the lands have the potential to be used for conservation purposes,” the company said in its announcement.

Conservation groups have long advocated for creation of a national park in the same area, which is adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park north of Glacier National Park.

“We’re very excited that Teck has made a significant investment to purchase and work towards conserving this important wildlife and fish habitat,” said John Bergenske, executive director of Wildsight.

Flathead Wild, a coalition of conservation groups in B.C., Alberta and Montana, said the Teck purchase includes critical habitat for trout, bears, birds and lynx.

Teck, which operates a lead and zinc smelter in Trail, about 185 miles west of the land purchase, was found liable by a Washington state judge last year for the costs of cleaning up decades of pollution in the Columbia River.