However, these critically important areas, have recently been beleaguered by an extensive variety of external threats -- grazing, logging, tourism construction, hunting, prospecting, motorised recreation.
Derisory fees are charged by the government for prospecting licences ($25.50) and exploration permits (nil), in keeping with the duty of economic development of the province.
Prospecting is the first stage of the territory geological analysis (second - exploration): physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.