From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Parks of Canada encompass over
forty protected areas, including National Parks, National Park Reserves, National Marine
Conservation Areas, and one National Landmark. The
National Park System includes 157 National Historic Sites, which, like the
parks, are operated by Parks Canada.
The goal of the national park service is to create a system of
protected areas which represent all the distinct natural regions of
the country. Parks
Canada–the governing body for the system–has developed a plan
identifying 39 different regions it aims to represent. As of 2005,
Parks Canada reports that the system is over 60% complete. Canada's
parks are managed to first protect the ecological integrity of the
park, and secondarily to allow the public to explore, learn about
and enjoy Canada's natural spaces.
Parks referred to as National Park Reserves will become National
Parks once outstanding land claim issues have been resolved. Parks
with this designation include Pacific Rim, Kluane, Nahanni, and Gwaii
Haanas. As of 2005, feasibility studies have been undertaken
for establishing further national parks in four areas: Wolf Lake in
Yukon, South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen in British
Columbia, Manitoba
Lowlands (north-western Lake Winnipeg) and Mealy Mountains in Labrador.
National Marine
Conservation Areas (NMCAs) are a relatively new addition to the
park system. These areas have a different mandate than their
terrestrial counterparts. They are designed for sustainable use,
although they usually also contain areas designed to protect ecological integrity. Canada's three NMCAs
are found in Ontario (Fathom Five and Lake
Superior) and Quebec (Saguenay-St. Lawrence).
History
- 1885 - Banff National Park established,
Canada's first National Park. Originally this park was called Banff Hot Springs
Reserve, and later the Rocky Mountains National Park.
- 1908–1912 - Four national parks established in Alberta and
Saskatchewan with a mission akin to national wildlife refuges. All
would be abolished by 1947 once their goals were achieved.
- 1911 - Dominion Parks Branch created, the world's first
national park service. Resided in the Dept. of the Interior.
- 1930 - Canada's parliament passes the first National Parks Act. which
was an act ensuring the respect of national parks.
- 1930 - Transfer of resources agreement signed.
- 1979 - National parks policy is revised to make preserving
ecological integrity the priority in Canadian Parks, ending the
so-called dual-mandate with recreational uses.
- 1984 - First National Park established through a land claim
agreement
- 1988 - National Parks Act amended formalizing the principle of
ecological integrity in the park system.
- 1989 - The Endangered Spaces campaign is launched by the Canadian Parks and
Wilderness Society and World Wildlife
Canada to encourage the completion of the national parks
system. The goal of the campaign is to have parks and protected
areas which represent each of the country's approximately 350
natural regions.
Adding to
the System
National Parks &
National Park Reserves
Land in four areas has been withdrawn for future national
parks:
Parks Canada is
considering another four areas for future national parks[1]:
NMCA
& NMCA Reserves
In addition, the park service is pursuing creation of
Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area
Reserve, in the B.C. waters surrounding the existing
National Park Reserve.[3] Local
information sessions were held in early 2007, and consultation with
stakeholders (commercial fishers, tour companies, the Haida, and
local residents) is to begin later in the year.[4] The
area would become the only NMCA Reserve, and presumably be managed
as if it were a full NMCA, pending local marine/land claims.
Lake
Superior National Marine Conservation Area is the first of five
NMCAs across Canada to be announced[5]. The Southern Strait
of Georgia, in the B.C. waters surrounding the existing Gulf
Islands NPR, is being proposed as an NMCA Reserve, like Gwaii
Haanas.[6]
National
Landmarks
In addition to national parks, a National Landmarks program was
foreseen in the 1970s and 1980s, but has not yet been established
beyond a single property. Landmarks were intended to protect
specific natural features considered "outstanding, exceptional,
unique, or rare to this country. These natural features would
typically be isolated entities and of scientific interest."[7]
To date, only one landmark has been established—Pingo National
Landmark—in the Northwest Territories. Another
was proposed at the same time (1984)—Nelson Head National
Landmark—on the southern tip of Banks Island, also in the NWT. It was to include some
70 square miles (180 km2), 25 miles
(40 km) of coastline, and protect the sea cliffs at Nelson
Head and Cape Lambton. Durham Heights were to be included, which
reach an elevation of 2,450 feet (747 m). The legislation
providing for the Landmark required a formal request be made by the
Minister of
the Environment within 10 years (until 1994).[8] None
was ever made.
References
See also
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