Canadian National Parks

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Canadian National Parks
Image:Canada 35 bg 061904.jpg Mount Chephren and Waterfowl Lake in Banff National Park

First Park	Banff National Park, 1885
Smallest Park	St. Lawrence Islands National Park, ~9 km²
Largest Park	Wood Buffalo National Park, ~45,000 km²
Governing body	Parks Canada
Image:Canadian National Parks Location.png Distribution and location of national parks in Canada

The Canadian National Parks 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, Gwaii Haanas and Torngat Mountains. As of 2005, fesability 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 two NMCA's are found in Ontario (Fathom Five) and Quebec (Saguenay-St. Lawrence).

[edit] History

1885 - Banff National Park established, Canada's first National Park. Originally this park was called 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.

[edit] See also

List of Canada's National Parks
List of National Historic Sites
National historic site
National Landmark
Protected areas of Canada
Provincial park
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
James B. Harkin - first commissioner of national parks
World Conservation Union (IUCN)

[edit] External links

v • d • e National Parks of Canada
National parks	Aulavik · Auyuittuq · Banff · Bruce Peninsula · Cape Breton Highlands · Elk Island · Forillon · Fundy · Georgian Bay Islands · Glacier · Grasslands · Gros Morne · Ivvavik · Jasper · Kejimkujik · Kluane · Kootenay · Kouchibouguac · La Mauricie · Mount Revelstoke · Point Pelee · Prince Edward Island · Pukaskwa · Prince Albert · Quttinirpaaq · Riding Mountain · Sirmilik · St. Lawrence Islands · Terra Nova · Thaydene Nene · Tuktut Nogait · Ukkusiksalik · Vuntut · Wapusk · Waterton Lakes · Wood Buffalo · Yoho	Image:Canada contour-flag.png
National Park Reserves	Gulf Islands · Gwaii Haanas · Pacific Rim · Torngat Mountains · Mingan Archipelago · Kluane · Nahanni · Tuktut Nogait
Marine Conservation Areas	Fathom Five · Lake Superior · Saguenay-St. Lawrence
National Landmark	Pingo