Banff National Park

Distribution and location of national parks in Canada

The Canadian National Parks system encompasses over forty protected areas, including National Parks, National Park Reserves and National Marine Conservation Areas.

The goal of the national park system 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 system 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 which are 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 National Park Reserve, Kluane National Park Reserve, Nahanni National Park Reserve and Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve.

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).

History

• 1885 - Banff National Park was established, Canada's first National Park. Originally this park was called Rocky Mountain National Park.
• 1911 - Dominion Parks Branch was created, the world's first park service.
• 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.

See also

• List of Canadian national parks
• national park
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
• James B. Harkin - first commissioner of national parks
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• Protected areas of Canada

External links

• Parks Canada Official Site
• National Parks System Plan
• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
• World Wildlife Fund - Canada
• World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• Parks Canada: Riding Mountain National Park website

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