Taking national parks from crisis to solutions

March 23, 2000
Source: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Original story - link verified on August 21, 2000

A landmark report on the state of Canada’s national parks is being released today by Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. Over 80% of Canada’s 39 national parks are dealing with major environmental problems, and this report lays out a much-needed plan of action to halt the damage and protect our parks for the future. Following on a 1997 federal election commitment, an expert Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada’s National Parks was appointed in November 1998 to study the system and make recommendations on how national parks can be better managed. “National parks are the foundation of any serious plan to protect nature. This report shows our national parks are failing to preserve the very things they were set up to do,” says Harvey Locke, Vice-President of Conservation for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “We need to get on with the job of managing our parks better and making sure our parks do not become islands in seas of development.”

Related stories: Report on Ecological Integrity