Canada’s national parks are known and loved, and frequented by many, from here and abroad. But now a federal report by Parks Canada, the agency that oversees them, is warning that almost half of the parks, particularly those in the Rocky Mountains, are not in good condition.
The report indicated that 29 of the 41 national parks and reserves monitored were found to have at least one ecosystem rated as fair or poor.
Just twelve of the parks or reserves had all of the areas measured, rated as good.
The report, called the State of Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Places, was presented to the federal government in mid-December.
This was just as Canadians were taking to their phones and keyboards to order the free-passes Parks Canada was making available in this Sesquicentennial year. The offer has become a massive success with more than 3 million Canadians applying for the passes.
And this is what has environmentalists and many at Parks Canada concerned: will the those parks in need of help, be able to withstand the increase in visitors this year?
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said protecting national parks is part of her responsibility, as is limiting development within them.
“When you look at the different parks, obviously each park is different, but a focus on stewardship and conservation is really important, back to the principle of maintaining ecological integrity of parks,” McKenna told reporters while in Calgary, Alberta this week, for a cabinet retreat.
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