Ecological integrity of national parks

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Ecosystems have ecological integrity when their components, such as native species, biological communities, natural landscapes, and ecological functions, are intact and are likely to persist.Footnote 1   Annually, Parks Canada summarizes the condition (good, fair, poor) and the trend (improving, stable, declining) of ecosystems' ecological integrity in national parks (including 35 national parks, 7 national park reserves and 1 national urban park) using a series of monitoring measures to track changes in biodiversity and natural processes. 

Results by condition

Key results

  • In 2023, 119 ecosystems in 43 national parks were assessed. Of those,
    • 65 (55%) were in good condition, 35 (29%) were in fair condition and 19 (16%) were in poor condition
    • 78 (66%) were stable, 16 (14%) were improving and 24 (20%) were declining
  • Overall, the ecological integrity of 80% of site ecosystems was stable or improving in 2023, marking a 10% decrease from 90% recorded in 2016

Ecological integrity conditions and trends of ecosystems in 43 national parks, Canada, 2023

Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each site. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem scored Poor in 2023 but did not report trend data. (see below for long description)
Data table for the long description
Ecological integrity conditions and trends of ecosystems in 43 national parks, Canada, 2023
Ecological integrity condition Improving
(number of ecosystems)
Stable
(number of ecosystems)
Declining
(number of ecosystems)
Unassessed
(number of ecosystems)
Total
(number of ecosystems)
Good 10 53 2 0 65
Fair 6 14 15 0 35
Poor 0 11 7 1 19
Total 16 78 24 1 119
Ecological integrity condition Improving
(percentage of ecosystems)
Stable
(percentage of ecosystems)
Declining
(percentage of ecosystems)
Unassessed
(percentage of ecosystems)
Total
(percentage of ecosystems)
Good 8.4 44.5 1.7 0.0 54.6
Fair 5.0 11.8 12.6 0.0 29.4
Poor 0.0 9.2 5.9 0.8 16.0
Total 13.4 65.5 20.2 0.8 100.0

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.38 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each park. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park, and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem scored Poor in 2023 but did not report trend data.
Source: Parks Canada (2024) Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate.

The conditions and trends of ecosystems within national parks are evaluated regularly using a series of monitoring measures which are designed to track changes in biodiversity and natural processes (for example, plant and animal populations and soil properties) or stressors (for example, presence of invasive alien species) within those ecosystems. The condition of an ecosystem is determined by comparing these measures to threshold values, and assigning a score to each measure. The scores are then averaged together to rate the condition of the ecosystem (good, fair or poor). The trend of an ecosystem (improving, stable, declining) reflects a change in condition measures over a 5-year period (from 2018 to 2023). As measures may change over the 5-year period without crossing threshold values it is possible to have an improving or declining trend without a change in ecosystem condition. 

Condition and trend must always be interpreted with caution. Because the condition represents an average of several monitoring measures, the condition may show no change over time, even if individual measures are improving or declining.

An ecosystem that is rated as good and stable is secure and likely to persist, and no major management actions like ecosystem restoration are required. Ecosystems whose condition is fair or has a declining trend indicates that the ecosystem is vulnerable, and management actions may be required. Poor ecological integrity indicates that the ecosystem is impaired, and significant management actions may be required. Improving ecological integrity results may indicate that restoration actions are working.

Since 2016, the percentage of ecosystems with stable or improving ecological integrity has declined from 89.6% to 79.7%, with the lowest being 78.6% in 2022. However, this percentage has remained relatively stable since 2020.

Percentage of ecosystems with stable or improving trends in ecological integrity in 43 national parks, Canada, 2016 to 2023

Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each site. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem scored Poor in 2023 but did not report trend data. (see below for long description)
Data table for the long description
Percentage of ecosystems with stable or improving trends in ecological integrity in 43 national parks, Canada, 2016 to 2023
Year Improving
(number of ecosystems)
Stable
(number of ecosystems)
Declining
(number of ecosystems)
Unassessed
(number of ecosystems)
Stable/improving
(percentage of ecosystems)
2016 14 89 12 0 89.6
2017 23 81 14 0 88.1
2018 26 70 21 0 82.1
2019 27 73 17 0 85.5
2020 17 79 21 0 82.1
2021 23 70 24 0 79.5
2022 13 79 25 0 78.6
2023 16 78 24 1 79.7

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.16 kB)

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Monitored ecosystems include forests, freshwater, wetlands, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, coastal/marine and glaciers, depending on what is present in each park. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park, and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem was not assessed for trends in 2023.
Source: Parks Canada (2024) Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate.

Results by ecosystem type

Key results

In 2023,

  • The ecological integrity of all ecosystem types, except for glaciers, was stable or improving (72-100%)
  • The ecosystem types with the most declining conditions included glaciers (100%), forests (28%) and freshwater (21%)
  • The ecological integrity of wetlands and shrublands was stable or improving in all parks

Ecological integrity trends of ecosystems in 43 national parks, Canada, 2023

Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each site. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem scored Poor in 2023 but did not report trend data. (see below for long description)
Data table for the long description
Ecological integrity trends of ecosystems in 43 national parks, Canada, 2023
Ecosystem Improving
(number of ecosystems)
Stable
(number of ecosystems)
Declining
(number of ecosystems)
Total
(number of ecosystems)
Coastal/marine 1 11 2 14
Forests 5 18 9 32
Freshwater 4 23 7 34
Glaciers 0 0 2 2
Grasslands 2 2 1 5
Shrublands 0 1 0 1
Tundra 2 13 3 18
Wetlands 2 10 0 12
Ecosystem Improving
(percentage of ecosystems)
Stable
(percentage of ecosystems)
Declining
(percentage of ecosystems)
Coastal/marine 7.1 78.6 14.3
Forests 15.6 56.3 28.1
Freshwater 11.8 67.6 20.6
Glaciers 0.0 0.0 100.0
Grasslands 40.0 40.0 20.0
Shrublands 0.0 100.0 0.0
Tundra 11.1 72.2 16.7
Wetlands 16.7 83.3 0.0

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How this indicator was calculated

Note: Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each park. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park, and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem was not assessed for trends in 2023.
Source: Parks Canada (2024) Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate.

Declining ecological integrity in ecosystems may be due to stressors within the site or within the surrounding ecosystems. Some of the stressors affecting ecosystems in national parks include

  • habitat loss and degradation
  • reduction of landscape connectivity (for example, building of roads and trails)
  • climate change impacts (for example, increasing temperatures) and climate-mediated ecological changes and cumulative effects (for example, diseases and natural disturbances)
  • loss of keystone species (for example, wolves or bison)
  • pollution and contaminants
  • invasive species

Parks Canada implements management actions to conserve and restore species at risk and to improve ecological integrity when issues are identified. Each ecosystem responds differently to stressors and to management actions. It may take many years to make measurable improvements to ecological integrity and to demonstrate the ecological benefits of management actions.

In 2023-2024, the Conservation and Restoration Fund invested in 56 projects striving to improve the ecological conditions in 28 national parks. In Prince Edwards Island National Park, the strategic removal of overabundant white spruce and the planting of over 29 000 native Wabanaki-Acadian trees and shrubs enhanced the site's ecological integrity and forest diversity. A University of New Brunswick study (PDF; 1.7 kB) that modelled the effects of climate change on forests in Prince Edward Island National Park will guide future forest management. This management will implement two-eyed seeing approachesFootnote 3  to forest stewardship, and will be supported by the 2 Billion Trees program.

Data for individual parks

Ecological integrity conditions and trends of ecosystems in 43 national parks by province and territory, Canada, 2023

 n/a = not applicable. Monitored ecosystems include coastal/marine, forests, freshwater, glaciers, grasslands, shrublands, tundra, and wetlands, depending on what is present in each site. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Ukkusiksalik National Park and Qausuittuq National Park did not report on ecological integrity in 2023. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem scored Poor in 2023 but did not report trend data. (see below for long description)
Data table for the long description
Ecological integrity conditions and trends of ecosystems in 42 national parks by province and territory, Canada, 2023
Province or territory National park Ecosystem type Ecological integrity condition Ecological integrity trend
Newfoundland and Labrador Gros Morne Forests Fair Stable
Newfoundland and Labrador Gros Morne Freshwater Fair Declining
Newfoundland and Labrador Gros Morne Tundra Good Stable
Newfoundland and Labrador Terra Nova Coastal/marine Good Improving
Newfoundland and Labrador Terra Nova Forests Fair Stable
Newfoundland and Labrador Terra Nova Freshwater Fair Declining
Newfoundland and Labrador Terra Nova Wetlands Good Stable
Newfoundland and Labrador Torngat Mountains Freshwater Good Stable
Newfoundland and Labrador Torngat Mountains Tundra Good Stable
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Coastal/marine Good Stable
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Forests Fair Improving
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Freshwater Fair Declining
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Wetlands Good Stable
Nova Scotia Cape Breton Highlands Forests Poor Declining
Nova Scotia Cape Breton Highlands Freshwater Good Stable
Nova Scotia Cape Breton Highlands Wetlands Good Stable
Nova Scotia Kejimkujik Coastal/marine Poor Declining
Nova Scotia Kejimkujik Forests Good Stable
Nova Scotia Kejimkujik Freshwater Fair Declining
Nova Scotia Kejimkujik Wetlands Good Stable
Nova Scotia Sable Island Reserve Coastal/Marine Good Stable
Nova Scotia Sable Island Reserve Freshwater Fair Stable
New Brunswick Fundy Forests Fair Stable
New Brunswick Fundy Freshwater Good Stable
New Brunswick Fundy Wetlands Good Stable
New Brunswick Kouchibouguac Coastal/marine Good Stable
New Brunswick Kouchibouguac Forests Good Stable
New Brunswick Kouchibouguac Freshwater Poor Declining
Quebec Forillon Coastal/marine Good Stable
Quebec Forillon Forests Poor Stable
Quebec Forillon Freshwater Good Stable
Quebec La Mauricie Forests Fair Declining
Quebec La Mauricie Freshwater Fair Stable
Quebec La Mauricie Wetlands Poor Stable
Quebec Mingan Archipelago Reserve Coastal/marine Fair Stable
Quebec Mingan Archipelago Reserve Forests Good Stable
Quebec Mingan Archipelago Reserve Tundra Fair Declining
Ontario Bruce Peninsula Forests Good Stable
Ontario Bruce Peninsula Freshwater Good Stable
Ontario Bruce Peninsula Shrublands Fair Stable
Ontario Georgian Bay Islands Coastal/marine Good Stable
Ontario Georgian Bay Islands Forests Good Stable
Ontario Georgian Bay Islands Wetlands Fair Stable
Ontario Point Pelee Coastal/marine Fair Stable
Ontario Point Pelee Forests Poor Declining
Ontario Point Pelee Wetlands Fair Improving
Ontario Pukaskwa Coastal/marine Fair Declining
Ontario Pukaskwa Forests Good Stable
Ontario Pukaskwa Freshwater Good Improving
Ontario Rouge National Urban Park Forests Fair Stable
Ontario Rouge National Urban Park Freshwater Poor n/a
Ontario Thousand Islands Forests Good Stable
Ontario Thousand Islands Freshwater Good Improving
Ontario Thousand Islands Wetlands Good Stable
Manitoba Riding Mountain Forests Poor Declining
Manitoba Riding Mountain Freshwater Good Stable
Manitoba Riding Mountain Grasslands Poor Stable
Manitoba Wapusk Coastal/marine Good Stable
Manitoba Wapusk Wetlands Good Stable
Saskatchewan Grasslands Grasslands Fair Improving
Saskatchewan Prince Albert Forests Good Stable
Saskatchewan Prince Albert Freshwater Fair Declining
Saskatchewan Prince Albert Grasslands Fair Improving
Alberta Banff Forests Good Stable
Alberta Banff Freshwater Poor Stable
Alberta Banff Tundra Good Stable
Alberta Elk Island Forests Fair Declining
Alberta Elk Island Freshwater Good Stable
Alberta Elk Island Grasslands Poor Declining
Alberta Jasper Forests Fair Stable
Alberta Jasper Freshwater Good Stable
Alberta Jasper Tundra Poor Stable
Alberta Waterton Lakes Forests Fair Stable
Alberta Waterton Lakes Freshwater Poor Stable
Alberta Waterton Lakes Grasslands Fair Stable
British Columbia Glacier Forests Good Improving
British Columbia Glacier Freshwater Good Stable
British Columbia Glacier Tundra Poor Stable
British Columbia Gulf Islands Reserve Coastal/marine Poor Stable
British Columbia Gulf Islands Reserve Forests Fair Improving
British Columbia Gulf Islands Reserve Freshwater Fair Stable
British Columbia Gwaii Haanas Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site Coastal/marine Good Stable
British Columbia Gwaii Haanas Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site Forests Good Stable
British Columbia Gwaii Haanas Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site Freshwater Good Stable
British Columbia Kootenay Forests Good Stable
British Columbia Kootenay Freshwater Poor Stable
British Columbia Kootenay Tundra Good Stable
British Columbia Mount Revelstoke Forests Good Improving
British Columbia Mount Revelstoke Freshwater Good Stable
British Columbia Mount Revelstoke Tundra Fair Improving
British Columbia Pacific Rim Reserve Coastal/marine Good Stable
British Columbia Pacific Rim Reserve Forests Good Declining
British Columbia Pacific Rim Reserve Freshwater Good Improving
British Columbia Yoho Forests Good Improving
British Columbia Yoho Freshwater Poor Stable
British Columbia Yoho Tundra Good Stable
Yukon Ivvavik Freshwater Good Stable
Yukon Ivvavik Tundra Good Stable
Yukon Kluane (Park and Reserve) Forests Fair Declining
Yukon Kluane (Park and Reserve) Freshwater Good Improving
Yukon Kluane (Park and Reserve) Tundra Fair Declining
Yukon Vuntut Tundra Good Stable
Yukon Vuntut Wetlands Good Stable
Northwest Territories Aulavik Freshwater Good Stable
Northwest Territories Aulavik Tundra Poor Stable
Northwest Territories Nahanni Reserve Forests Fair Declining
Northwest Territories Nahanni Reserve Freshwater Good Stable
Northwest Territories Nahanni Reserve Tundra Good Improving
Northwest Territories Tuktut Nogait Freshwater Good Stable
Northwest Territories Tuktut Nogait Tundra Good Stable
Northwest Territories Wood Buffalo Forests Fair Declining
Northwest Territories Wood Buffalo Freshwater Poor Declining
Northwest Territories Wood Buffalo Wetlands Good Improving
Nunavut Auyuittuq Glaciers Fair Declining
Nunavut Auyuittuq Tundra Good Stable
Nunavut Quttinirpaaq Freshwater Good Stable
Nunavut Quttinirpaaq Tundra Good Stable
Nunavut Sirmilik Glaciers Good Declining
Nunavut Sirmilik Tundra Fair Declining

Download data file (Excel/CSV; 6.81 kB)

Note: n/a = not available.

How this indicator was calculated

Note: Results presented above for Wood Buffalo National Park may differ from other ecosystem reporting as the park is undertaking a review and update of its monitoring program. Rouge National Urban Park freshwater ecosystem was not assessed for trends in 2023. 
Source: Parks Canada (2024) Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate.

About the indicator

About the indicator

What the indicator measures

The Ecological integrity of national parks indicator summarizes the condition (good, fair, poor) and trend (improving, stable, declining) of ecosystems within 35 national parks, 7 national park reserves and 1 national urban park.

Why this indicator is important

This indicator provides a measure of the condition of Canada's national parks, national park reserves and a national urban park. These parks help to protect biodiversity, preserve ecosystem services, connect landscapes, and provide a natural solution for climate change by capturing and storing carbon. They also help to build knowledge and understanding of ecosystems and connect Canadians with nature.

Parks Canada regularly monitors and assesses the condition of the main ecosystems in national parks (for example, forests, tundra, wetlands or freshwater). Ecosystems are managed to improve or maintain ecological integrity. Management plans systematically address opportunities for improving the ecological integrity of these ecosystems.

Related initiatives

This indicator supports the measurement of progress towards Goal 15 of the 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy: Life on land – Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity.

In addition, the indicator contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is linked to Goal 15: Life on land.

It also is used for reporting on Target 3 of Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy: "Protected and conserved areas (30x30)."  This target is related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3: " Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories."

Related indicators

Canada's conserved areas indicators report the amount and proportion of Canada's terrestrial and marine area that is conserved.

The Global trends in conserved areas indicator compares Canada's protected area to a peer group of countries.

Data sources and methods

Data sources and methods

Data sources

The indicator summarizes the condition and trend of ecosystems in the majority of national parks. Parks Canada regularly monitors the condition of ecosystems using a set of representative measures. Selected measures in each major park ecosystem are combined and the ecosystem is scored as good, fair or poor. Parks Canada monitoring for ecological integrity formally began in 2008 and is ongoing.

More information

Ecological integrity is reported for major ecosystems in 43 of Canada's national parks, national park reserves and a national urban park. Data are not available for Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve, Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve, Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve, Qausuittuq National Park and Ukkusiksalik National Park. Data may be unavailable if a site was recently established and has a very new monitoring program, or if the data have not yet been validated with partners.

Between 1 and 4 ecosystems are assessed in each park. Examples of ecosystems include forests, wetlands and glaciers. The selected ecosystems form most of the area of a park and are important to its biological functioning. For each ecosystem, a scientifically sound set of environmental measures is developed, based on appropriateness, representativeness, monitoring needs and cost-effectiveness. Some examples of ecological integrity measures include wildlife population size, estimates of plant productivity, water quality and extent of invasive species. Data for these measures are gathered from a variety of sources, including on-the-ground field sampling, satellite imagery, academic and government partners, and Indigenous knowledge. Measured values are compared to thresholds, such as whether a wildlife population is near desirable size or whether water quality meets a standard threshold. When such thresholds are not available, interim thresholds based on available information of historical variability are used. The frequency of monitoring varies from annually to once a decade, depending on the specific measures.

For this report, data were collected in 2023-2024, then collated and stored in Parks Canada's Information Centre for Ecosystems database to support management and reporting by the end of May 2024.

Data sets for individual measures are published in the Government of Canada Open Data Portal.

Methods

Ecological integrity monitoring is adapted to the ecology of each park. Information is gathered for each selected ecosystem, and a determination is made as to whether the ecosystem is in good, fair or poor condition and whether that condition is improving, declining, or stable. Complete methods information is available in Parks Canada's 2011 Consolidated Guidelines for Ecological Integrity Monitoring in Canada's National Parks, available from Parks Canada's Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Directorate.

More information

Ecosystem condition is determined from the monitoring results as follows: each measure is assigned a score based on its condition compared to its threshold (good = 2, fair = 1, poor = 0). If one-third or more of the measures are scored poor, the ecosystem-level indicator is also scored poor. If less than one-third of the measures are scored poor, the average score of the measures (weighted equally) determines the ecosystem score.

The assessment of the overall trend for each ecosystem is based on a change in its overall condition over 5 years, or in the trend of monitoring measures. If the condition of the ecosystem has not changed, it is considered stable unless a strong majority of the monitoring measures shows the same trend.

The national indicator (the percentage of ecosystems maintained or improved) is an overall assessment of the trend of ecological integrity across national parks. It is generated by dividing the number of ecosystems that are stable or improving by the total number of ecosystems monitored that have an assessed trend. 

High quality ecological monitoring provides information that helps prioritize funding for ecological restoration projects to the ecosystems where it is needed most. In 2023-2024, 56 conservation and restoration projects are striving to maintain and improve ecological integrity in national parks. 

Recent changes

Rouge National Urban Park, which currently includes forest and freshwater ecosystems, was added to the indicator. 

The monitoring program was enhanced in 2023-2024 by adding and improving ecological integrity measures. In total, 523 measures were assessed in 2023 as opposed to 513 in 2022. Two (2) new measures assessed functional connectivity using a relatively novel approach with circuit theory to determine whether there is enough well-connected habitat to maintain a population of pine marten. In some cases, improved monitoring provided information that changed our understanding of the condition and trend of an ecosystem. For example, in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks, 2 additional measures were assessed in the forest ecosystem that changed the condition of the ecosystem from fair to good in 2023. 

Caveats and limitations

The monitoring measures used to determine the condition and trend of ecosystems are chosen to represent the most important elements of the ecosystem and thus provide an indication, rather than a complete assessment, of ecological integrity. Monitoring takes place against a background of natural variability, and because many locations are remote and some measurements are time-consuming or expensive to conduct, the frequency of monitoring may be low. This leads to unavoidable uncertainty in assigning conditions and trends to ecosystems.

Ecosystems are not of equal area or of equal importance in national parks; comparisons between systems or between parks must be made with caution.

Some parks have not yet reported results, while others are basing their reporting on incomplete suites of measures that reflect current data availability. Monitoring methods are selected using objective techniques to provide credible overall assessments. Where information is incomplete, expert opinion, literature review, preliminary data and statistical principles are used to support the definition of thresholds.

The equal weighting of measures may not always reflect their relative ecological importance.

The data do not include provincial parks, other parks or other types of protected areas.

Resources

Resources

References

Bartlett C, Marshall M and Marshall A (2012) Two-Eyed Seeing and other lessons learned within a co-learning journey of bringing together indigenous and mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 2: 331 to 340.

Government of Canada (2000) Canada National Parks Act

Parks Canada (2011) Consolidated Guidelines for Ecological Integrity Monitoring in Canada’s National Parks  (PDF; 2.0 kB) . Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation Branch.

Parks Canada (2021) State of Canada's Natural and Cultural Heritage Places 2021.

Wills S (2022) Projecting forest outcomes for Prince Edward Island National Park under climate change using a process-based forest landscape model. MSc. Thesis. University of New Brunswick.

Related information

Parks Canada

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