Canadian Protected Areas Status Report 2006 to 2011: appendix 1

Appendix 1: Protected Areas Summary

British Columbia

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Conservancy designation and collaborative working relationships with First Nations.
• BC Parks 100^th birthday.
• Additions to the BC parks and protected areas system

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Planning and management with respect to climate change.
• Collaborative work with First Nations.
• Management plans for newly established protected areas.

Map 5: British Columbia

Alberta

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Development and approval of the Plan for Parks--major strategic policy guidance--Alberta Parks has not has a strategic guiding policy since the 1970s.
• Addition of over 11 000 ha of lands.
• Approval to move forward on the development of new/consolidated Parks legislation.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Development and approval of updated legislation and supporting zoning and policies.
• Development of a business case to fund responsible development of Park capital infrastructure to address Alberta's growing population and recreation trends/needs.
• Continue to partner with other government agencies to address the need for biodiversity monitoring and the development of indicators and targets as a means to address ecosystem health issues such as the control of invasive species, climate change adaptation, etc.

Map 6: Alberta

Saskatchewan

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Additional protected areas are moving forward as Saskatchewan is nearing the conclusion/approval of two land use plans that identify sites or zones for inclusion in the Representative Area Networks (RAN) and two new candidate provincial park areas are undergoing public consultation processes.
• In parklands conservation and scientific research has been enhanced (increase in monitoring; implementation of ecosystem management plans; increased inventory work; enhanced capital to complete this work).
• Increased capital funding has improved facilities for the public to experience and enjoy the park system, which can influence and build stronger public support for parks.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• The approval and implementation of two land use plans and the completion of consultation for two proposed provincial parks will add protected areas to the RAN.
• Identify biodiversity and ecological issues and recommend actions to address these issues by concluding and implementing an update to the Biodiversity Action Plan.
• Cultivate closer working relationships and grow partnerships with First Nation and Métis communities to enhance and support research to identify traditional knowledge and improve understanding, support and expansion of the protected areas network.

Map 7: Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Manitoba's Green and Growing Strategy (2006) strategic framework set a goal of designating  five new major protected  areas by 2010 and continuing to increase its number of ecological reserves, designate new wildlife  management  areas, and expand the number of rivers with  special status. To fulfill this commitment, Manitoba designated five major protected areas covering more than 1 million ha throughout  northern and central Manitoba.
• Manitoba also completed work in Tembec's Forest Management  License #1 in Natural Region 4c with the designation of Observation Point Wildlife Management  Area (6010 ha). The recently designated Whitemouth  Bog Ecological Reserve (5020  ha) is the third largest ecological reserve in the province, and it is buffered by the Whitemouth Bog Wildlife Management Area (3010 ha).
• Manitoba also designated the first two traditional use planning areas (TUPAs) under The East Side Traditional  Lands Planning and Special Protected Areas Act (passed in 2010).  The Asatiwisipe  Aki (7 896 485 ha) and Pimitotah  (132 575 ha) TUPAs were designed and designated in conjunction  with  Poplar River First Nation and Bloodvein First Nation respectively.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Little Crown land remains available for protection in municipal Manitoba, or in areas with  high resource extraction  potential.
• As the pressures from  human activity on natural habitat  increase, the stakes for protecting nature continue to grow  as well.
• Completing the unfinished portion of the protected areas network will take time, and in the interim, over 100 candidate areas will continue to have no formal protection from development.
• Lack of legislative tools to effectively protect endangered and threatened species habitat.

Les zones prioritaires comprennent le Manitoba agraire (sud du Manitoba), la région naturelle 5c (sud-est du Manitoba) et les rives de la baie d'Hudson.

Map 8: Manitoba

Ontario

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Completion of the Whitefeather Forest Land Use Plan, and regulation of the five Designated Protected Areas within it under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. This added 349 481 ha of regulated provincial park to the system.
• Joint approval of three Far North community-based land use plans (Cat Lake/Slate Falls, Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi) in 2011. These added nearly 793 064 ha of dedicated protected areas in approved land use plans under the Far North Act, 2010.
• The Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids community-based land use plans contribute to protection of 34 500 km² and support Pimachiowin Aki bid for World Heritage Site proclamation by UNESCO.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Full adoption of the relatively new Ontario Protected Areas Planning Manual and its associated guidelines, with their higher degree of rigour and focus on ecological integrity.
• Continuing the planning efforts in light of reduced funding and staff over the next three years.
• Refocussing planning priorities where they are most needed as the program downsizes.

Map 9: Ontario

Quebec

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Reaching, in March 2009, the objective of 8% representative protected areas, which had initially been set by the government in its 2002 strategic action plan.
• Creation, in May 2009, of Kuururjuaq National Park, a large northern park. With an area of 446 080 ha, this national park protects nearly the entire watershed of the Koroc River, giving this territory a high degree of protection. Kuururjuaq National Park is operated by the Kativik Regional Government.
• Publication, in May 2010, of the Overview of Quebec's Protected Areas Network--Period  2002-2009,  a unique work on the protection of biodiversity in Quebec. With more than 190 maps and many tables, this document presents the findings and important achievements in regard to nature conservation over the last few years, while clearly identifying  the gaps in the current network, and paves the way to reaching the new objective of creating protected  areas on 12%  of the territory of Quebec by 2015..

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Expanding the network of protected areas to 12% of Quebec's territory by 2015.
• Obtaining social acceptance for protected area projects, including acceptance from Aboriginal communities.
• Ability to use different types of management for the network's protected areas according to the usage context of local or regional renewable resources.

Map 10: Quebec

New Brunswick

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Protected a private land Protected Natural Area (PNA) in 2008.
• Increased the PNA on Crown network by 5000 ha in 2008.
• Identified candidate sites for the purpose of adding 122 000 ha to the PNA network.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Designation of 122 000 ha of new PNA.
• Designation of four new private land PNAs and increasing the size of one private land PNA.
• Considering the inclusion of intertidal zones in the PNA network and will initiate a plan for implementation.

Map 11: New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Establishment of the 12%-by-2015 goal in legislation, and its associated process
• The dedication of $160 million by the province to land acquisition over the past five years, primarily for protection.
• The establishment of four wilderness areas and seven nature reserves, totalling 20 250 ha, and the pending designation of three additional  wilderness areas and numerous wilderness area additions comprising approximately  39 000 ha. (Of the 39 000 ha, the 5 000 ha of wilderness area additions were designated in June 2012.)

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Achieving the Province's 12%-by-2015 protected areas involves a great deal of work in the areas of land securement, mitigation of impacts, planning and review, consultation, and many other activities. It is our top priority until it is achieved.
• As noted previously, land-use and land-use competition are very intense in Nova Scotia, and 70% of the province is privately owned. Many areas of high conservation value occur only on private land. Regardless of whether or not the provincial government adopts additional protection goals after 2015, there will be an ongoing need to continue and expand efforts to secure high-priority conservation lands in private ownership.
• Working in partnership with non-governmental land trusts will continue to be a priority.
• Pressures on Nova Scotia's land base are growing, because of increasing demand for resources, shifts in the viability of some traditional industries, development of new kinds of industries, demand for coastal and waterfront property and second/seasonal residences, rising fuel and food costs favouring local food production, rising commodity prices and consequent growth in interest in Nova Scotia's mineral, oil and gas resources. Protected areas are often surrounded by land under intensive industrial uses, and maintaining ecological connectivity and viability is a major challenge. Currently available tools are inadequate to maintain connectivity across the landscape, which is also important for climate change adaptation. A priority following achievement of the 12%-by-2015 target will be to find ways to address this issue.

Map 12: Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• 1278.1 ha designated under the Natural Areas Protection Act, 2006-2011.
• In 2007, the Lands Protection Act was amended to remove the 3000-acre limit on land ownership in Natural Areas.
• Nature Conservancy of Canada (PEI) Inc. was established and began a partnership relationship with the province to acquire and protect natural areas.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Present a major plan for protection of forested areas. This requires input and approval from land managers.
• Forecast how and when the province will meet its initial goal of 7% protected areas.
• Plan a rotation of visitation and inspection of protected areas, identifying any problems that need correction.

Map 13: Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland And Labrador

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• In 2009, a partnership between the provincial Department of Environment and Conservation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada resulted in a three-year Conservation Blueprint Project in Labrador. This project is compiling background data on natural feature and land use information for Labrador, which will be an invaluable information source for conservation and other land use planning in that part of the province.
• In 2009, Main River Waterway Provincial Park was established. This park, which is also a Canadian Heritage River, is the first Waterway Provincial Park established in the province and is now protected as a 152 square km park with an additional 49 square km special management area, where only selective forest harvesting is permitted.
• In 2010, an agreement was made to take the necessary steps to establish a new national park reserve in the Mealy Mountains area of Labrador. The park reserve will protect roughly 10 700 km². The provincial government also announced its intent to establish a waterway provincial park to protect the Eagle River, adjacent to the proposed national park reserve. Together, these areas will protect over 13 000 km² and will be second in size only to Quebec's Lacs-Guillaume-Delisle-et-a-l'Eau-Claire National Park Reserve.
• In 2011, the Nature Conservancy of Canada protected the Grassy Place--the largest piece of private property in Newfoundland and the largest NCC property in Atlantic Canada. The Grassy Place protects 3879 acres (1570 ha) of virtually pristine habitat at the headwaters of Robinsons River in southwest Newfoundland. There was substantial public support for and financial contribution to this initiative.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Release of the Natural Areas System Plan (for establishment of new protected areas) for Newfoundland and identification of potential protected area sites in Labrador.
• Prioritize inventory and management activities for the existing protected areas system; link to partners and existing monitoring initiatives.
• Work with other land users to investigate and establish landscape connectivity links with protected areas (existing and proposed).

Map 14: Newfoundland And Labrador

Yukon

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• June 2009: identification  of a territorial  park at Summit Lake-Bell River through  the approval of the North Yukon Land Use Plan.
• July 2009: Approval of Tombstone Park Management Plan.
• August 2009: official opening of the Tombstone Interpretive Centre.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Building effective cooperative relationships with First Nations partners for the establishment, planning, management and operation of territorial parks
• Protection of 1 representative core area within each of the 20 ecoregions that are located primarily within the Yukon.
• Yukon Government and Yukon First Nations agreement on allocation of protected area(s) in the Peel Watershed regional planning area.

Map 15: Yukon

Northwest Territories

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• In 2009 Saoyú/?ehdacho protected National Historic Site became the first area established through the PAS process.
• A Recommendations Report for Edéhzhíe was jointly submitted  by the Dehcho First Nations and the Tł˛icho˛ Government to the federal Minister of Environment  as part of their formal request to establish Edéhzhíe National Wildlife  Area (NWA) under the Canada Wildlife Act. Key recommendations include a final boundary option and the establishment of a co-management agreement based on the partner communities'  and Environment Canada's shared vision for the Edéhzhíe NWA.
• Four additional areas being sponsored as Candidate NWAs by Environment Canada and two areas being sponsored by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Move the five identified Candidate NWAs and the 2 GNWT-sponsored Candidate sites (Candidate Critical Wildlife Area and Candidate Cultural Conservation Area) through to establishment under the NWT PAS.
• Priorities: complete assessments for one Candidate NWA, develop remaining Recommendation Reports (boundary and management recommendations), gain First Nations and partner agency support for recommended boundaries and management plans, final establishment.partenaire et des Premières nations au plan recommandé concernant les limites et la gestion, établissement définitif.
• Complete assessments for GNWT sponsored sites, finalize Recommendations Report for Candidate Critical Wildlife Area and develop Recommendations Report for Candidate Cultural Conservation Area.
• Evaluate up to four additional territorial candidate sites.
• Priorities: secure funding, identify areas, gain support, identify appropriate designations, and advance areas through the PAS process.
• It is anticipated that some of these areas will be ecologically representative areas to meet the second goal of the NWT PAS.
• Priorities/issues: identify areas in those ecoregions that are underrepresented, gain support for large areas where no development will be allowed, identify/improve legislation framework to enable GNWT-sponsored ecologically representative areas.

Map 16: Northwest Territories

Nunavut

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Completion of Territorial Parks Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement (IIBA)--this fulfills Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) obligations related to Territorial Parks, but also further supports park establishment, and establishes meaningful joint management at community and territorial levels. Documents are still being developed and finalized for the IIBA.
• Continued Support for a new Territorial Parks Act (TPA)--The draft parks program has been developed and will serve as a framework for the new Act. As well, a legislative review for the new Act has been completed.
• Continued Support for National Protected Areas--Department of Environment, with Nunavut Parks acting as the lead, has provided support for many federal protected area initiatives in Nunavut. We have supported feasibility studies for Ukkusiksalik National Park and Tuktusiuqvialuk National Park on Bathurst Island. We have also supported the feasibility study and development of the Lancaster Sound Marine Conservation Area. Our involvement at the federal level also includes support for the 2011 National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• New Parks Act/Program--Continue to identify roles for parks and special places in Nunavut, ensure classifications appropriate for Nunavut, provide for a zoning system (there is currently no zoning system in TPA or regulations), reflect Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, reflect the NLCA and IIBA, and be based on legislative and regulatory "best practices" including principles/purposes and authorities.
• Implementation of IIBA--Pending adequate funding from Canada through NLCA Implementation Contracts. NU will facilitate the establishment of Community and Nunavut Joint Planning and Management Committees, completion of Parks Act/Program, Management Plan Frameworks, management plans, master plans and resource inventories.
• Devolution--Will allow Nunavut a greater say in how lands are managed.

Map 17: Nunavut

Parks Canada Agency

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Nahanni expansion: Parks Canada worked closely with the Deh Cho First Nations and the Northwest Territorial Government to significantly expand Nahanni National Park Reserve to protect over 30 000 km² of crucial habitat for grizzly bears, woodland caribou and Dall's sheep. The six-fold expansion will help to protect the length of the South Nahanni River in the Dehcho, the highest mountains and largest glaciers in the Northwest Territories and the deepest canyons in Canada. The globally unique caves, canyons, rock towers, poljes and sinkholes of the Nahanni North Karst will be inside the new park boundary.
• Saoyú-Dehdacho: In 2009, two peninsulas bordering on Great Bear Lake, an area of 5565 km² (or approximately the size of Prince Edward Island) were permanently protected as Saoyú-Dehdacho National Historic Site. This site protects a cultural landscape of great importance to the people of Great Bear Lake (Sahtu). Saoyú-Dehdacho is the first northern cultural landscape protected as a national historic site and cooperatively managed by Parks Canada and an Aboriginal group.
• Sable Island: In October 2011, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia signed an agreement to establish Sable Island National Park Reserve. Located 290 kms offshore from Halifax, Sable Island is a windswept crescent-shaped sandbar 42 kms long that emerges from the Atlantic Ocean near the edge of the Continental Shelf. The island's sand dunes and fresh water ponds are home to over 400 wild horses and numerous migrant and breeding birds, including the rare Ipswich Savannah sparrow.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Establishing additional National Parks and National Marine Conservation Areas.
• Conserving Canada's Heritage Places.
• Increasing Canadians' connection with Parks Canada Places.

Map 18: Parks Canada Agency

Environment Canada

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Establishment of three new NWA sites on Baffin Island in Nunavut. Akpait, Qaqulluit and Ninginganiq NWA fulfilling agreed-upon goals of the IIBA signed between the Inuit and Canada.
• Commencement of management planning for protected areas in Canada including the drafting of 11 management plans for NWA sites in Canada.
• Approval of a policy with respect to permitting in NWA and Migratory Bird Sanctuary sites.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Prioritization of candidate sites and the evaluation of those sites for establishment as NWA, MBS or Cooperative Wildlife Management Areas.
• Completion of management planning for protected areas sites under the administration and control of Environment Canada.
• Completion of legal revisions and regulatory amendments that affect the boundaries of protected areas in Canada.

Map 19: Environment Canada

Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Range health measured at over 85%.
• Renew Representative Areas Network Memorandum of Understanding.
• Collaboration with Environment Canada on species at risk research and recovery.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Pressure for land to be used for resource development (oil and gas), no guidelines to reduce impact.
• Meeting legislation regulations for species at risk and environmental assessment.

Map 20: Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada

Fisheries And Oceans Canada

Most significant achievements in the last five years:

• Three new Oceans Act MPAs were established:
  • Musquash Estuary (2007)
  • Bowie Seamount (2008)
  • DFO's first Arctic MPA, Tarium Niryutait (2010)
• Management Plans have been developed (if not published) for all eight Oceans Act MPAs.
• Multi-stakeholder public advisory bodies have been created for all eight Oceans Act MPAs.
• The National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas was "approved in principle" by Ministers in September 2011 and was subsequently published to the DFO's website.
• A new fifteen-year Canada-Quebec agreement on the St. Lawrence (the 2011-2026 St. Lawrence Action Plan) was signed by the federal and provincial governments in November 2011.

Three major planning issues and priorities over the next three to five years:

• Proceed with bioregional MPA network planning on five priority bioregions (Pacific Northern Shelf, Western Arctic [Beaufort Sea], Gulf of St. Lawrence, Scotian Shelf and Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves) progressing through the process described in the National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas.
• Enhance management, compliance and ecological monitoring of existing Oceans Act MPAs.
• Advance seven Areas of Interest as future Oceans Act MPAs through the MPA establishment process.

Map 21: Fisheries And Oceans Canada