(Chapter 7—Ecological Integrity in National Parks—Fall 2013 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Ottawa, 5 November 2013—Although Parks Canada has made some significant efforts to protect ecological integrity in Canada’s national parks, it is facing a large backlog of work, says Neil Maxwell, interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, in his Fall 2013 report tabled today in Parliament. The Agency has yet to assess the condition of 41 percent of parks’ ecosystems, and a third of those it has assessed are in decline.
“Despite Parks Canada’s significant efforts in many areas, the Agency is struggling to protect ecosystems in Canada’s parks,” said Mr. Maxwell. “The Agency acknowledges that the condition of many national park ecosystems is in decline.”
The Agency is responsible for protecting ecosystems in national parks so as to leave them unimpaired for the benefit, education and enjoyment of current and future generations of Canadians. The audit found that Parks Canada has put together a solid framework of policies, directives, and guidelines for fulfilling its key responsibilities with respect to ecological integrity. The Agency carries out visitor activity and infrastructure projects in accordance with its directives and guidelines and considers the impacts on ecological integrity when approving and implementing such projects.
However, the audit also found that the Agency has a significant backlog of unfinished work. For example, it did not meet its targets for maintaining ecosystems through the active management of fire, and it is frequently behind schedule in producing state of the park reports, park management plans and annual implementation reports. In addition, Parks Canada has not met its 2009 target to put in place a scientifically credible monitoring system to report on ecological integrity in Canada’s national parks. As a result, the Agency does not have a complete picture of the state of parks.
Parks Canada has not clarified how and when it intends to clear the backlog of unfinished work, restore the integrity of ecosystems it knows are in decline, and continue to address emerging threats to ecological integrity, such as climate change and invasive species. This has become more important given recent resource reductions.
“Given the increasing threats to park ecosystems and the challenges Parks Canada faces, the Agency needs to clearly map out how it will avoid falling further behind in its efforts to protect ecological integrity in Canada’s national parks,” said Mr. Maxwell.
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