Government of Canada to Improve Peary Caribou Habitat in Qausuittuq National Park
News release
August 22, 2019 Qausuittuq National Park, Nunavut Parks Canada Agency
The Government of Canada is committed to preserving our national parks, protecting and restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, announced a federal investment of $584,000 for a conservation project that will improve critical caribou habitat in Qausuittuq National Park.
The Tidy Tundra = Healthy Herd project will remove abandoned industrial debris from past exploration activities and create a healthier habitat for caribou. Prior to the establishment of Qausuittuq National Park, oil and gas explorations in the 1960s and 70s left behind industrial waste that can prevent caribou from feeding in certain areas, could cause physical injury, and, in some cases, is a barrier to the movement and migratory paths of caribou. These cleanup activities have been identified as a priority by Inuit and the community of Resolute Bay and is an important step towards improving Peary Caribou habitat and restoring the landscape within this newly formed national park.
The Government of Canada is taking action to protect species at risk, such as the Peary Caribou in Qausuittuq National Park. Peary Caribou are the smallest subspecies of caribou, and the Government of Canada has made protecting the endangered Peary Caribou and their habitat a priority in the establishment and management of Qausuittuq National Park.
The Tidy Tundra = Healthy Herd project is in its second phase. The first phase of the project focused on consultations with the community of Resolute Bay, reconnaissance visits to identify waste sites, planning logistics and beginning to remove empty fuel barrels. During the second phase of the project, Parks Canada will return to the sites that require further clean-up.
Parks Canada partners with Indigenous communities and organizations across the country to conserve and restore our nature and important habitat, often through the use of traditional knowledge, and collaborates extensively with academic and scientific institutions on ecological projects. By working together, we can protect our environment and conserve our nature for future generations.
-30-
Quotes
“Nature is central to Canada’s culture, prosperity and way of life. Protecting it will benefit our environment, our health and our communities across the country. That’s why our government is doubling the amount of nature protected in Canada’s lands and oceans, to preserve our natural areas and the wildlife that call them home. The Tidy Tundra = Healthy Herd project is an important step towards protecting the endangered Peary Caribou herd and restoring their critical habitat in Qausuittuq National Park.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
Quick facts
-
Minister McKenna officially opened Qausuittuq National Park in August 2017, which is located near Resolute Bay, Nunavut, in the High Arctic.
-
The approximately 11,000 square kilometres of Arctic lands and waters protected in Qausuittuq National Park include most of the northern part of Bathurst Island, as well as the Governor General Islands to the west and smaller islands west and north of Bathurst Island. Seymour Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary is to the north, while the southern boundary of Qausuittuq National Park borders on Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area.
-
Parks Canada works closely with the Qausuittuq Park Management Committee, which is composed of members appointed by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of Canada, to guide the management of Qausuittuq National Park.
Related products
Associated links
Contacts
Sabrina Kim
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-938-3813
sabrina.kim2@canada.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.medias-media.pc@canada.ca
Page details
- Date modified: