Report of the Panel on the Ecological Integrity of Canada's National Parks

Volume I: A CALL TO ACTION (Adobe PDF document, 1.8 mb)

Letter to the Minister
Acknowledgements
Dedication: The Visionaries
About This Report
Canada's National Parks
Crisis? What Crisis?
National Parks at the Crossroad
Why Do We Need National Parks?
A Call to Action: Parks Canada
A Call to Action: All Canadians
The Path Before Us
Challenges and Highlights
Signatures

Volume II:

SETTING A NEW DIRECTION FOR CANADA'S NATIONAL PARKS (Adobe PDF document, 803 kb)

Section A
A PANEL EXAMINES THE ISSUES
CHAPTER 1 – A Sacred Trust (Adobe PDF Document, 844 kb)
Protecting Ecological Integrity: A Vital Mission
A Vision for Canada's National Parks
Ecological Integrity: Issues and Fundamental Concepts
Key Findings of the Panel on Ecological Integrity
Fundamental Tools
Protecting Ecological Integrity With National Parks

Section B
PARKS CANADA AS AN ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 2 – Toward a Culture of Conservation (Adobe PDF Document, 500 kb)
Toward a Knowledge-based Organization
Aligning Parks Canada with its Mandate
Structure, Staffing and Decision-making
Accountability
Politics and Parks Canada
Internal Debate and External Advocacy

Section C
A LEARNING ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 3 – Planning for Ecological Integrity (Adobe PDF Document, 508 kb)
Learning Through Adaptive Management
The Current Planning Framework
Changing the Current Planning Framework
Planning at the Park Level
Planning at the National Level


CHAPTER 4 – Building Capacity for Learning and Education (Adobe PDF Document, 570 kb)
A Science Vision for National Parks
Science as Necessary Information
Building Science Capacity
External Science Capacity: Making Science Connections


CHAPTER 5 – The Need for Active Management and Restoration (Adobe PDF Document, 477 kb)
Changing Ideas, Changing Approaches
Restoring Fire – Righting 50 Years of Active Suppression
Species Restoration – Species at Risk
Site Restoration
Dealing with Alien Species
Harvesting
Managing Hyperabundant Species


CHAPTER 6 – Tools for Understanding and Assessing Ecological Integrity (Adobe PDF Document, 459 kb)
Inventory, Research, and Monitoring
National and Park-level Reporting
Data and Information Management

Section D
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES AND NATIONAL PARKS
CHAPTER 7 – Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Adobe PDF Document, 316 kb)
The Lessons of History – From Expulsion to Co-management
Shared Vision – The Spirit of Ecological Integrity
Forming Genuine Partnerships
Aboriginal Harvest in National Parks: From Rights to Responsibilities

Section E
PROTECTED AREAS AND PARTNERSHIPS
CHAPTER 8 – National Parks in the Canadian Protected Areas Network (Adobe PDF Document, 259 kb)
Divergent Approaches to Protection
The National Parks System
Establishing New National Parks


CHAPTER 9 – From Islands to Networks (Adobe PDF Document, 527 kb)
National Parks as Ecological Islands
Regional Empowerment and Responsibility
Regional Co-operation and National Goals
Supporting Partnerships
Legal and Economic Implications

Section F
USE AND ENJOYMENT
CHAPTER 10 – Interpretation and Outreach (Adobe PDF Document, 586 kb)
Interpretation Issues
Focus Interpretation on Ecological Integrity
Current and Potential Audiences
The Importance of Partners in Interpretation
Marketing and Ecological Integrity


CHAPTER 11 – Enjoyment and Appropriate Use (Adobe PDF Document, 467 kb)
Use Within Limits
Allowable and Appropriate Use
Historical Precedents and Non-conforming Uses: A Clarification


CHAPTER 12 – Shrinking the Ecological Footprint (Adobe PDF Document, 520 kb)
Ecological Design
Daily Operations
Environmental Assessment

Section G
INVESTING IN ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
CHAPTER 13 – The Need for Committed Investment (Adobe PDF Document, 570 kb)
Actual Spending Levels are Difficult to Determine
Reduced Budgets
Prerequisites to Additional Resources for Ecological Integrity
Additional Resources
Additional Resources for New Parks
Allocation of Project Funds
The Revenue Policy

In Closing:

GUARDING THE NATIONAL INTEREST (Adobe PDF document, 228 kb)

Unimpaired for Future Generations
The Way Forward
Initial Steps on the Path
Signs of Success

APPENDICES (Adobe PDF document, 1.0 mb)

Appendix A
Methods – How the Panel Worked
Organization of the Panel and Secretariat
Biographies

Appendix B
Glossary

Appendix C
Report of the Sierra Legal Defense Fund to the Panel

Appendix D
Parks Canada Organization Chart

Appendix E
Significant Aboriginal Rights Cases

Appendix F
References and Further Reading

Appendix G
Summary of Recommendations

Mohawk Thanksgiving (Adobe PDF document, 55 kb)