Celebrating the World's First International Peace Park
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Celebrating the World’s First International Peace Park A Brilliant Idea It started as an idea at an annual Rotary and vegetation management, search and International meeting, between clubs rescue programs, and joint interpretive in Alberta and Montana, and it didn’t programs, brochures, and exhibits. take long for the idea to catch hold. In 1932, Waterton Lakes National Park and Waterton-Glacier International Peace Glacier National Park were officially Park was further honored in 1995 when joined together as Waterton-Glacier it was designated as a World Heritage International Peace Park. The Peace Site for its scenic values, its significant Park celebrates the peace and goodwill climate, landforms and ecological existing along the world’s longest processes, and abundant diversity of undefended border, as well as a spirit of wildlife and wildflowers. cooperation which is reflected in wildlife Upper Waterton Lake and Surrounding Mountains - Parks Canada The Pine Balance: A Shared Responsibility A foreign fungus, the white pine A number of prescribed burns were blister rust affects the majority of used to open the canopy and create areas the whitebark pines in Waterton and suitable for whitebark pines to grow. Glacier. This fungus was transported The area surrounding Summit Lake, to North America from Europe when for example, has had a number of plots trees unknowingly infected with the cleared where whitebark pine seedlings fungus were brought over in the early have been planted. These seedlings were 20th century, which is credited with the grown in greenhouses associated with wide spread of the infection throughout Glacier’s Native Plant Nursery, from the continent. Unlike European relatives seeds collected from healthy whitebark of the whitebark pine, North American pines in the area. In fact, Waterton 5-needled pines have no resistance to and Glacier staff, alongside numerous this infection. White pine blister rust volunteers have been planting thousands is especially devastating to seedlings of seedlings over the last five years in and young pines, with little likelihood areas suitable for whitebark pine habitat. that infected seedlings will survive to The hope is to tip the balance back in maturity. Considered alongside a spike favour of our whitebark pines in the in population of native pine beetles in hope of reinstating the natural balance the area, insects whose larvae feast on that permits these trees to compete in the pine bark, whitebark pine populations wild. Black Bear Reaching for Cones - Robert J. Weselmann have been devastated in the International Peace Park. A study conducted in the The restoration of the whitebark pine Pale skin, elongated needles, contorted numerous animals in the park, including park spanning 13 years (1996-2009) noted population in the International Peace spines; whitebark pines certainly dress black and grizzly bears, red squirrels that mortality and blister rust infection Park is a high priority for both parks for the role they play as the elders and the Clark’s nutcracker. Like the in whitebark pines both increased by a as these fascinating trees are crucial to of our forest. Patiently growing over hierarch of a family, these pines create a staggering 3% with every year. maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Contact centuries, many of the whitebark pines foundation that supports an ecosystem. the park to see how you can be involved currently living in the Waterton-Glacier In response to the alarming mortality in the restoration project. International Peace Park began their Though renowned for their resilience and infection rates, a joint effort was lives over a thousand years ago, long and longevity, human actions have initiated to reverse the effects of human before there ever was such a thing as a inadvertently threatened these trees. impact and restore the pine population peace park, the boundary dividing it, or Whitebark pines are now on the brink Europeans in North America. of disappearing from the peace park and are threatened across the continent. This keystone species plays a role in The synergistic effects of a century of maintaining a healthy ecosystem in the fire suppression, the introduction of an peace park. Growing especially well in invasive fungus and a spike in pine- alpine regions (2000 to 3000 m elevation), beetle populations have all contributed to where fewer trees compete for the the rapid decline of the whitebark pine. sunlight they depend on; these trees are perfectly adapted to a delicate balance of The absence of wildfires has tipped the natural factors. Growing on steep slopes, natural balance out of the whitebark the roots of the whitebark pine stabilize pines favour. Whitebark pines need lots the soil, decreasing the rate of soil erosion of sunlight, which means they depend on while creating micro-climates wherein the canopy-clearing action of wildfires to neighbouring organisms might thrive. establish themselves. Without these clear Additionally, the cones of whitebark patches in the forests, whitebark pines pines produce nutrient-rich seeds, similar are outcompeted by other trees and, as to the pine nuts you might find in a fancy our forests become thicker and thicker, salad, that are an integral food source for have fewer habitable areas in the park. Cages Protect Ripening Cones - Parks Canada Planting Seedlings - Parks Canada 17 Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park International Peace Park Hike Join us in celebrating the long-standing Starting at 10 a.m. from the Bertha Lake Boundary on your way to Goat Haunt in in Waterton, (403) 859-5133, or at the St. peace, friendship, and cooperative trailhead in Waterton Lakes National Glacier National Park, Montana. Return Mary Visitor Center, (406) 732-7750, in management of our two countries by Park, this 13 km (8 mi) hike along to Waterton is via boat. A fee is charged Glacier. Reservations are only accepted participating in an International Peace Upper Waterton Lake is jointly led by for the return boat trip and advance for the next scheduled hike. Come Park Hike. These special two-nation a Glacier Park Ranger and a Waterton reservations are recommended. The prepared with a lunch, water, rain gear, hikes explore the landscape surrounding Park Interpreter. Learn about Waterton- boat will have you back to the dock in jacket, hat. Wear sturdy footwear. The Waterton Lake and also the political Glacier’s three international designations Waterton by early evening. Each hike trail is not difficult, but you will be hiking realities of a resource shared by two and take part in a peace & friendship is limited to 35 people, so you must most of the day. Bring money for the neighboring parks and countries. ceremony as you cross the International pre-register at either the Visitor Centre boat. Pets are not permitted. The International Peace Pavilion at Goat Haunt - David Restivo Beargrass - Bill Hayden, “Hands across the border” Ceremony - Jeff Yee, The International - David Restivo Discover Our Neighbors’ Cultural Heritage This area holds special appeal for visitors handcrafts as sales items. The museum is The People’s Center and Native interested in the culture of indigenous open daily from June through September. Ed-Ventures, for the preservation of peoples. Waterton-Glacier International Also in Browning, North American Kootenai and Salish Culture, are located Peace Park lies just west of the Kainai and Indian Days, the second weekend in July, near Pablo, Montana. The Center provides Piikani Reserves in Canada and borders is a large celebration of Native American educational opportunities, full-day and the Blackfeet Reservation in the United culture that includes a parade, traditional half-day interpretive tours of the Flathead States. People of the Confederated Salish dress, and dancing. Visitors are always Indian Reservation, a museum collection, and Kootenai Tribes, southwest of the welcome. and gift shop. Open daily throughout the park, also have a close association with summer. Call (406) 883-5344 or (406) 675- the park. Take the time to learn about our Northeast of Waterton, early plains 0160 for further information. neighbors. culture is dramatically displayed at Head- Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Nearby in Browning, Montana, the Site. This site is open seven days a week Museum of the Plains Indian features in summer. Phone (403) 553-2731 for fascinating exhibits and Native American further information. Blackfeet at Two Medicine - R. E. Marble Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park Accessibility Akamina Kishinena Provincial Park is The Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers, Wheelchair accessible trails include the located in the southeast corner of the the International Peace Park Pavilion, Trail of the Cedars, Running Eagle Falls, British Columbia and borders both and the Cameron Lake Day Use Area and a portion of the Swiftcurrent Nature Waterton Lakes and Glacier National are wheel-chair accessible. A listing Trails in Glacier, and the Linnet Lake, Parks. High spacious alpine ridges, of additional facilities and services, Kootenai Brown, and Townsite trails in deep secluded valleys and windswept accessible to visitors with special needs, Waterton Lakes. passes provide habitat and connectivity is available at visitor centers and entrance to the last self-sustaining grizzly bear stations throughout Waterton-Glacier Park Elevations: population in the United States. Exposed International Peace Park. Lake McDonald 3150 ft. 960m alpine ridges, southern latitude and Logan Pass 6640 ft. 2024m southern exposure provide winter range Interpretive programs in Glacier National Many Glacier 4900 ft. 1494m for goats and big horn sheep. Park accessible by wheelchair are Polebridge 3600 ft. 1097m highlighted in the park’s ranger-guided St. Mary Lake 4500 ft. 1372m The trails and passes of the Akamina- activity guide, available throughout Two Medicine 5150 ft. 1570m Kishinena used today to cross the Glacier. Waterton 4200 ft. 1280m axis of the continent, were established and used for many years by the early people’s and wildlife travelling between the Flathead Basin and the abundant Great Plains.