Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada Management Plan Iv
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JUNE 2010 Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada Management Plan iv © Her Majesty the Queen in right Library and Archives Canada of Canada, represented by the Cataloguing in Publication Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2010. Parks Canada Wood Buffalo National Park of Cette publication est aussi Canada:Management Plan. disponible en français. Issued also in French under the For more information about title: Parc national du Canada the management plan or about Wood Buffalo, plan directeur. Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada: Available on the Internet and on CD-ROM. Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada Headquarters ISBN 978-1-100-15522-7 Box 750 CAT. NO R61-26/2010E Fort Smith, NWT Canada X0E 0P0 1. Wood Buffalo National Park (Alta. and N.W.T) -- TEL: 867-872-7900 Management. 2. National FAX: 867-872-3910 parks and reserves -- Alberta www.pc.gc.ca/woodbuffalo -- Management. 3. National parks and reserves -- Northwest Wood Buffalo National Park Territories -- Management. 4. Fort Chipewyan Office National parks and reserves -- Box 38 Canada -- Management. I.Title. Fort Chipewyan, AB Canada T0P 1B0 FC 3664 W66 P37 2010 333.78’30971232 TEL: 780-697-3662 C2010-980121-2 FAX: 780-697-3560 Front Cover Image Credits: LARGE IMAGE: South Loop Hike © Parks Canada/J. Jaque INSET IMAGES (L-R): 1. Whooping Crane © Parks Canada/W. Lynch 2. Aboriginal Camp © Parks Canada/L. Frank 3. Wood Bison © Parks Canada/J. McKinnon Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada v Management Plan vi Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada vii Management Plan Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada Management Plan RECOMMENDED FO R APP R OV A L BY : Alan Latourelle Chief Executive Officer Parks Canada Ed Coulthard Field Unit Superintendent Southwest Northwest Territories Parks Canada viii Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada ix Management Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Coyote cub at Sweetgrass © Parks Canada/J. McKinnon arks Canada manages one of the Peace-Athabasca Delta and the whooping Pfinest and most extensive systems crane nesting area were added to the of protected natural and historic areas Ramsar List of Wetlands of International in the world. We protect and present Importance and in 1983 UNESCO these treasures on behalf of Canadians recognized Wood Buffalo National Park for and management plans are a key tool in its many natural wonders. fulfilling this commitment. This document presents the management plan for Wood Wood Buffalo National Park attracts local, Buffalo National Park of Canada. It national and international visitors who contains commitments to the public of wish to experience and learn about the Canada regarding the on-going protection unique cultures, landscapes and wildlife of of one of Canada’s natural treasures the boreal region. The 2010 management and the provision of real and inspiring plan for Wood Buffalo National Park experiences and learning opportunities. establishes a course of action to facilitate the inspired discovery of one of Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park spans the wilderness icons and to provide Canadians boundary of Alberta and the Northwest with an opportunity to create a sense of Territories. Encompassing an area of connection to Wood Buffalo National Park. 44,807 square kilometres, Wood Buffalo It also sets the stage for Parks Canada to National Park is Canada’s largest national establish a management structure with park, a United Nations Educational, local Aboriginal groups and build stronger Scientific and Cultural Organization relationships with stakeholders, and it (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and the presents a comprehensive strategy to second largest national park in the world. address disease within the park’s wood bison population. Wood Buffalo National Park was originally created in 1922 to protect the last free There are three key strategies that form roaming herds of wood bison in northern the foundation of the 2010 management Canada. The park was later identified plan. These strategies support the park’s as critical habitat for the endangered ten vision elements and the three elements whooping crane and it continues to protect of Parks Canada’s integrated mandate – the only wild, self-sustaining population of the protection of heritage resources, the whooping cranes in the world. In 1982 the facilitation of visitor experiences and public x outreach education. Each key strategy will destination to inspire discovery and move Wood Buffalo National Park towards experience the diversity of the northern its future best and a set of corresponding boreal plains. An increased number of objectives and actions will provide concrete visitors will have meaningful experiences direction with measurable targets. The in Wood Buffalo National Park and more three key strategies for Wood Buffalo Canadians will feel connected to and National Park are as follows: understand the significance of the park within the Canadian park system and Key Strategy 1: Towards a Shared Vision internationally. An understanding of audiences’ needs, expectations and desires Towards a Shared Vision focuses on will improve visitor experience and public building relationships with local Aboriginal outreach education initiatives. groups and communities. Parks Canada will work towards the establishment Key actions: of a management structure with local Aboriginal groups and ecological integrity → Completion of Visitor Information and cultural resources will be improved Program surveys in 2011 and 2014. with support from local Aboriginal groups. Local communities will be aware → Collaborating with local Aboriginal of and provided with opportunities to peoples to identify appropriate cultural actively and meaningfully participate in stories for heritage presentation. park management decisions, and visitor experience in the park and public outreach → Developing a public outreach education education efforts for the park will involve strategy to support the Boreal Plains both local Aboriginal groups and local theme by 2011. communities. → Develop a visitor experience plan by Key actions: 2012. → Building and developing a management Key Strategy 3: Bison Management in structure between Parks Canada and the Greater Wood Buffalo National Park local Aboriginal groups. Ecosystem → Collaborating with local Aboriginal An integrated program of monitoring, groups and local communities to create research and management will be a Vision Statement. developed under Bison Management in the Greater Wood Buffalo National Park → Working with communities around Ecosystem. This strategy will ensure the the park to expand partnering long-term viability of the Wood Buffalo opportunities and incorporate Wood National Park wood bison herd and it will Buffalo National Park into their minimize the risk of transmission of bovine tourism offer. diseases to adjacent disease-free wood bison and cattle herds. → Engaging local Aboriginal groups in cultural and ecological research and Key actions: monitoring programs. → Implement a research program to Key Strategy 2: Connecting to the Magic improve our understanding of wood of the Boreal Plains bison population dynamics (including the interaction of disease with Connecting to the Magic of the Boreal predation and other environmental Plains will position the park as a dynamic factors), movement and habitat use Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada xi Management Plan → Develop and implement a disease containment strategy by 2012. → Work with Aboriginal partners to bridge traditional knowledge with western science in wood bison management and communication strategies. Area Management Approaches There are two area management Bison trotting © Parks Canada/J. McKinnon approaches for Wood Buffalo National Park: the Peace-Athabasca Delta Area Management Approach and the Pine Lake Area Management Approach. Area management approaches are effective for specific geographic locations within the park that require more detailed planning. The Peace-Athabasca Delta Area Management Approach addresses the challenges of maintaining, or in some cases improving, the delta’s ecological integrity and cultural value in cooperation with Aboriginal partners, stakeholders, government and industry. The Pine Lake Area Management Approach promotes compatible land-use and development for reserve and park lands at Pine Lake. Wood Buffalo National Park represents a measure of protection for land, water and wildlife that might otherwise be lost or impaired. The above key strategies and area management approaches will improve ecosystem conservation and facilitate visitor experience and public outreach education initiatives that will strengthen the place of Wood Buffalo National Park in the hearts and minds of Canadians. Monitoring and evaluation will provide a ensure the protection of the park’s heritage resources and the integrated delivery of Parks Canada’s mandate and with the identification of new issues and challenges over time Wood Buffalo National Park will move into its next phase of park management planning. xii Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada xiii Management Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ................................................................................................................................ v Recommendations ................................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... ix 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Planning for the Future ...........................................................................................