Parks forever

National parks are, undoubtedly, the best known of our protected areas. They protect some of our most beautiful natural spaces. Who has not heard of the national parks of the Gaspé Peninsula, Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Orford, under the responsibility of the Government of Quebec, and the federal National Parks: Forillon, la Mauricie, and the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada?

Since Quebec created its first Park, Mont Tremblant, in 1895, the network of Quebec national parks has continued to grow. Today there are 24 national parks. Despite their fame, these 24 parks cover only 11,087 km2 or 0.66% of Quebec, proportionately not very much.  The three Canadian national parks add 897 km2, or an additional 0.05% of Quebec.

The objective of the national parks is to protect the best representatives of Quebec's biological diversity for future generations. From the hardwood forests of Southern Quebec to the tundra of Nunavik, from the Boucherville Islands to the high peaks of the Gaspé peninsula or the Torngats mountains, national parks form a representative sampling of the natural environments of Quebec.

No industrial activity of any kind (forestry, mining and energy exploitation) is permitted in national parks. Their absolute priority is the preservation of ecological integrity. In addition to this conservation mission, national parks also have an important mission to educate, by  making certain sites available to the public, for interpretation and low-impact recreation activities  (camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, etc.).

CPAWS's work
CPAWS works to develop the national parks network, by participating in their planning and expansion, as well as in the public hearings prior to their creation. For example, we have supported the Inuit in their desire to include the Nastapoka River in the Tursujuq national park project, thus protecting the world's only population of seals that live permanently in freshwater.

CPAWS works to ensures that the ecological integrity of our national parks is preserved and we actively intervene when development projects threaten national parks. An example of this is the Matoush uranium exploration project, just a few kilometres from the boundary of the projected Albanel-Témiscamie-Otish national park (ATO). Another example, is the extension of Highway 167 to the Otish mountains. This road is slated to be used intensively by the mining industry. It is projected to run through the ATO National Park for a distance of 64 km.

And who does not remember the Mont-Orford National Park saga, when the Government wanted to remove a large portion of Mount Orford, the heart and soul of this national park, and privatize it? CPAWS, in collaboration with SOS Orford, was key to stopping the project, leading to reintegration of the area into the national park after many years of effort.

For several years, CPAWS Quebec has sat on the Quebec Advisory Committee on national parks.

*French to English translation www.superphrase.com