| Chapter 9: From Islands to Networks |
| (9-6) We recommend that the Minister launch a national partnership program to protect the ecological integrity of national parks, by establishing a Partnership Fund of $20 million per year. Apply the Partnership Fund to a broad range of co-operative agreements to help maintain the ecological integrity of national parks and other federally administered conservation areas, such as Canadian Heritage Rivers. The Panel recommends that the Fund be administered by Parks Canada and that ... |
Currently, there is insufficient funding available to national parks to support effective and comprehensive cooperative activities adjacent to national parks on an ongoing basis. Such a fund would assist in building partnerships. |
UNDER WAY - FUNDING. Measures to support enhanced partnerships in regional ecosystems have been included in the implementation strategy that has been prepared for government consideration as part of the normal budget process. The extent and timing of enhanced partnerships are subject to the availability of new funding. |
| (9-7) We recommend that Parks Canada use the full range of existing regional co-operation models to enhance maintenance of biodiversity and ecological processes in the greater ecosystem of each national park. Evaluate the effectiveness of each model for its potential contribution to land use change in support of maintaining ecological integrity. Example models include ... |
There is no one model for regional cooperation which is appropriate to each situation. Parks Canada currently participates in four biosphere reserves and five model forests. Full participation in these institutions has been hampered by lack of funding. |
UNDER WAY - FUNDING. In considering ways to improve the integration of national parks with their surrounding regional ecosystems, the full range of options will be considered. The extent and timing of greater participation in regional cooperation mechanisms are subject to the availability of new funding. |
| (9-8) We recommend that Parks Canada develop and support partnerships with First Nations, conservation groups, co-operating associations and the business community to assist in a variety of research, monitoring and public education activities in support of maintaining ecological integrity in greater park ecosystems. |
National parks currently have a wide variety of partnership projects with other governments, First Nations and stakeholders. These have been developed and pursued on a case-by-case basis in response to park needs, but the effectiveness of such efforts has been limited by a lack of resources. |
UNDER WAY - FUNDING. Measures to support enhanced partnerships have been included in the implementation strategy that has been prepared for government consideration as part of the normal budget process. The extent and timing of enhanced partnerships are subject to availability of new funding. |
| (9-9) We recommend that Parks Canada develop partnerships with charitable land trusts to secure habitat adjacent to Canada's national parks, in co-operation with private landowners to acquire critical habitat adjacent to national parks or using conservation easements to create zones of cooperation around parks. |
Partnerships with charitable land trusts are an excellent way to secure habitat adjacent to national parks. Initiatives have been taken across the country where opportunities have arisen and resources have permitted (e.g. with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy and the Nature Trust of British Columbia). |
UNDER WAY - FUNDING. Parks Canada will continue to seek opportunities for effective partnerships with charitable land trusts. Enhanced efforts in this area in the future are subject to the availability of new funding for partnerships. |
