Management plan review
Fundy National Park
About Fundy National Park…
Nestled in the southern limits of Albert County, New Brunswick and bordered on the south by the Chignecto Bay in the Upper Bay of Fundy, Fundy National Park falls within traditional Mi’gmaq territory called Sikniktewag (“drainage area”). Parks Canada acknowledges the lands upon which we gather in New Brunswick to be the unceded territories of the Mi’gmaq, Wolastoqey and Peskotomuhkati Nations.
Established in 1948, Fundy National Park protects 206 km2 of the Fundy Coastal eco-region which includes sheltered coves, salt marshes, estuaries and rugged cliffs that rise 150 metres from the bay. The Park also includes the Southern Uplands eco-region, which is characterized by a rolling, hilly plateau cut by deep valleys and cascading rivers. Within the Southern Uplands eco-region, the topography reaches over 400 metres with the Upper Salmon River, Point Wolfe River and Goose River carving steep-sided ravines down to the coast.
The area surrounding Fundy National Park is sparsely populated, with the community of Alma, situated at the southeastern edge of the Park, being the only adjacent settlement. The major population centres of the region include Saint John, Fredericton, Sussex and Moncton.
Highway 114 bisects the Park for 21 km, extending from Wolfe Lake in the northwest to Alma in the southeast, and provides a transportation link to the Trans-Canada Highway. Fundy National Park receives over 350,000 visitors annually.
Management plan review
Fundy National Park is reviewing its management plan which guides future decisions and actions in protecting, presenting and operating the park.
An integral part of the plan’s renewal process is engagement with Indigenous partners, stakeholders and the public. Parks Canada is seeking feedback on proposed vision elements and key topics that will frame the development of a 10-year management plan for Fundy National Park. Engagements with Indigenous partners and stakeholder groups are currently underway with more to follow in the upcoming months.
What is a park management plan?
Management plans provide a long-term vision, key strategies and objectives that guide the management of a national park over a 10-year period. A management plan is an important document in ensuring that Parks Canada delivers on its commitments to Canadians. Once complete, the Fundy National Park management plan will be tabled in Parliament and signed by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada.
Get Involved!
We want to hear from you. Public involvement ensures that management plans reflect the perspectives of Canadians. We invite you to review the proposed vision elements and key topics for the management plan and let us know if you think we are on the right track. Please send us your comments by email at pc.fundy.pc@pc.gc.ca by Friday, June 10, 2022.
Information collected from this first phase of the management plan process will be used in the development of a draft management plan. A second public consultation period will follow once the draft is complete. Stay tuned for more details!
Vision
The following elements are being proposed as the basis in developing a vision for the future of Fundy National Park.
In 15-20 years, Fundy National Park has:
- effectively maintained and improved the status of species at risk occurring within park boundaries as a result of active management;
- established co-operative management with Indigenous partners, through growth, healing, understanding and sharing knowledge;
- instilled an understanding and appreciation of Indigenous Peoples in the minds and hearts of visitors;
- contributed to improved ecological connectivity and protection of significant conservation areas in the region including adjacent coastal environments;
- become a key year-round tourism destination contributing to sustainable rural economies; and
- become recognized as a leader in sustainable operations, tourism and connecting visitors with nature and conservation.
Key topics for the management plan review
Active management to improve ecological integrity
Ecosystems have integrity when their native components are healthy and intact. Ecological integrity indicators like forest, freshwater and wetland ecosystems in the Park are in fair to good condition, but some areas require sustained active management for continued improvement. Species at risk measures are a priority and a continued focus on conservation efforts, such as recovering the endangered Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon population, is improving these measures; Trail condition data shows that visitor use and poor trail design are impacting ecological integrity in Fundy National Park.
Building on the success of the Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon population recovery initiative, Fundy National Park is collaborating across the region on species at risk recovery and other current ecological priorities like restoring disturbed landscapes and improving the sustainability of the trail network and other operations. Forest ecosystem monitoring will be improved with a new measure for forest birds and a focus on invasive species. A Parks Canada Research Chair has been established in the Atlantic Region to focus on river restoration which will expand partnerships in conservation to provide regionally-scaled ecosystem research.
Relationship with Indigenous communities
It is a priority for Fundy National Park to continue to work together and build stronger relationships with Indigenous partners to identify mutual goals and priorities for park management and operations. Increased involvement in visitor experience, ecological and conservation planning, Indigenous Knowledge, cultural education, training and employment/contracting opportunities will move our collaborations towards shared stewardship and co-operative management.
Visitor experience sustainability, accessibility and equality
Fundy National Park will identify visitor-use management approaches to maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction and enjoyment in peak season. and will continue to invest resources in development of visitor experience products and services which support visitation growth during the shoulder seasons.
Development of more accessible and inclusive visitor facilities; increased incentive, meeting, conference and event offers; and continued expansion of Indigenous cultural heritage experiences (working with Indigenous partners) will be areas of emphasis during the next planning cycle.
A working group, comprised of Park staff and a local advocate for accessible visitor experiences, has been established and has developed a draft inventory of projects that would increase the number of accessible visitor experiences. During the next five to 10 years, Fundy National Park will implement the proposed projects as funding allows. The Park will continue to implement programs and services that support freedom of gender identity and expression.
Cultural resource information
The condition of archaeological sites in the park is largely unknown. Limited work was done in 2010 to evaluate cultural landscapes. Improving the understanding of cultural resources in the Park presents opportunities for collaboration with Indigenous partners and community stakeholders. Incorporating archaeological assessments and Indigenous Knowledge into infrastructure projects may also help improve the understanding of cultural resources in the Park.
Asset sustainability
Sustainable asset management is a priority over the next 10 years with a focus on realistic maintenance plans, assessment of options for divestment and investment in utility infrastructure. Seizing opportunities to replace aged equipment with high-efficiency, green procurement replacements will also be prioritized over the next 10 years.
Regional landscape influences
Fundy National Park is influenced by land-use practices in the surrounding region. The relatively small size of Fundy National Park means ecosystems and processes can be significantly affected by how ecosystems (such as forests) and processes (such as insect outbreaks) are managed outside the Park’s boundaries.
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