As spring rapidly passes into summer, many of us are starting to think about camping trips, hiking, canoeing, and a whole host of other great, self-propelled outdoor activities. And what obvious ‘playground’ do many of us – especially city-dwellers – consider for these activities? Well, National Parks and other protected areas, of course!

So, I thought I’d write a wee, warbling update on what’s been happening lately with respect to protecting Canada’s amazing wild spaces. You can use this for ‘wilderness inpiration’ as you’re planning your outdoor adventures for the coming summer. And if you’re planning to visit Wood Buffalo National Park, watch out for the world’s largest beaver dam!

Since December promising progress has been made on some new national parks (NPs) and national marine conservation areas (NMCAs), as well as progress on some ‘older’ new initiatives, too. Here’s a rough timeline of selected wilderness conservation highlights over the past few months:

December 2009:

• Minister Prentice announces launch of Feasibility Study for the proposed Lancaster Sound NMCA in Canada’s arctic. In early April fears arise that a Geological Survey of Canada plan for a ‘seismic seabed survey’ for oil & gas deposits will derail the NMCA proposal and negate the $5 million investment for Parks Canada’s Feasibility Study. This is not the case and the survey may actually accelerate the Feasibility Study.

January 2010:

• Canada celebrates the 125th anniversary of National Parks in the country.
• Minister Prentice signs MOU with Nova Scotia to work toward NP or National Wildlife Area designation for Sable Island.
• Parks Canada issues a request for proposals “to identify representative marine areas” in the Bay of Fundy Marine Region, which may lead to an NMCA proposal being developed for the area.
• Minister Prentice announces launch of public consultations around 3 boundary options for proposed Nááts´ihch´oh NP Reserve in NWT, which will protect the headwaters of the South Nahanni River. Did you comment on the boundary options? This will be the final step in protecting the Greater Nahanni Ecosystem forever!
• Government of Canada and the Council of The Haida Nation sign the Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement, moving toward establishment of the proposed Gwaii Haanas NMCA Reserve.

February 2010:

• Government of Canada signs MOU with Newfoundland & Labrador to explore boundary options for proposed Mealy Mountains NP Reserve in Labrador.

March 2010:

• Minister Prentice suggests that Parks Canada deserves a Gold Medal in conservation achievements. Let us know if you agree by taking part in our related Twitter poll.
• A “national conservation plan” is vaguely cited in the Speech from the Throne…
• No direct mention of $$ for new parks establishment in Budget 2010.

April 2010:

• Parks Canada, Nature Canada and the Historica-Dominion Institute jointly announce the ‘My Parks Pass‘ program aimed at getting all Canadian 8th graders into our NPs, NMCAs and National Historic Sites.
• Minister Prentice announces negotiations with Qikiqtani Inuit Association of an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, a key step forward in establishing the proposed Northern Bathurst Island NP Reserve, a process that has been underway since before 1996!
• Government of Canada signs Framework Agreement with Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, moving toward park establishment agreement for the propose Thaidene Nene NP Reserve in NWT, formerly known as “East Arm of Great Slave Lake”.

May 2010

• No new NP- or NMCA-related announcements yet, but we’re looking forward to Ministerial announcements on any of the following areas (or others):

1. Proposed permanent protection for Sable Island (Nova Scotia)
2. The proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen NP (British Columbia)
3. The South Coast Fjords NMCA area of interest (Newfoundland & Labrador)
4. The proposed Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA (British Columbia)
5. The proposed îles de la Madeleine NMCA (Québec)
6. The Manitoba Lowlands NP area of interest (Manitoba)
7. The Wolf Lake (Gooch Aa) NP Reserve area of interest (Yukon)

Keep an eye on Nature Canada’s website, our blog and my Twitter page to find out more about new protected areas across Canada.

Enjoy your wilderness adventures this summer!