HomeSound Management of Natural Resources:
An Important Commitment in Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park, managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC), plays an important role in the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity in Canada’s Capital Region. The Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program is designed to protect the diversity, integrity and quality of the ecosystems in an environment that is highly frequented by the public. The following is a summary of the program.
Frame of Reference
The development of the Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program is based on a review of legal obligations, NCC guidance documents and current knowledge, as well as on environmental issues and public safety. The information summarized below constitutes the frame of reference for the establishment of the Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program.
A. Legal Considerations
Legislation guiding development of the Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program is based on a number of legal considerations. These include:
- International conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol).
- Federal laws and regulations, such as the Species at Risk Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
- Federal policies and strategies, including the Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation and the Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat.
- Quebec laws, regulations and policies, including the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species and the Environment Quality Act.
B. NCC Corporate Guidance Documents
Numerous NCC guidance documents were considered during the development of the Natural Resources Management Program, including the Plan for Canada’s Capital (NCC, 1999), the Gatineau Park Master Plan (NCC, 2005) and the Environmental Sustainability Policy (NCC, 2003).
C. Past Studies and Current Programs
Over the years, numerous studies and programs have provided information on the natural resources of Gatineau Park. A list of key information and projects follows:
- Five management plans pertaining to vegetation, beavers, deer, bird life, and sport fishing species
- A plan to protect Gatineau Park’s animal and plant species at risk. This plan includes a program to monitor species at risk that are legally protected, along with their associated habitats.
- Two management strategies, one for white-tailed deer and one for beavers
- A study to identify and evaluate the NCC’s valued natural ecosystems and habitats, including Gatineau Park.
- A study of the health of Gatineau Park ecosystems.
- An exhaustive study of the biodiversity present on NCC lands, including in Gatineau Park.
- A program to monitor biodiversity in Gatineau Park.
- Two studies related to the concept of environmental carrying capacity in terms of Meech Lake and La Pêche Lake
- Guidelines to ensure appropriate protection for particular species of Gatineau Park flora and fauna, as well as sensitive habitats (e.g. guidelines for the protection of the eastern red cedar)
- A specific program for the protection of the natural environment of sensitive habitats (e.g. environmental monitoring of the Pink Lake site)
- A water quality management program
- A beaver management program
- The monitoring of public health and safety risks (e.g. monitoring of swimmer’s itch and West Nile virus)
- A corporate research program focused on natural resources, including Gatineau Park.
- A specific program to ensure the application of the environmental assessment process
- A program to assess the environmental impacts of recreational activities (e.g. monitoring the impacts of mountain biking and horseback riding)
- A collaborative scientific research program involving, for example, various government ministries, universities and museums
- The continuous updating of databases.
D. Environmental Issues
The development of the Natural Resources Management Program takes into account the environmental issues affecting the Park. The key issues are the following:
- Fragmentation of natural habitats by various infrastructures
- Protection of biodiversity (stress factors include, for example, increasing use of the Park, invasive species and climatic factors)
- Protection of large ecosystems and ecological corridors
- Private residential enclaves and the urbanization of land around the Park’s periphery, stress factors that increase pressure on the ecosystems
- Protection of species at risk.
E. Public Safety
Public safety is a key NCC priority. To address this, the Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program includes initiatives designed to ensure the safety of Park users and residents. These include, for example, the water quality management program, as well as various monitoring associated with users’ health and safety (e.g. monitoring of swimmer’s itch and West Nile virus).
Strategic Objectives
Based on the frame of reference outlined above, general objectives for the Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program have been established. These objectives guide the NCC in its efforts to protect the Park’s natural resources. Each objective is supported by a list of implementation strategies.
The key objectives are listed below, along with examples of strategies.
- Protect significant Park ecosystems and habitats
- Identify significant ecosystems and habitats within the Park
- Increase knowledge regarding the components of significant ecosystems and establish a monitoring plan
- Maintain and enhance the overall health of Gatineau Park
- Determine the health of the Park, develop and administer a monitoring program
- Identify stress factors that are influencing the natural components and develop strategies to reduce these stresses
- Protect biodiversity
- Determine the Park’s biodiversity, develop and implement a monitoring program
- Conduct environmental assessments for any project, plan or program likely to have an impact on the natural environment
- Protect species at risk
- Implement the Species at Risk Protection Plan
- Participate in the federal program for species at risk recovery
- Increase collaboration with the scientific community
- Promote the collaborative scientific research program outside Canada’s Capital Region
- Create an expert advisory committee to support major conservation projects and to provide opinions and advice with respect to the identified objectives.
Annual Program Planning
The annual planning of natural resource management projects is based on the frame of reference, the general objectives for which a list of implementation strategies has been established, new issues and available resources. Overall, some 50 projects are identified each year.
A Dynamic Process
The Gatineau Park Natural Resources Management Program is a dynamic planning tool. It is reviewed regularly, according to legislative changes, new knowledge and new issues. This approach makes it possible to adapt the program to the various natural or administrative circumstances that may arise.
For Researchers
Gatineau Park is a laboratory for scientists from universities and other public agencies. A particular area of interest is natural resources management.
Researchers require a land access permit.
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