2007 Park expansion announcement

What does it mean?

On August 8th, 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister John Baird flew to Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories to announce that the federal government has placed 28,800 square km of land under interim protection specifically for the purpose of expanding the national park. When added to the lands protected in the current 4766 km square park, almost 85% of the South Nahanni Watershed and Nahanni karstlands -- an area larger than Vancouver Island -- is now protected.

The Prime Minister’s announcement (official release, CPAWS release) effectively protects the Dehcho area of the watershed (85%) and the adjacent Nahanni karstlands while the formal park expansion process is completed.  In the Sahtu region, discussions to protect the remaining 15% of the watershed are proceeding through a separate process, and signs are positive.

CPAWS is calling on its supporters to mount the final wave of support for protecting the entire South Nahanni Watershed – permanently – in an expanded National Park, and all mining proposals in the watershed should be stopped.

The federal government is consulting Canadians on an expanded park boundary within the Dehcho region of the watershed. CPAWS, local First Nations, scientists and thousands of Canadians support protecting the entire South Nahanni Watershed in an expanded National Park, and oppose all mining proposals in the watershed. 

Nahanni Land Withdrawal map 08-16-2007
The original park and interim land withdrawal to allow for park expansion, Dehcho Region (draft 16-08-2007)



By the numbers:

Total size of South Nahanni watershed and adjacent karstlands
Approx 40,000 sq km
Current Nahanni National Park Reserve (permanent protection):
4,766 sq km
Aug 8 announcement (lands set aside for national park expansion)
28,800 sq km
Lands still to be protected in the watershed (Nahanni Headwaters in Sahtu region)
6,500 sq km