Nahanni expansion timeline
- 1972 - Establishment of Nahanni National Park Reserve
- 1978 - Recognition of Nahanni National Park Reserve as first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 1987 - Formal recognition of need to expand park in Nahanni Park Management Plan.
- 1987 - South Nahanni River designated Canadian Heritage River.
- 2000 - Dehcho First Nations propose protection of entire South Nahanni Watershed.
- 2002 - Government of Canada Action Plan for National Parks includes expansion of Nahanni.
- 2003 - Parks Canada and Dehcho First Nations sign Memorandum of Understanding to work together towards park expansion.
- 2003 - Interim protection for part of watershed as part of Dehcho/Canada self- governance negotiations.
- 2004 - Parks Canada/Dehcho form Nahanni Expansion Working Group (NEWG) to study and recommend a final boundary for the expanded park. Entire watershed and Nahanni karstlands identified as the area of interest.
- 2005/06 – CPAWS Nahanni Forever tour crosses Canada, stopping in 18 cities from coast to coast to coast, with special guests Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, scientists, musicians, celebrities and conservationists.
- January 2007 - Federal Environment Minister Baird commits to advancing protection of a suite of sites in the NWT, including Nahanni.
- August 2007 - Prime Minister Harper and Environment Minister Baird commit to massive expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve and announce temporary protection of Dehcho part of watershed until Oct. 31, 2008, to allow expansion process to be completed.
- Oct-Dec 2007– Public consultations held on proposed expanded boundaries of Nahanni. Overwhelming public support expressed for protecting entire watershed.
- April 2008 – Minister Baird announces interim protection of 7,600km2 in the Nahanni Headwaters (Sahtu region) for creation of Nááts’ihch’oh National Park.
- April 2009 - Parks Canada announces Nahanni National Park Reserve as a new wilderness area within Canada's national parks.
- June 9, 2009 - the final boundaries are announced for the greatly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories.
- June 18, 2009: the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve is enshrined in law!