Take action

Over 1,300 people have written in support of protecting the Nahanni headwaters.  Thank you to everyone who participated. Although the official comment period has ended, your input to Parks Canada is still important.

What's happening

In April 2010, Parks Canada consulted Canadians on a proposed new national park called Nááts´ihch´oh [pronounced Nah tseen cho] in the headwaters of the South Nahanni watershed, adjacent to the recently expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve (see map).

Unfortunately, all three boundary options proposed by the federal government leave areas of the Nahanni watershed open to mining development.

CPAWS is calling for a boundary that protects the entire headwaters of the South Nahanni Watershed in Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve and completes the vision of protecting Nahanni forever.

Background:

Nááts'ihch'oh is the headwaters of the South Nahanni Watershed and includes critical calving and breeding grounds for woodland caribou, as well as important habitat for grizzly bears, Dall's sheep, mountain goats and other wildlife. It is also a spectacular area for wilderness canoeing and hiking.

Nááts´ihch´oh National Park Reserve will be established in collaboration with the Sahtu Dene and Métis of the Northwest Territories. It will border the recently expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve (NNPR), creating two connected national parks working together to protect the globally renowned Boreal wilderness of the South Nahanni watershed.

Parks Canada has posted 3 boundary options for public comment, all of which leave parts of the Nahanni watershed open to future mining development. Until April 30, Parks Canada is inviting feedback from Canadians on these options. This is your chance to support a park boundary that protects the entire Nahanni headwaters, and completes the vision of protecting Nahanni forever.

In June 2009, the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of Canada expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve six-fold, to 30,000 sq. km.

Now, with your help, we can finish the job of protecting the entire Nahanni watershed by ensuring full protection of the Nahanni Headwaters in Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve.