Wood Buffalo National Park retains “significant concern” ranking despite Action Plan
December 4, 2020, OTTAWA, Ontario – This week, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its third World Heritage Outlook report on the state of natural World Heritage sites. The report finds that more than half of Canada’s 11 sites are showing signs of stress. Of particular concern, Wood Buffalo National Park – Canada’s largest national park – remains a site of “significant concern”, despite Canada releasing an Action Plan in 2019 to address ongoing cumulative threats to the park from upstream development pressures and climate change.
The IUCN World Heritage Outlook is a global independent assessment of the state of natural World Heritage sites. It has been updated every three years since it was introduced in 2014.
“We welcome this report on the state of natural World Heritage sites. However, we are concerned about the continued precarious state of several of Canada’s treasured sites, in particular Wood Buffalo National Park,” said CPAWS Senior Conservation Coordinator, Anna Pidgorna. “We hope this report from the IUCN will trigger more urgent action from governments to safeguard the future of these globally significant ecosystems.”
Five of Canada’s natural World Heritage Sites have a conservation outlook of “good with some concerns”, with climate change and invasive species flagged as the highest threats for North American natural World Heritage sites. For example, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and the two cross-border protected areas in the United States and Canada – Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek – are reporting deteriorating trends as a result of melting glaciers due to climate change. Unsurprisingly, climate change has been identified as the most prevalent threat to natural World Heritage sites in the 2020 assessment.
World Heritage sites are recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as places so spectacular and ecologically and culturally significant that they warrant special recognition and protection by the entire global community. There are 194 countries – including Canada – that are signatories to the UN World Heritage Convention. Under the Convention, countries nominate areas as potential World Heritage sites, and then, if they are designated by the UN World Heritage Committee, pledge to protect their outstanding universal values on behalf of the entire world community.
“The value of Canada’s natural World Heritage sites is globally recognized, and here at home they are key to our country’s conservation efforts,” said CPAWS National Executive Director, Sandra Schwartz. “Not only do these protected areas help tackle the biodiversity and climate change crises by defending nature, they also provide extensive economic and health benefits to Canadians. The threats need to be met with action by the governments stewarding these sites.”
Background
- Canada has 10 natural World Heritage sites and one mixed (natural and cultural) site, all of which have been assessed in the IUCN Outlook Report:
Conservation Outlook: “Significant Concern”
- Wood Buffalo National Park
Conservation Outlook: “Good with Some Concerns”
- Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
- Gros Morne National Park
- Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
- Nahanni National Park
- Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
Conservation Outlook: “Good”
- Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs
- Miguasha National Park
- Mistaken Point
- Pimachiowin Aki (Canada’s first mixed World Heritage Site, designated in 2018)
- Wood Buffalo National Park has been under scrutiny from the World Heritage Committee for six years. In response to a 2014 petition from the Mikisew Cree First Nation expressing concern about the state of the Park, the Committee issued a number of decisions and reports calling on Canada to take action. Canada responded by preparing an Action Plan in 2019; however, more is needed to implement this plan. A timeline of key events is below:
December 2014: Mikisew Cree First Nation petitions the World Heritage Committee for the inclusion of Wood Buffalo National Park on the list of World Heritage sites “In Danger”.
July 2015: The World Heritage Committee requests a Reactive Monitoring Mission and a Strategic Environmental Assessment to evaluate cumulative impacts on the Park.
September 2016: The Reactive Monitoring Mission arrives in Canada and conducts its assessments.
March 2017: The Reactive Monitoring Mission releases its report with 17 recommendations for improving the conservation outlook for the Park.
July 2017: The World Heritage Committee requests that Canada prepare an Action Plan for improving the conservation outlook for the Park.
November 2017: The new IUCN Outlook report is released, which highlights the challenges faced by the Park and places its conservation outlook at “significant concern”.
February 2019: Canada releases the Action Plan for the Park, describing 142 actions aimed to address recommendations from the Reactive Monitoring Mission and threats identified in the Strategic Environmental Assessment.
December 2020: Canada is due to submit an updated State of Conservation Report to the World Heritage Committee, outlining the progress in implementing the Action Plan for the Park. In response, a group of local Indigenous communities and environmental organizations from Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories who are concerned about the slow implementation of the Wood Buffalo National Park Action Plan have submitted an open letter to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
About CPAWS
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of our public land, ocean, and freshwater, and ensuring our parks and protected areas are managed to protect nature. Since 1963, we have played a leading role in protecting over half a million square kilometres. Our vision is to protect at least half of Canada’s public land and water in a framework of reconciliation – for the benefit of wildlife and people. For more information about CPAWS and the work we do to safeguard Canada’s natural heritage, visit cpaws.org. Join our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Donate today. Take action.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Tracy Walden
National Director, Communications and Development, CPAWS
twalden@localhost
613-915-4857