Harper Government Welcomes Canada's 44th National Park

Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve officially joins Canada's world-renowned family of national parks

OTTAWA, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced that the Bill to enshrine Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve of Canada in the Canada National Parks Act received Royal Assent – formally creating Canada's 44^th national park. Nààts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve is one of the finest and most extensive system of protected areas in the world.

Combined with the government's significant expansion in 2009 of Nahanni National Park Reserve, the creation of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve ensures the protection of the South Nahanni River watershed and habitat for mountain woodland caribou, grizzly bears, Dall's sheep, mountain goats and Trumpeter swans. Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve will serve as a launching point for visitors to explore this northern wilderness. Visitors will have the opportunity to hike, canoe, raft, climb and experience this incredibly beautiful and ecologically important area in the Northwest Territories. 

This action further cements Canada as an international leader in the area of conservation. The creation of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve supports Canada's National Conservation Plan by conserving Canada's lands and waters and helping Canadians connect with these incredible places of ecological and cultural significance. The establishment of Nááts'ihch'oh also fulfills commitments made in the 2013 Speech from the Throne and in Canada's Northern Strategy.

The Nááts'ihch'oh region has long been home to the Dene and Métis and is an area of significant spiritual and cultural importance to them. The Impact and Benefit Plan signed in March 2012 by the Government of Canada, the Sahtu Dene, and the Métis of the Tulita District for the establishment of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, ensures the provision of lasting economic, cultural and social benefits to Aboriginal, Métis, and northern communities in the Northwest Territories.

Quick Facts

• Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, Canada's 44^th national park, is the 14^th largest national park in Canada at 4,895 square kilometers in size – an area slightly smaller than the entire province of Prince Edward Island.
• When combined with the adjacent Nahanni National Park Reserve, the size of the two parks totals close to 35,000 square kilometres, making it the third largest protected area in Parks Canada's system. For perspective, this is an area larger than the entire country of Belgium.
• Together, Nááts'ihch'oh and Nahanni national park reserves protect 86 per cent of the South Nahanni watershed.
• Travellers on the South Nahanni River, a Canadian Heritage River, can start their journey in the Moose Ponds beside Nááts'ihch'oh (Mount Wilson), the mountain after which the national park reserve is named.
• With the addition of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, the Government of Canada now manages 44 national parks, with a total area almost half the size of Alberta, as well as 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas.
• As of 2006, the total area of lands protected by the Government of Canada through Parks Canada is almost twice the size of Vancouver Island.

Quote

"Our Government is proud to protect Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve and build on our record of expanding Canada's national parks system. Through this action, we ensure the preservation of this beautiful northern landscape for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations."

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Related Product

Backgrounder - Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve

Associated Link

Harper Government Introduces Legislation to Protect Significant Area in Northwest Territories – May 14, 2014

PM announces establishment of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve – Aug. 22, 2012

Image with caption: "Mount Wilson in Naats'ihch'oh National Park Reserve. (CNW Group/Parks Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141218_C6988_PHOTO_EN_9686.jpg

SOURCE: Parks Canada

Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Media Relations, Parks Canada, 855-862-1812, www.twitter.com/parkscanada