Introduction

Introduction

Assessing Park Feasibility:

When a potential park area has been selected for the natural region, a new park proposal is prepared as the basis for a detailed feasibility assessment, including public consultations. The factors listed above are now studied in greater detail, with the direct involvement of the provincial or territorial government and in consultation with local communities, Aboriginal peoples, non-government organizations, relevant industries, other government departments and the interested public.

Alternative land uses are sometimes explicitly considered and compared and, on lands under federal administration, a Mineral and Energy Resources Assessment is undertaken.

Possible boundaries of the potential national park are drawn to:

• protect ecosystems and landscape features representative of the natural region
• accommodate the habitat requirements of viable populations of native wildlife species
• include an undisturbed area which is relatively unaffected by impacts orgina-ting from the surrounding landscape
• maintain the integrity of natural communities and drainage basins
• protect exceptional natural phenomena, and vulnerable, threatened or endangered wildlife and vegetation
• offer opportunities for public understanding and enjoyment
• minimize possible disruption of the social and economic life of the surrounding region; and
• include significant cultural heritage features or landscapes
• exclude permanent communities.

If this assessment shows that a national park is feasible and that there is public support for this land use option, the governments may decide to proceed with negotiation of a park agreement. If a national park is not a feasible option, other representative natural areas are considered elsewhere in the natural region.

Proposed national park lands are sometimes "reserved" through appropriate federal or provincial legislation at some point during the feasibility assessment in order to provide interim protection pending final decisions.