Banff National Park of Canada

Presentations

RECORD OF 2007 ANNUAL PLANNING FORUM

[ Table of Contents ]

Appendix -- Presentations

Park Management Plan Review, State of the Park Report

1. Introduction to the Management Plan Review – Alex Kolesch
2. State of the Park Report – Mike Murtha
3. Potential areas for amendments – Alex Kolesch and Mike Murtha

Introduction to the Management Plan Review

Presentation by Alex Kolesch,
Manager, Planning Group, Lake Louise Field Unit

Slide 1
Management Planning Cycle

Slide 2
Key Guiding Documents

• Canada National Parks Act 2000
• Guiding Principles and Operational Policies
• Parks Canada Agency Corporate Plan
  • 5 year plan, updated annually

Note page

Guiding documents for a park management plan

National Parks Act
Requirement to have a Park Management Plan
Specific direction on:

• key elements to be included
• Consultation
• Review

GPOP
Corporate plan:

• ‘contract' with the government
• Agency priorities
• Results and performance expectations

Slide 3
Role of the Park Management Plan

Slide 4
Role of the Park Management Plan

Note page

• Provides the vision
• Documents where we want to be and the path to get there

Slide 5
Role of the Park Management Plan

Note page

• To deliver on the mandate of the Agency
• And do it in a way that brings together protection, education and experience

Slide 6
Role of the Park Management Plan

Note page
A place to incorporate the perspectives of all Canadians

Slide 7
Role of the Park Management Plan

Note page

• Provides public accountability – it is a public document

Slide 8
Role of the State of the Park Report

Note page
An analysis of the state of:

• Ecological integrity
• Cultural resources
• Visitor experience
• Public education

A close look, using a framework for analysis

Slide 9
Role of the State of the Park Report

Note page
Report on the results of management action

Where we've tried to make changes or fix something

Slide 10
Role of the State of the Park Report

Note page
A tool for informed decision-making

Slide 11
Role of the State of the Park Report

Note page
To communicate the state of the park to the public

State of the Park Report

Presentation by Mike Murtha,
Planner for Banff National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park

Slide 1

Slide 2
Mountain Parks SOPRs Indicators List (1)

RESOURCE PROTECTION

Ecological Integrity

Indicator 1: Native Biodiversity
Indicator 2: Climate and Atmosphere
Indicator 3: Aquatic Ecosystems
Indicator 4: Terrestrial Ecosystems
Indicator 5: Landscapes/Geology

Cultural Resource Management (excludes NHS')

Indicator 1: Resource Condition
Indicator 2: Management Practices
Indicator 3: Effectiveness of Communications

Slide 3
Mountain Parks SOPRs Indicators List (2)

CONNECTION TO PLACE:

Visitor Experience

Indicator 1: Understanding Visitors
Indicator 2: Providing Opportunities
Indicator 3: Quality Service
Indicator 4: Connecting Visitors Personally with the Place

Public Education

Indicator 1: Understanding Our Audience
Indicator 2: Extending Our Reach
Indicator 3: Facilitating Understanding
Indicator 4: Influencing Attitudes

Slide 4
INDICATOR AND MEASURES EXAMPLE 1

Indicator: Native Biodiversity

Measures: Bioregional
1. Ungulates
2. Grizzly bears
3. Birds
4. Wildlife mortality

Park Specific
5. Amphibians
6. Species at risk
7. Wildlife corridors
8. Harlequin ducks

Slide 5
INDICATOR AND MEASURES EXAMPLE 2

Indicator: Aquatic Ecosystems

Measures: Bioregional
1. Water quality
2. Aquatic connectivity
3. Water quantity

Park Specific
4. Thermal springs
5. Lake restoration

Slide 7

	Indicator: Native Biodiversity
Bioregional Measure	Condition/Trend	Park Specific Measure	Condition/Trend
1. Ungulates		5. Amphibians
2. Grizzly Bears		6. Species at Risk
3. Birds		7.Wildlife Corridors
4.Wildlife Mortality		8. Harlequin Ducks

Slide 8

	Indicator: Aquatic Ecosystems
Bioregional Measure	Condition/Trend	Park Specific Measure	Condition/Trend
1. Water Quality		4. Thermal Springs
2. Aquatic Connectivity		5. Lake Restoration (Devon Lakes)
3. Water Quantity

Slide 9
BANFF DRAFT SOPR - VISITOR EXPERIENCE EXAMPLES

INDICATOR: Understanding Visitors

Measures:

• Total number of visitors
• Total number of visitor days
• Visitation trend
• Origins of visitors
• Repeat visitors/first time visitors
• Groupings by characteristics
• Non-visitors

INDICATOR: Providing Opportunities

Measures:

• Park facilities
• Commercial facilities
• Camping
• Activities
• Focal points
• Backcountry use

Slide 10

Heritage Resources
Ecological Integrity (EI)

• Native Biodiversity
• Climate & Atmosphere
• Aquatic Ecosystems
• Terrestrial Ecosystems
• Landscapes & Geology

Cultural Resource Management (CRM)

• Resource Condition
  
  
• Effectiveness of Communications
• Selected Management Practices

Connection to Place
Visitor Experience (VE)

• Understanding Visitors
• Providing Opportunities
• Quality Service
• Connecting with Place

Public Education (PE)

• Understanding Audiences
• Extending our Reach
• Facilitating Understanding
  
  
• Influencing Attitudes

Potential areas for amendments

Presentation by Alex Kolesch and Mike Murtha

Slide 11
Origins of Potential Amendments

Notes

Amendments to the PMP are informed not only by the SoPR but:

• Advisory groups like:
  • The group on interdisciplinary problem solving
  • LATB
  • Elk advisory now Montane working group
• New & emerging issues
• Corporate direction
• Broader public participation

Slide 12
Potential Amendments - I

Notes

We're suggesting that we could provide an improved context for the management plan in an introductory section

This context would be the lens through which the rest of the management plan would be viewed

It would include a number of elements, which I'll speak about

Slide 13
Potential Amendments - I

Notes

Alan Latourelle has challenged us to provide a stronger vision for the mountain parks as a whole

One that reflects that our visitors and the environment don't necessarily recognize mountain park boundaries

Slide 14
Potential Amendments - I

Notes

This section would also provide an opportunity to explain our mandate and how it is to be put into action on the ground

I think it is important to address the perception that we sometimes seem to emphasize one thing over another.

It's fair to say that our mandate hasn't changed for decades. What we are doing now is being stronger about how we implement the mandate.

Slide 15
Potential Amendments - II

• Icefields Parkway
• Grizzly bear management
• Community plan
• Caribou
• Education
• Indicators
  • Resource Protection
  • Visitor Experience
  • Education

Slide 16
Potential Amendments - II

• Relationships with Aboriginal Peoples
• Nationall historic site management plans
• Visitor experience
• Gravel extraction
• Forest health – mountain pine beetle
• Ski areas

Notes

We think the management plan could better reflect the involvement of Aboriginal Peoples in decision making

And in protecting and presenting Banff National Park

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