Gros Morne National Park of Canada

The Nature of Science, and the Science of Nature in Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park of Canada is so extraordinary from a geological, landform and wildlife perspective that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Park management has the immense responsibility of protecting this special place not only for the people of Canada, but also for the people of the world as a part of the great treasures of planet Earth.

Dr. Stephen Flemming.

To guide management decisions, Parks Canada is increasing its use of science to identify potential dangers to the ecological integrity of the park, to better understand these dangers, and it is hoped to find a means to correct them. The Gros Morne National Park science program consists of monitoring for ecological integrity and scientific research . Monitoring is done to take the "pulse" of the environment. By measuring changes in the environment, park scientists can determine if any of these changes seem abnormal for natural processes. By monitoring, scientists are able to identify at an early stage what might be a potential danger to the ecosystem. That's when scientific research is applied. Research is used to determine whether or not the danger is real, and if it is, to better understand the way in which the danger is threatening the park. This information is important, so that management action can be taken to correct the problem.

Collaring caribou, part of the science program in GMNP
© Parks Canada / Michael Burzynski / 1193-070

The Gros Morne National Park science program includes field work, data analysis and scientific report writing. This work is done by the science and warden staff, university students and their professors, summer students learning on-the-job about conservation, and by volunteers- people just like you. About half of our program is devoted to monitoring in the park. This is where there is an opportunity for members of the public to become involved.

While we have a very busy science program, we have learned that it is important to remain humble. Like ecologists all over the world, we continually find examples of the complexity of nature and are only beginning to understand how wild things behave. For this reason, Parks Canada purposely makes decisions that err on the side of caution. This precautionary approach is a guiding principle for Parks Canada, and one that will help us ensure that Gros Morne National Park is preserved for the people of Canada and the world.

Find out more on the science of nature in Gros Morne National Park: