Feds launch new vision for Waterton, national parks

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 3, 2022.

Herald File photo Recently tabled management plans for Waterton Lakes National Park are prepared in consultation with multiple groups, stakeholders and the general public to help set up the long-term vision for the park.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Management plans for multiple national parks, including Waterton Lakes National Park, were tabled in Parliament recently and are designed to guide a new long-term vision.

The management plans are a requirement of the Canada National Parks Act.

“Management plans are public documents that we prepare in consultation with Indigenous partners, stakeholders such as special interest groups and residents, or tourism operators and the general public,” said John Stoesser, partnering, engagement and communications officer in Waterton Lakes National Park for Parks Canada.

He said they provide an opportunity for all these various parties to provide input at different stages of the planning process.

“And then we use these public documents to set up the long-term vision for the park, and then we have a strategic guidance or direction about how to make that mission achievable,” said Stoesser.

He said this helps them set strategies, objectives and targets on how to achieve that vision.

“The vision is kind of a long term for 10 to 15 years roughly, where we’d like to see the park in the future,” said Stoesser.

He said the plans represent public accountability for the park and they are legislated. He added that they are a requirement, and they have to do them roughly every ten years.

Stoesser said they monitor the plans continuously as they are ongoing, and the plans are also continuously reviewed, evaluated and reported on.

“What we want to see in the park is that the biodiversity ecosystem here in the park remains intact, continues to be protected and complete ecological integrity is one of the priorities for us,” said Stoesser.

He said they want to see wildlife thriving in the park and being able to have movement through the landscape.

“People should be continuing to exist in the park within the ecosystems harmoniously, in ways that promote the health of the landscape and wildlife,” said Stoesser.

He said they also focus on the longstanding role of Indigenous peoples of the area, especially from the Blackfoot Confederacy as they continue to be stewards of the area and their ancestral homes are recognized.

“We have an inclusive and invitational vision for the park for the future,” said Stoesser.

He said following that vision they identified six strategies. Conserving and protecting the park, connecting people to the park, strengthening Indigenous relations, managing development, working on the landscape level scale and providing exceptional visitor experiences.

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