Ottawa (January 21, 2005) – The advent of the new Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, in northern Labrador, is “bright and wonderful news” for wildlife and for the people of northern Labrador, says Nature Canada, a national conservation organization.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the announcement of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve,” says Julie Gelfand, Nature Canada’s President. “This major new protected area will help conserve Canada’s magnificent wildlife, including a globally unique population of tundra-dwelling black bears and populations of several species, such as polar bear and woodland caribou, that are species of national or international conservation concern.”

Harlequin duck, Glen Smart/USFWS

“In addition,” adds Gelfand, “the park will provide permanent protection for a number of coastal islands that are of continental significance for some bird species. These islands provide breeding grounds for the common eider and staging sites for the eastern population of the harlequin duck – another species of conservation concern.”

The “Torngats”, to be Canada’s 42nd national park, represents one of 39 natural regions designated by Parks Canada as regions with comparatively distinct appearance and vegetation. The regions are used by the agency as a basis for locating new parks. Of the 39 regions, 11 remain to be represented in the national park system, including regions covering large land areas in the Yukon, British Columbia and Quebec.

The Torngats park is made possible by today’s signing of the Labrador Inuit Land Claim Agreement, and an agreement between the federal and Newfoundland and Labrador governments to transfer the land for the park from the province to Canada.

“We congratulate and thank all those who have made the vision of the park come to reality,” says Gelfand. “They include the many hard-working scientists, planners and citizens behind the scenes. We especially congratulate and thank the people of northern Labrador. They have shown confidence that the park can mean long-term and lasting benefits for wildlife, for the protection of their homeland, for the perpetuation of their culture, and for the economies of their communities.”

“Parks Canada and its provincial, territorial, First Nations and Inuit partners have made excellent progress towards the goal, announced in 2002, of creating 10 new national parks in a five-year period,” says Gelfand. “We applaud the fact that three new parks have been established, and we look forward to the completion of Canada’s system of national parks and national marine conservation areas.”

The other two new parks created since the 2002 announcement are Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, between Vancouver and Victoria, and Ukkusiksalik National Park, located near the northwestern extreme of Hudson Bay in Nunavut.

“Canadians today are the final generations to have opportunity to complete one of the world’s greatest national park systems,” states Gelfand. “Our national parks represent irreplaceable natural heritage that is so much a part of Canada’s identity. We hope the inspiring Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve will be followed in the next few years with other park announcements. This vision and goal of a fully representative park system, from sea to sea to sea, honours the meaning of Canada, and the spirit of Canadians.”

Nature Canada, formerly the Canadian Nature Federation, was founded in 1939 and is one of Canada’s oldest conservation organizations, representing well over 100,000 Canadians who care about nature. The group’s mission is “the protection of nature, its diversity and the processes that sustain it.” Nature Canada’s conservation work includes establishing and ensuring the health of new national parks and other critical protected areas, and ensuring the protection and recovery of endangered species. The organization is also a Canadian co-partner in BirdLife International, and pursues bird conservation across Canada and elsewhere in the western hemisphere.

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Backgrounder

For more information:

Julie Gelfand, President, 613-562-3447 ext 231
Ruth Catana, Director of Public Affairs, 613-562-3447 ext 240