Parks Canada recently revealed its management plans for several national parks, including Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park near Golden.
A management plan is a strategic guide for future national park management.
It is required by legislation, guided by public consultation, approved by the federal minister responsible for Parks Canada, and tabled in Parliament.
It is the primary public accountability document for each national park.
The seven key strategies for both parks have been identified as:
• conserving natural and cultural heritage for future generations;
• true-to-place experiences;
• strengthening Indigenous relations;
• connecting with Canadians within and beyond the park;
• managing development and park communities;
• regional connectivity and landscapes; and
• climate change and adaptation.
The key strategies represent Parks Canada’s planned approach to park management for the next five to 10 years.
Both plans also include directions for specific areas in the parks.
In Yoho, this includes the Upper Yoho and Littel Yoho Valley management areas, encompassing the Takakkaw Falls day-use area and the upstream area of the watershed.
There are approximately 46 kilometres of designated hiking trails, including popular routes in the forested valleys of the Yoho and Little Yoho rivers, and the Iceline, Kiwetinok Pass and Yoho Glacier trails in this area.
This management area provides access to the wilderness area, which is to be maintained in a natural state with minimal intrusion of infrastructure or technology.
Visitor facilities will be upgraded, with plans to move Little Yoho Valley Campground to a new site, and upgrading backcountry sites at Twin Falls and Laughing Falls.
New human waste management solutions will also be explored as will be the feasibility of relocating the Whiskey Jack Hostel.
Managing increasing visitor demand is one of the key issues identified in the State of the Park Assessment 2018.
Many of the key directives for the park were identified through public feedback, which identified widespread support for the protection of the park.
Topics where respondents indicated a high degree of support include maintaining functional wildlife corridors, maintaining wilderness character, employing visitor use management strategies to address increasing visitation, restoring local populations of species at risk, maintaining sustainable visitor facilities, and working to monitor and mitigate threats from climate change.
For Kootenay National Park, specific direction was given for the Rockwall area, a popular multi-day hiking area.
Restoring the role of fire as a key process in forest ecosystems is a key part of conservation in the plan – this work will continue in priority areas such as montane open forest grassland and meadows, to restore 50 percent of the historic fire cycle.
This will further increase the natural diversity of the forest so that these ecosystems become more varied in age and composition.
This will provide a greater range of wildlife habitat and make park forests more resilient to stresses such as insects, disease, and climate change.
Management attention will also focus on improving the ecological integrity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, maintaining landscape connectivity, and managing species at risk and non-native invasive species.
Yoho National Park is Canada’s second oldest national park. It encompasses the village of Field, BC.
Field has blossomed into a close-knit family community. Many came with skis in hand and never felt the urge to depart. Within this serene village, artisans specializing in music, pottery, cuisine, and cinema have discovered an ideal environment to refine their skills.
Residing in a quaint mountain hamlet fosters unique bonds, a profound connection with the environment, and a gratitude for the simple joys that mountain living bestows. The development of hotels such as Emerald Lake Lodge and Cathedral Mountain Chalets require many hospitality workers. There are many that choose to make their home here, if even for a short while.
