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     CANADA'S NEW GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK 1 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     by Jo McCrea, Regional Information Advisor for Parks Canada's Prairie Region, Winnipeg 
     
     (Reprinted from PARKS. 1981. vol. 6(3) pp. 15-16.) " ' ~ "-- "i 7 
     
    
   
   
    
     Canada's newest national park - the 29th - encompasses one of the largest and 
     
     best formations of relatively unmodified grasslands left on the North American 
     
     continent. ’ ' " ' f 
     
    

    
     The unique natural habitat, the original short—grass prairie of North America - 
     
     a landform.not preserved anywhere else on the continent - will now be protected in 
     
     Grasslands National Park, a maximum of 350 square miles of southern Saskatchewan, 
     
     located between Val Marie and Killdeer near the Canada‘USA border. 1 
     
    

    
     _GraSslands Park will also protect several endangered species of wildlife‘and 
     
     birds_as well as unique cultural features such as archaeological eVidence of early 
     
     Indian lifestyles and early ranching. [‘ 
     
    

    
     An agreement to establish the park was signed June 29, 1981, in Regina by 
     
     officials of the federal and provincial governments. ‘ .j_ 
     
    

    
     The Government of Saskatchewan and Parks Canada have for many years discussed 
     
     the desirability of establishing a national park in the Val Marie 4 Killdeer area. 
     
     The park agreement assures that this relatively unspoiled prairie landscape, one 
     
     of the most important elements of Canada's natural mosaic, is protected in perpetuity 
     
     under the Federaleational Parks Act. - " 
     
    

    
     Canada's nationalparks are large natural areas which protect and’pir‘eserve . ‘ 
     
     outstanding representatiqns of the country's natural heritage. More than‘50,000 
     
     square miles (129,500 km ) of Canada's vast lands and diverse ecosystems are found 
     
     in national parks from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the 49th parellel to 
     
     .the Arctic Circle. . 
     
    

    
     Saskatchewan will identify 100 square miles (259 kmz) of land for park purposes, 
     
     in two separate and unbroken units with at least 36 square miles (93.24 km ) in each. 
     
     This will be expanded to 350 square miles maximum (906 kmz) when the park is fully y 
     
     established, an area sufficiently large to support the flora and fauna native to the 
     
     Canadian short-grass prairie. The boundaries of the park cores will be established 
     
     by the two governments after resource inventory studies identify national park 
     
     values and commercial resources explorations are completed. VJ V 
     
    

    
     The Grasslands National Park will provide unique recreational and interpretive 
     
     opportunities. Facilities and services to achieve these opportunities will be 
     
     determined during the preparation of a management plan for the park. The_manage- 
     
     ment plan will also assess the desirability for other facilities to be located on 
     
     the periphery of the park, such as hotels, restaurants, guest ranches, and 
     
     recreational facilities and to avoid intrusion of structures on the prairie land— 
     
     scape. ' " 7' 
     
    

    
     The agreement provides for a detailed study of the oil and gaslpotential in 
     
     the park area. Environmental protection guidelines will be issued so that there is 
     
     minimal impact from these activities on future park lands. Those areas found to 
     
     have commercial reserves will be excluded from the park and exploited by the 
     
     province. The environmental study will be undertaken in conjunctionfwith.an oil 
     
     and gas exploration program. i _ -;; 3: 
     
    

    
     No development of park facilities can be undertaken until adequaté‘parlggand ‘ 
     
     has been acquired by Parks Canada in negotiation with property ownerSTand.lease- 
     
     holders in the park area. I I ' 
     
    
   
   
    
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