.I feel the formation of a national grasslands park is long over— 
     
     due in the national park system. The Killdeer—Val Marie area of 
     
     southern Saskatchewan is one qf the last large areas of undisturbed 
     
     short—grass prairie and should be preserved as a national park to 
     
     protect endangered species and for the enjoyment of future generations. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A concerned Canadian, 
     
     0 
     
    
   
   
    
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     P.E.I. PROVINCIAL PARKS CLASSIFICATION 
     
    
   
   
    
     In October 1973, a task force was appointed to work on a classification 
     
     system for the provincial parks on P. E. I. . The overall view was 
     
    

    
     to have parks which would present natural and cultural experiences to 
     
     present and future generations of park users. In its final report, 
     
    

    
     the task force envisaged a system of parks consisting of five classes. 
     
     1) Nature preserve 
     
    

    
     2) Recreation park 
     
    

    
     3) Natural environment park 
     
    

    
     4) Wayside/beach access park 
     
    

    
     5) Historic park 
     
    
   
   
    
     The objective of the.nature preserve will be to protect and perpet— 
     
     uate in an undisturbed state, individual features of unique natural 
     
     significance. These-features shall possess inherent scientific and/ 
     
     or educational value. In the preserve, visitation levels will be 
     
     established to ensure maintenance and quality of the natural feature. 
     
     No campgrounds or motorized transportation will be allowed. 
     
    

    
     The objective of the natural environment park is to set aside 
     
     certain natural lands to acquaint'the user with aesthetic values of 
     
     the natural landscape and associated compatible forms of recreation. 
     
     Where campsites are provided, they shall be sufficiently secluded and 
     
     arranged to be compatible with the landscape. 'Campsites will not 
     
     necessarily be provided with vehicle access. 
     
    

    
     The parks described above, as well as, the historic park will 
     
     have interpretive programs , in the majority of cases. ' 
     
    
   
   
    
     Diane Griffin, 
     
     Prov. Naturalist, 
     
     Dept. of Environment 
     
    
   
   
    
     and Tourism. 
     
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     THE LAST WORD 
     
    
   
   
    
     This is the first issue of our newsletter. We hope to publish one 
     
     bimonthly, if not monthly. Our next issue will be out in early May. 
     
     We need your support. If you hear of upcoming events of interest to 
     
     P. E. I. natural historians or know of an interesting place for a hike, 
     
     drop a line to Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy St., Ch'town, or phone 
     
     894—9595. We urge you to contribute an article, poetry, interesting 
     
     observations, etc. Let us know what you think of our first newsletter, 
     
     and how we can make it more relevant to natural historians on P. E. I..