Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
Encyclopedia
Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is a proposed national park in Canada
, located in the Labrador
region of Newfoundland and Labrador
. It will cover an area of approximately 11700 square kilometres (4,517 sq mi). Along with the Mealy Mountains
, the park will protect a large portion of boreal forest, tundra
and 50 kilometres of shoreline on the Labrador Sea
. Once established, it will be the largest national park in Atlantic Canada
. It will be inhabited by a variety of wildlife, including the threatened Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd. An agreement with the native peoples of the area, including the Inuit
, Innu
and Métis
, will allow them to continue to hunt, trap and fish in the protected area.
, the governing and administration body for the system, has developed a plan identifying 39 different regions it aims to represent. In 2001, Parks Canada began conducting a feasibility study regarding whether a new park should be established in Labrador, which would represent the east coast boreal forest. A Steering Committee was formed, and they held a series of meetings near Lake Melville
. One of the concerns brought up by the area residents was regarding the "traditional land uses by Labradorians," which include "the continuing use of personal cabins, boil-ups (lunch and picnic fires), cutting wood for personal use, gathering medicinal and healing herbs, berry picking, fishing, and hunting, trapping and snaring small game."
In May 2008, the committee concluded that a park was feasible. The park will start as a reserve due to land claims negotiations with native peoples in the area. A National Park Reserve is an area that has been set aside with the intention of becoming a national park, pending the settlement of native land claims. Until then, they are managed as national parks under the National Parks Act
.
The park was announced on February 5, 2010 by Minister of the Environment
Jim Prentice
in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. At the same time, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador
announced that a Provincial Park would also be created. It will be adjacent to Mealy Mountains and will protect the Eagle River watershed. Together, the two parks will protect approximately 13000 square kilometres (5,019 sq mi). The park will be unique because it will allow for traditional Aboriginal activities not permitted in most other parks, such as hunting, trapping, fishing and cutting wood for personal use. However, further development of the land and mining will not be allowed. Larry Innes of The Canadian Boreal Initiative, who was part of the steering committee, said that "It’s a change in policy which really fits the context here. The big breakthrough here is that not only are they creating the largest protected area in Eastern North America. They’re doing so in a way that fits the uses that local people have put to the place."
Alex MacDonald of the conservation group Nature Canada
said they had been lobbying for the establishment of the park. MacDonald said, "Protecting an area this large will maintain vast amounts of habitat — river habitats, aquatic ecosystems, the tundra habitat as well as boreal forest areas."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, located in the Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
region of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. It will cover an area of approximately 11700 square kilometres (4,517 sq mi). Along with the Mealy Mountains
Mealy Mountains
The Mealy Mountains is a mountain range in the southern portion of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The mountains lie south of Lake Melville and cover an area of approximately 26,495km² ....
, the park will protect a large portion of boreal forest, tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
and 50 kilometres of shoreline on the Labrador Sea
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait...
. Once established, it will be the largest national park in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. It will be inhabited by a variety of wildlife, including the threatened Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd. An agreement with the native peoples of the area, including the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
and Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
, will allow them to continue to hunt, trap and fish in the protected area.
Background
Parks CanadaParks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
, the governing and administration body for the system, has developed a plan identifying 39 different regions it aims to represent. In 2001, Parks Canada began conducting a feasibility study regarding whether a new park should be established in Labrador, which would represent the east coast boreal forest. A Steering Committee was formed, and they held a series of meetings near Lake Melville
Lake Melville
Lake Melville is a saltwater tidal extension of Hamilton Inlet on the Labrador coast in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Comprising 3,069 square kilometres, and stretching 140 kilometres inland to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, it forms part of the largest estuary in the province,...
. One of the concerns brought up by the area residents was regarding the "traditional land uses by Labradorians," which include "the continuing use of personal cabins, boil-ups (lunch and picnic fires), cutting wood for personal use, gathering medicinal and healing herbs, berry picking, fishing, and hunting, trapping and snaring small game."
In May 2008, the committee concluded that a park was feasible. The park will start as a reserve due to land claims negotiations with native peoples in the area. A National Park Reserve is an area that has been set aside with the intention of becoming a national park, pending the settlement of native land claims. Until then, they are managed as national parks under the National Parks Act
National Parks Act (Canada)
The National Parks Act is a Canadian federal law that regulates protection of natural areas of national significance.-National parks:The act enables Parks Canada to designate and maintain national parks and national parks reserves. Within these, additional wildland areas may be designated...
.
The park was announced on February 5, 2010 by Minister of the Environment
Minister of the Environment (Canada)
The Minister of the Environment is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's environment department, Environment Canada...
Jim Prentice
Jim Prentice
James "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. At the same time, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
announced that a Provincial Park would also be created. It will be adjacent to Mealy Mountains and will protect the Eagle River watershed. Together, the two parks will protect approximately 13000 square kilometres (5,019 sq mi). The park will be unique because it will allow for traditional Aboriginal activities not permitted in most other parks, such as hunting, trapping, fishing and cutting wood for personal use. However, further development of the land and mining will not be allowed. Larry Innes of The Canadian Boreal Initiative, who was part of the steering committee, said that "It’s a change in policy which really fits the context here. The big breakthrough here is that not only are they creating the largest protected area in Eastern North America. They’re doing so in a way that fits the uses that local people have put to the place."
Alex MacDonald of the conservation group Nature Canada
Nature Canada
Nature Canada is a member-based non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to protect nature and the processes that sustain it. Based in Ottawa, Nature Canada's supporters include more than 40,000 individuals and over 350 affiliated organizations, including local and provincial...
said they had been lobbying for the establishment of the park. MacDonald said, "Protecting an area this large will maintain vast amounts of habitat — river habitats, aquatic ecosystems, the tundra habitat as well as boreal forest areas."