Protect and preserve biodiversity in the Ottawa Valley by promoting and advocating for ecological integrity in the management of public lands; working with other local and regional environmental groups, and; collaborating with First Nations, industries and governments. That is our goal. Parks and protected areas are important tools that we use to achieve this goal because they provide environmental protection for shrinking nature and wildlife.

Protected areas are the keystones of wilderness protection and CPAWS-OV focuses on protected area creation and management. As well, we are concerned with maintaining natural connectivity and wildlife diversity. Therefore, we are currently working on a project to have the Noire and Coulonge Rivers and their watershed protected, and we are continuing our effort to make Gatineau Park a “real” Park. Furthermore, we are involved with la Corporation pour la Gestion des Berges de la Rivière des Outaouais (CGBRO), a group working on the PROJECT of a biodiversity reserve along the Ottawa River.  

In the past year or so, we also commented on the draft for the next Gatineau Park Master Plan, the Thousand Islands National Park’s draft management plan and protested the proposed road development through the Greenbelt. 

Why are parks and protected areas important

About Parks and Protected Areas

Protected areas are the cornerstones of conservation. Canada’s national, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous parks and protected areas safeguard our biodiversity, provide us with clean air, fresh water, food, and traditional medicines, buffer us from the impacts of floods and droughts, and provide us with amazing outdoor recreational opportunities.

Why are they Important?

• Conserve biodiversity: Parks and protected areas are core to conserving global biodiversity and slowing the pace of species extinction. Around the world, parks and protected areas safeguard habitat for wildlife and allow space for species to feed, raise their young, and exist with minimal human interference. Canada recognized the importance of conserving biodiversity in 1992 when we signed on to the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Improve health:Parks provide important opportunities for us to connect with and learn about nature. Almost 90% of Canadians enjoy participating in nature-based activity. That’s great – because nature keeps us healthy! Being in nature has been linked to reduced anxiety and stress, shorter hospital stays, lower heart rate, increased attention, and improved mood.
• Diversify the economy:Parks and protected areas diversify the economy, bring ecotourism dollars to local businesses, generate taxes for local governments, and provide jobs to local communities.
• Provide ecosystem services:the natural environment provides a myriad of benefits, including filtering our air, cleaning our water, storing carbon, and

CPAWS works with industry, government, and local and Indigenous communities to find solutions to these threats and challenges.

What are the different types of protected areas?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Protected Areas Categories System, the different types of protected areas are as follows:

Ia Strict Nature Reserve: Category Ia are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphical features, where human visitation, use and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure protection of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring 

Ib Wilderness Area: Category Ib protected areas are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition.

II National Park: Category II protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible, spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities.

III Natural Monument or Feature: Category III protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value.

IV Habitat/Species Management Area: Category IV protected areas aim to protect particular species or habitats and management reflects this priority. Many Category IV protected areas will need regular, active interventions to address the requirements of particular species or to maintain habitats, but this is not a requirement of the category. 

V Protected Landscape/ Seascape: A protected area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant, ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the integrity of this interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the area and its associated nature conservation and other values.

VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources: Category VI protected areas conserve ecosystems and habitats together with associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems. They are generally large, with most of the area in a natural condition, where a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management and where low-level non-industrial use of natural resources compatible with nature conservation is seen as one of the main aims of the area.

Link to IUCN categories https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/about/protected-area-categories

OECMs

An Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) is:

‘A geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and, where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socioeconomic, and other locally relevant values’. This definition and associated guidance on criteria for identification now paves the way for recognition and reporting of these areas, which are managed to achieve a range of objectives.

According to the IUCN WCPA, OECMs can be divided into three broad categories:

• Those with primary conservation objectives, such as a territory governed by indigenous people, where those people wish their territory to be recognised as an OECM rather than a protected area;
• Those with secondary conservation objectives, such as watersheds managed primarily for water resource management, but with secondary conservation objectives;
• Areas managed for other objectives but where such management delivers effective conservation (ancillary conservation), such as military lands and waters where restricted access has resulted in effective protection of habitats and species.’

Why is it important to have a network with different types of protected areas?

Protected areas – national parks, wilderness areas, community conserved areas, nature reserves and so on – are a mainstay of biodiversity conservation, while also contributing to people’s livelihoods, particularly at the local level. Protected areas are at the core of efforts towards conserving nature and the services it provides us – food, clean water supply, medicines and protection from the impacts of natural disasters. Their role in helping mitigate and adapt to climate change is also increasingly recognized; it has been estimated that the global network of protected areas stores at least 15% of terrestrial carbon.

Threats and challenges to protected areas

Canada’s parks and protected areas face many challenges. Parks in Canada are typically small and not connected to each other, meaning that wildlife cannot easily move between habitats in protected areas. Especially in southern Canada, parks are islands of nature surrounded by urban centres or developed land, so species cannot disperse as they normally would.

Many parks are threatened by the impacts from external industrial activity, such as regulation of water flow in rivers, contamination of air or water, and habitat fragmentation.

Parks are also impacted by human usage. While many parks in Canada strike a good balance between recreation and nature, some parks are heavily affected by commercial development pressures, inappropriate recreational usage, and conflicts with wildlife.

Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge

Southwestern Quebec offers some of the last remaining opportunities to protect mostly untouched landscapes. The Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge Rivers are among the only natural watersheds in southern Canada. Our vision for this area is a network of protected areas around the Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge watersheds to preserve biodiversity.

Learn more 

Gatineau Park

A little-known fact about Gatineau Park is that it is not legally protected! Contrary to other national and provincial parks in Canada, the boundaries of the Park are not defined by laws. Furthermore, maintaining its ecological integrity is not a mandate of the National Capital Commission, which manages it. CPAWS-OV has been working for over 50 years to have the Park protected, and we are still doing all we can to “Make it a Real Park”.  

Learn more

Greenbelt

The Greenbelt is one of the most ecologically diverse places in Eastern Ontario. It is home to hundreds of species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Furthermore, it has intriguing natural areas such as Greens Creek, Stony Swamp, Shirley’s Bay and unique features such as the Pinhey sand dunes and Mer Bleue, a 7700-year-old bog.

Thousand Islands National Park

The Thousand Islands National Park is strategically located in the Frontenac Arch, connecting the Adirondack and Algonquin Parks, and has rich biodiversity and populations of species at risk. It also serves to connect people to nature. As such, CPAWS-OV decided to use its knowledge of protected areas to offer some advice and issue a few recommendations on the Thousand Islands National Park Draft Management Plan.

Learn more.

 The Greenbelt needs protection, not development

The National Capital Greenbelt is 20,000 hectares of green space, ranging from farms to forests and wetlands.

It was created to protect rural lands bordering Ottawa from urban sprawl. Today, it’s become the largest publicly owned greenbelt in the world with 14,950 hectares owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC). The remaining approximately 5,050 hectares is owned by other federal departments and agencies.

However, the City of Ottawa doesn’t see the Greenbelt as “valuable enough” – to our citizens, our wildlife, or our economy.

Roads and fragmentation, like the proposed Brian Coburn / Cumberland Transitway Extension, threaten the Greenbelt’s ecological integrity and the over 75 species at risk living within its borders, including Rapids Clubtail, Bobolink, Peregrine Falcon, and more.

Over-use in areas and invasive species make it difficult for plants and animals to thrive.

And a lack of funding and resources for education, as well as conservation enforcement and maintenance, means the NCC can’t provide adequate protection.

We need to remind Ontario’s government the Greenbelt is for people, not hacking away for development and profits.

Together, we can ensure the Greenbelt gets National Urban Park status to protect it for climate action, food security, thriving habitats for species at risk, and future generations to experience. 

A 7,700-year-old internationally recognized wetland advancing climate action

Within the Greenbelt is Mer Bleue, the largest bog and natural area in the Capital region and the second-largest bog in southern Ontario.

This 7,700-year-old bog not only provides a safe haven for regionally rare plants and birds, but also supports wildlife you typically primarily find within northern boreal bogs. At Mer Bleue, you’ll spot muskrat, mink, cottontail and snowshoe hare, white-tailed deer, moose, and more.

Mer Bleue is also recognized across Canada and internationally for its role in mitigating climate change under the following designations:

●      A wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

●      A provincially significant wetland

●      A provincially significant life and earth science area of natural and scientific interest

The Greenbelt is a fragile ecosystem providing vital climate action for our communities and species at risk. A 1.5°C increase in global average temperatures will put up to 30% of the world’s species at risk of extinction – and Canada has already experienced a 1.7°C increase.

Mer Bleue provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to experience a northern boreal landscape within minutes of downtown Ottawa while supporting climate action for animals and communities alike.

Support climate action in the Ottawa Valley by signing our petition to get National Urban Park status for the Greenbelt.

The Greenbelt feeds your family

The global population is expected to increase from 7.8 billion in 2020 to 9.9 billion by 2050.

As our world’s population increases, so does our communities’ need for food. Over the next 30 years, experts predict a need to increase food production by at least 70%.

The Greenbelt can help curb food insecurity across the Ottawa Valley.

Around 5,000 hectares of the Greenbelt is leased to farmers. Practicing sustainable agriculture in a near-urban setting means these farms can play a critical role in feeding your family.

With nearly 1.5 million people living in the Ottawa Valley, and this number expected to rise, the Greenbelt can alleviate food insecurity through its vibrant farming sector.

Sign our petition to tell the Ontario government to protect the Greenbelt and feed Ottawa Valley’s growing community.

Safeguarding the Greenbelt contributes to Canada’s goal of protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters

Leading scientists have already proven we need to conserve 50% of our wild spaces to address the dual biodiversity and climate crises.

Enacting National Urban Park status for the Greenbelt would protect 200 square kilometres of accessible wilderness, creating one of the largest urban parks in the world.

Governments at all levels should show conservation leadership by supporting the protection of the Greenbelt.

And it starts with you telling the province of Ontario to protect the ecological integrity of the Greenbelt and to fulfill Canada’s international commitment of protecting 30% of the nation’s lands and waters.

Sign the petition now!

The Greenbelt supports our local economy

In 2016, a natural ecosystem value report showed the Greenbelt’s wetlands contribute $59,000 per year and its forested areas contribute over $9,000 annually. As the social cost of carbon evolves, so too will these numbers and are highly likely to increase over time.

Tourism is also a vital economic industry for the Ottawa Valley. The Greenbelt attracts over 3 million visitors per year with its iconic landscapes, including:

●      Mer Bleue, the internationally recognized bog

●      Stony Swamp, with its 63 regionally rare plant plants (11 of which can only be found in this area of the Greenbelt)

●      Shirleys Bay, a popular birding area and migration pathway for over 270 species of Canada’s arctic and boreal birds, including the endangered Bald eagle

Our communities can’t afford development in the Greenbelt.

Tell the Ontario government to enact National Urban Park status for the Greenbelt now.

We need access to nature now more than ever

As of January 2022, a quarter of Canadian adults struggle with moderate to severe anxiety, which increased significantly throughout  the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 22% report feelings of depression, up nearly 4% from summer 2021.

But it’s not just our community’s adults that are suffering. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates 1 in 7 youth experience a mental health issue, with anxiety being the most common.

Connecting to nature has been scientifically proven to alleviate feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, and more.

In a time of uncertainty and chaos, our citizens need a safe haven they can rely on to recharge. The Greenbelt can be part of the solution, but only if it’s protected against development.

Sign the petition to support the National Urban Park status for the Greenbelt– for its protection and your wellbeing.

RESOURCES

Read our comments on the proposed Brian Coburn Boulevard extension across the Greenbelt near Mer Bleue.

Read the NCC’s Greenbelt Master Plan.

-Eagle’s Nest Lookout trail, from Ottawa Valley Travel

The Madawaska Highlands Are a Connectivity Highway for Species at Risk

The Madawaska Highlands are one of the few last remaining wild spaces in Eastern Ontario. They are located between Algonquin Park and Adirondacks Park on the ancestral home of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Peoples. The Madawaska Highlands are a migratory pathway for species between the two parks, providing species at risk safe passage during their migrations.

Old-growth and mature forests and wetlands can be found across the highlands. These vulnerable ecosystems are home to 42 species at risk, including 12 endangered species such as the Blanding’s Turtle, Chimney Swift, and American Ginseng.      

But the Madawaska Highlands also play a critical role to communities. They are a haven for outdoor enthusiasts year-round to experience the wonders of nature while canoeing, kayaking, and camping. The Madawaska River is one of the finest recreational rivers in Southern Ontario that holds special appeal for white water enthusiasts. Hikers can also enjoy the well-being benefits of the Madawaska Highlands at Eagle’s Nest and Manitou Mountain trail, the Madawaska Nordic Trail, and the Griffith Uplands trail. During winter, community members can still enjoy the trails by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

But only 4.59% of the Madawaska Highlands are protected.         

Resource extraction and development threaten to destroy the habitat so many species at risk depend on for survival.

And the mature forests and wetlands sprawling the highlands are critical to climate action, but when cut down they release their stored carbon and other greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere.

Both these threats contribute to the dual biodiversity and climate crises, strip species at risk of safe homes, and threaten to destroy an iconic natural area for future generations.

Together, we can protect the Madawaska Highlands and contribute to the Government of Canada’s commitment to safeguard 30% of Canada’s lands and oceans by 2030.    

We’re fighting for a major new protected area in the region covering at least 30% of the Madawaska Highlands. The existence of several small, protected areas in the region provides a unique opportunity to consolidate and expand these areas with the eventual goal of having one large protected area to support climate action, flood mitigation, species at risk to thrive, and our communities’ well-being.      

Intact forests and wetlands support climate action      

The vast forests and wetlands in the Madawaska Highlands are a critical carbon sink in the Ottawa Valley, meaning they absorb a significant amount of carbon from the atmosphere to mitigate climate change. Over the past 40 years, Canada’s forests have absorbed about one quarter of the carbon emitted by human activities, and logging and development in the Madawaska Highlands risks undoing the natural climate solutions this iconic landscape provides our communities.        

    
The intact forests and wetlands in the Madawaska Highlands also act as storage for floodwater, slowing down the run-off towards and pollution of lakes and rivers.

Plus, when these forests retain water, they protect nearby communities and our homes from flooding.

Preserving the Madawaska Highlands is essential for climate action as extreme weather events become more frequent. 

The Madawaska Highlands provide safe passage for species at risk      

The Madawaska Highlands are located between Algonquin Park and Adirondacks Park, regions many animals travel between for migration, food, and trying to adapt to climate change.

Protecting such important biodiversity and connectivity pathways for species to circulate between and adapt to climate change will be critical to their long-term survival.

Many species at risk call these regions home, making it critical to protect the Madawaska Highlands to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while safeguarding their connectivity pathways.

The Madawaska Highlands provides our communities with jobs      

Protected areas create jobs and boost the local economy from an increase in adventure tourism.

Protecting the Madawaska Highlands ensures this beautiful landscape can be enjoyed for future generations, that people can participate in activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking, and community members can get jobs to support their families.   

Nature supports our well-being

Over 80% of Canadians now live in urban centres, making it difficult to access intact nature.

And with one in five Canadians experiencing a mental health issue by the age of 40, connecting people to wilderness is critical to supporting our well-being.

Protecting the Madawaska Highlands not only benefits species, biodiversity, and climate action, but provides the Ottawa Valley with accessible nature to support our mental well-being.