Campbell, John Michael2006-07-282006-07-2819961996http://hdl.handle.net/10012/139This dissertation identifies a reduction which is currently occurring in the role of the earth sciences in the planning, management and interpretation of the national parks of Canada. Through the analysis of the Canadian National Parks Act, National Park Policies, Systems Plan and the Natural Resource and Visitor Activity Management Processes, as well as information on experience in the United States, New Zealand and other countries, it is shown that there is and has been a role for the earth sciences in the planning, management and interpretation of the parts. Case studies of ten management plans from nine parks indicated that the natural resource management functions at individual national parks rarely identified the earth sciences as high priority management concerns. Detailed case studies of Banff and the associated mountain parks (Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper), and Point Pelee National Park, along with interviews of park personnel. confirmed the findings that the earth sciences have never been afforded the same degree of management concern in the sample parks as have the biotic resources. The development of ecosystem-based management in response to the 1988 amendments to the National Parks Act has further reduced the role of the earth sciences, due largely, to the definition of ecological integrity as a biological concept. In contrast, interpretation messages developed in the 1970's included the earth science messages to the same degree as biotic messages. However, the increasing focus of interpretation on the communication of resource management goals has resulted in significant reduction of earth science messages. Indeed, in Point Pelee the earth sciences have been completely omitted from the message framework while in Banff the 1993 ecosystem plan makes no reference to the earth sciences resources of the park. A number of explanations are suggested for this reduction, including the definition of ecological integrity as a biological concept, the lack of earth science expertise within the park system's staff, the engineering focus of earth science management. and the failure of academic geomorpbologists to become involved in the identification of earth science measures of ecological integrity. The dissertation concludes with a number of recommendations aimed at reversing the decline of the earth sciences in the planning, management and interpretation of the national parts. Recommendations directed towards Parks Canada include developing a balance in the park staff and staffing structure through the identification of some positions as earth science specialists. This could be accomplished as part of the redefinition of the roles of wardens. Research and training partnerships were identified as other means of beginning to address the reduction. It is recommended that earth scientists take advantage of the opportunities in the developing field of natural areas management. and that they seek to identify meaningful earth science measures of ecological integrity. It is also recommended that earth scientists conducting research in the parks be encouraged to become involved in the management and planning process. The study develops and presents an interpretation program for Banff National Park which links some of the features and processes of the park to ecosystem-based management and education. Finally, the study identifies a significant new area for research and application of the earth sciences within the evolving field of parks and protected areas planning and management.application/pdf17972962 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 1996, Campbell, John Michael. All rights reserved.Harvested from Collections CanadaDoctoral Thesis