Ecotourism: Newfie Hot Spots

The three National Parks located in Newfoundland and Labrador are the Terra Nova National Park on the east coast, Gros Morne National Park on the west coast and the Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador. This post will review the ecotourism opportunities of each park, while discussing their conservation values.

Terra Nova:

The Terra Nova National Park is located on the Avalon Peninsula and is comprised of forest, freshwater, coastal/marine, wetland and barren ecosystems. The park was established in 1957 to help preserve the unique environment found in the eastern Atlantic region of Canada. The park is relatively small at only 404 sq. km, but has rich wildlife including Newfoundland marten, caribou, beaver, Atlantic salmon, brook trout and black bear. There are also a variety of public interest activities available such as camping canoeing and nature walks that make the park a popular tourist destination. 

Fig.1: Hikers in Terra Nova National Park
(Image source: http://cruisetheedge.com/central-photos.asp)

In terms of conservation, Terra Nova has a number of positive and negative aspects. The negatives include: a main highway that fragments the park, a large number of people in surrounding areas, a small size, and an emphasis on human activity over conservation (e.g. the Terra Nova Golf Course).  The positives include: restricted snowmobile access, moose management strategies and controlled burns to promote forest growth and regeneration. It seems as though the future of conservation in Terra Nova looks promising. 

Gros Morne:

The Gros Morne National Park is located on the west coast and encompasses a section of the long range mountains. The park was established 1973 to help preserve the natural regions of Western Newfoundland highlands and St. Lawrence lowlands. It is the largest protected area in the region at 1805 sq. km. The park is well known for its unique geological marvels including the tablelands and distinct mountain ranges. It is also an important habitat for local wildlife, including the calving grounds of the woodland caribou population in the area. It has many tourist attractions including its designation as a world heritage site and breathtaking views of the wilderness.

Fig. 2: Cross country skiers in Gros Morne National Park
(Image source: http://www.canadian-travel.ca/14/gros-morne-national-park-of-canada/gros_morne_lg/)

The conservation efforts of Gros Morne are directed towards restoring habitats to healthy levels. Recent surveys have shown that as a heavily trafficked site, there have been recorded deteriorations in marine, wetland, forest and barrens habitats due to tourism, hunting and resource exploitation. While domestic cutting and snowmobile use still occur within the park’s boundaries, both activities are regulated and managed. To combat these deteriorations, the park promotes public education, wildlife management (e.g. moose population control) and future elimination of domestic wood cutting.

Torngat Mountains:

The Torngat Mountains National Park is located in Northern Labrador and is Canada’s newest National Park. In 2008 its designation changed from a National Park Reserve to a National Park. It is is Newfoundlands biggest National Park at around 9700 sq. km.  It is home to a mix of both boreal and arctic species including polar bears, golden eagles and caribou. This park has many inuit cultural aspects as well as beautiful landscapes that appeal to the public. 

Fig. 3: Polar bear in Torngat Mountains National Park
(Image source: http://www.wanderbirdcruises.com/voyages-polarbears.html)

Torngat Mountains National Park is isolated and much larger that the others in the province. For this reason, negative human impacts associated with ecotourism are negligible. Having said that, this park was an aboriginal reserve until 2008, at which point the locals had to relocate. The park is in great condition with regards to tundra, freshwater and coastal regions, but the areas inhabited by the aboriginal people left traces of contamination and debris. There are currently efforts to clean up these areas, improving the overall state of the park. 

The National Parks provide a great framework for ecotourism, as their primary initiative is to maintain ecological integrity but they also promote education and the wilderness experience to the public.

References:

Parks Canada (2009). Gros Morne National Park of Canada Management Plan.

Parks Canada (2009). Terra Nova National Park of Canada Management Plan.

Parks Canada (2010). Torngat Mountains National Park of Canada Management Plan.