Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site

Infobox_protected_area | name = Gwaii Haanas National Park
iucn_category = II

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caption = Location of "Gwaii Haanas National Park" in Canada
locator_x = 3
locator_y = 145
location = flag|Canada
nearest_city = Sandspit
lat_degrees = 52
lat_minutes = 23
lat_seconds = 21
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 131
long_minutes = 28
long_seconds = 16
long_direction = W
area = 1,470 km²
established = 1988
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, often referred to simply as Gwaii Haanas, is located in the southernmost Queen Charlotte Islands 130 kilometres off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, which are also known as Haida Gwaii. Gwaii Haanas protects an archipelago of 138 islands, the largest being Moresby Island and the southernmost being Kunghit Island.

Establishing Gwaii Haanas

In 1981 plans to expand logging to Burnaby Island led to the first concerted efforts to protect Gwaii Haaans.

In 1985 the Haida Nation designated Gwaii Haaanas a Haida Heritage Site. Two years later logging ended when Canada and British Columbia signed the "South Moresby Memorandum of Understanding".

A year later the "South Moresby Agreement" was signed providing for the designation of a "National Park Reserve". [AMB, Public Planning Program, Newsletter No.1, September 1993]

Cooperatively managed

In 1993 the Government of Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation signed the "Gwaii Haanas Agreement". This "Agreement" expresses respect for both Canadian and Haida interests, and includes a mutual commitment to the protection of Gwaii Haanas. Based on the "Agreement", Gwaii Haanas is cooperatively managed by the Archipelago Management Board (AMB), which is made up of an equal number of representatives from the Council of Haida Nation and the Government of Canada. The AMB is responsible for all aspects of planning, operation, and management of Gwaii Haaans. [ Parks Canada Website [http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/natcul/natcul1_e.asp] ]

Gwaii Haanas Crest

The AMB's crest crafted by local Haida artist "Giitsxaa" represents the unique joint management relationship.

The AMB chose the sea otter and the sea urchin because of the creatures' significance in the history and tradition of the protected area and because of their ecological significance. [ AMB, Gwaii Haanas Visitor Guide, April 2008]

Populations of sea urchin, a kelp-grazing species, were once kept in check by sea otters, ensuring an abundance of kelp and species that depend upon kelp communities. With the extirpation of sea otters during the maritime fur trade, the natural balance between species in the community was disturbed. [Rodney Hsu, Implications of Sea Otter Population on Kelp Forest communities [http://mypage.direct.ca/r/rhsu/otters.html] ] As a result the sea urchin population has increased dramatically over time and the health of kelp forests is threatened. The loss of the sea otter is a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of individual species and entire ecosystems. [ AMB, Gwaii Haanas Visitor Guide, April 2008]

World Heritage Haida Village

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = SGang Gwaay Llnaagay


State Party = CAN
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iii
ID = 157
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1981
Session = 5th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/157

Ninstints (Nan Sdins) or SGang Gwaay Llnaagay on Anthony Island, in located in the southernmost part of Gwaii Haanas, just west of Kunghit Island, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The remains of a Haida village on the eastern side of the island - SGang Gwaay Llnaagay - represent an outstanding example of a traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village site, complete with standing totem poles and the remains of cedar longhouses. [ AMB, Gwaii Haanas Visitor Guide, April 2008]

Haida people have a continuing presence at SGang Gwaay and four other village sites between May to September as part of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program. Between two and four Watchmen live at each site serving as guardians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of these sites. [ AMB, Gwaii Haanas Visitor Guide, April 2008]

Other historical villages within the boundaries of Gwaii Haanas included Cumshewa, Clew (Tanu) and Djí-gua.

Ecology

Terrain and climate

The landscapes of Gwaii Haanas vary from deep fjords to rugged mountains, salmon spawning streams to sub-alpine tundra. Close to 90% of Gwaii Haanas is forested, 9% is alpine and sub-alpine tundra. The remaining 1% is made up of lakes and wetlands. [Norm Sloan (ed.) 2007. Gwaii Haanas State of the park report. AMB, Gwaii Haanas, Queen Charlotte, B.C.] .

As water drains from the highest mountains - including the rugged San Christoval Range with peaks over 1100 metres - it helps fill over 40 freshwater lakes [AMB, Public Planning Program, Newsletter No.1, September 1993] . In turn, this water drains through more than 100 salmon spawning streams [Norm Sloan (ed.) 2007. Gwaii Haanas State of the park report. AMB, Gwaii Haanas, Queen Charlotte, B.C. pg8] .

Flora

The west coast of Gwaii Haanas can receive over 4 metres of rain annually. Extreme exposure to wind and rain makes the forests on the west coast boggy and stunted, and are dominated by western red cedar and hemlock . Forests of the leeward, or eastern side of Gwaii Haanas, are classic coastal temperate rainforests, dominant overstorey species include large western hemlock, Sitka spruce and western red cedar trees. [P.M. Bartier, D.W. Burles, B.Johnson, P.Lee, C.L.K. Robinson, N.A. Sloan, I.J.Walker | Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site - "Technical Compendium to the 2007 State of the Park Report" | Archipelago Management Board | September 2007]

Fauna

Distinct island flora and fauna have evolved over thousands of years. Species here often differ from those found on the mainland. Many common continental species are not found on the islands, or have evolved into unique subspecies such as the black bear which is larger than its mainland cousin. Other species have been introduced relatively recently, such as the Sitka black-tailed deer, racoons, squirrels and beaver. Introduced species now exist in large numbers, much to the detriment of native plants and animals. [ Parks Canada Website> [http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index_e.asp] ]

An estimated 750 000 seabirds nest along the shoreline of Gwaii Haanas from May through August. [ AMB, Public Planning Program, Newsletter No.1, September 1993] Many are burrow-nesters, such as the rhinoceros auklet, ancient murrelet and tufted puffin. Bald eagles are a common site and nest along the coastline. Because the islands are situated along the Pacific flyway, dozens of species of migrating birds stop here in spring and fall. [ Parks Canada Website> [http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index_e.asp] ]

Proposed National Marine Conservation Area Reserve

Parks Canada has identified the waters around Gwaii Haaans as a potential national marine conservation area reserve (NMCAR).

For the Haida, the marine and terrestrial environments are inseperable. The boundary between earth and ocean exists only on a map. [ Parks Canada Website> [http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index_e.asp] ]

The Gwaii Haanas NMCAR will balance protecting marine ecosystems, while also allowing ecolgocially sustainable use. This includes traditional harvesting, recreational and commercial fishing. [ AMB, Gwaii Haanas Visitor Guide, April 2008]

Once the NMCAR is established, nearly 5 000 square kilometres of Gwaii Haanas will be protected. This will be one of the only places in the world where a representative area is protected from mountain top to ocean depth.

Access

Gwaii Haanas came first in a survey of US and Canadian National Parks in "National Geographic Traveler magazine", recognized for its pristine environment and sustainable management practices. [ [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/features/nprated0507/nprated.html National Geographic Traveler] ]

Gwaii Haanas is a remote location, accessible by sea kayak, boat or chartered floatplane only.

An orientation is provided to all visitors before they enter Gwaii Haanas.

ee also

*National Parks of Canada
*List of National Parks of Canada

References

External links

* [http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/index_e.asp Official site]
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/157 World Heritage Site]

Recommended Reading

"MacDonald, George F.". "Ninstints- Haida World Heritage Site". Vancouver: UBC Press. 1983