Parks and protected areas
Context
Nunavik possesses several natural environments with exceptional characteristics and landscapes that must be protected. In fact, specific areas have been identified and reserved by the Québec government for park or protected area purposes. Consultation of and collaboration with local communities ensure that park and protected area projects improve protection for Inuit, Cree, and Naskapi harvesting and traditional activities. The KRG, through Nunavik Parks and in collaboration with the MDDELCC and the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (forests, wildlife and parks), is responsible for the management of parks and protected areas, their protection as well as enhancement activities.
General Position
The KEAC monitors the national park creation and protected area identification processes in Nunavik and submits its recommendations to the concerned authorities. It participates at public hearings and provides feedback to the concerned authorities. The KEAC focuses in particular on the protection of Inuit, and where applicable Naskapi, hunting, fishing and trapping rights, visitor activities, environmental conservation, cultural heritage preservation (archaeological sites), park project boundaries, as well as potential mining activities near parks.
National Parks
The Ulittaniujaluk (Monts-Pyramides) national park project covers 5,511 km2. Located near the Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, the park project is intended to protect representative elements of the natural region known as the George River Plateau. It includes Lake Tasirlaq, Lake Qamanialuk, the lower portion of the Ford River and the valley of the George River. In April 2015, the Québec government announced that the creation of the park would probably take place in the fall.
Position paper concerning the Ulittaniujaluk (Monts-Pyramides) park project (November 2011)
Parc national Tursujuq was created in the summer of 2013 and covers 26,107 km2. It is the largest park in Québec’s national park network. Located near the Northern Village of Umiujaq, the park stretches west to east from the coastal zone at the mouth of the Little Baleine River and Lake Guillaume-Delisle and its drainage basin, including the Eau Claire River, Eau Claire Lake and its drainage basin, to Upper Des Loups Marins Lake. Along its northern boundary, the park also covers the Nastapoka River and its entire drainage basin, including Lower Des Loups Marins Lake.
Position paper concerning the Lacs-Guillaume-Delisle-et-à-l’Eau-Claire park project (August 2008)
Parc national Kuururjuaq was created in 2009 and covers 4,460.8 km2. Located near the Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, the park covers a portion of the Torngat Mountains, including Mount D’Iberville (which rises to an elevation of 1,646 m), the valley of the Koroc River and its tributaries, as well as a coastal zone north of Kangiqsualujjuaq category I lands. It does not however cover the Mount Nuvulialuk area to the south or Keglo Bay and its tributaries to the north.
Brief on the Kuururjuaq Park Project (April 2007)
Parc national des Pingualuit was the first park in Nunavik. Created in 2004, it covers 1,133.9 km2. Located roughly 100 km from the Northern Village of Kangiqsujuaq, the park provides protection for Pingualuit Crater, an outstanding geological feature, and representative elements of the natural region known as the Ungava Plateau. The canyon of the Puvirnituq River, which runs along the park’s northern boundary, is a haven for vegetation and for a large diversity of wildlife.
Protected areas
The KEAC is monitoring work connected with the creation of protected areas in Nunavik. Notwithstanding, there are no recent developments on this topic.