Study Finds Canada's National Parks Struggle to Prevent Landscape Fragmentation

A Concordia University-led study suggests that Canada's national parks are not as effective as intended in preventing landscape fragmentation. Researchers analyzed 43 national parks and reserves, comparing changes within park boundaries to adjacent unprotected areas from their designation date to 2020. Using a metric called 'effective mesh size' to measure landscape connectivity, the study found that fragmentation increased faster in approximately 35% of parks than in comparable unprotected areas. Older parks with significant tourism and transportation infrastructure generally showed greater fragmentation. The effectiveness of protection varied by ecozone, with the Taiga, Prairies, Pacific Maritime, and Arctic regions showing better results than the Cordilleras and Hudson zones. Parks like Banff and Jasper experienced substantial increases in fragmentation.

This study raises concerns about the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Canada's national parks and highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing protection with human development and infrastructure.