Polar Bear Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

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The Polar Bear Provincial Park, with an area of 23,552 km ², the largest park in the Canadian province of Ontario and also the most northerly.

Location and purpose

It is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, where the James Bay begins. It was founded in 1970 and is managed by Ontario Parks. It is used predominantly to protect the polar bear population living there, which includes about 200 animals. In addition, Canadian woodland caribou, moose, beaver, fox, black bear, marten, moreover, numerous species of birds such as Canada geese and other migratory birds. In and on Hudson Bay seals, walruses and beluga whales live. About 75 % of the park is covered by wetlands, lakes or rivers. The largest lake measures 13 by 5 km and is up to 3 m deep.

Access is possible only by means of aircraft except by canoe, a special permit for entering the secluded park is required. The aircraft are four airstrips. On one of these landing sites was in the time of the Cold War a radar station, go back to the numerous artifacts. Two bearings of the local Indians, who are allowed to fish as the sole and hunting, are also open to visitors.

Flora

Since the last ice age, the land rises due to the liberation of the huge ice load, per year by 1.2 cm. By about 2000 BC, the area was part of the Tyrrell Sea, a glacial lake, whose retreat is today's Hudson Bay. The flat area has a few hills, which represent the remains of former shorelines. A portion of the shallow, coastal areas is flooded every year during the melting of the ice. Mosses cover the barren, sub-polar landscape that has trees just to the west. There are also lapponicum rhododendron. Crows and cranberry grow here also. In the spring stain numerous flowering plants, the landscape, including thousands of small ponds contribute, depending on the minerals and microorganisms that reside in the fact discolor.

History

The park was created in 1967 initially on an area of ​​9400 km ². Core area was the Cape Henrietta Maria Wilderness Area. René Brunelle, the responsible Minister for Land and Forests insisted that the local Indians were allowed to continue to pursue hunting and fishing. He took care of background information in the language of the Cree and discussed with representatives of the Attawapiskat First Nation. Since in the region were no other employment opportunities, only members of the local tribes were allowed to apply to be a leader in the park. Even set against hunting in provincial parks Federation of Ontario Naturalists supported this principle. During the 70 years, however, changed the setting of the Cree and Ojibwa to the establishment of protected areas. They stood in conflict with their idea of ​​independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency. The need for independence increased significantly, the understanding of a nation changed. The Nishnawbe Aski First Nation, noted their traditional conception of life in the country contrary to the concept of a certain protection from afar thought.

1992 was discussed whether the park should be extended. This affected the umwohnenden First Nations. The Indians fear that with a possible resource extraction initially arise streets. They are followed by the establishment of townships and surveying the land, then the loss of freedom of movement, as each square meter receives an owner. This is due to that Ontario, like most provinces of Canada, the extraction of natural resources gives absolute priority, both to property rights, as well as to indigenous, the highest court protected rights. In this context, it came several times to violent clashes. In the case of Polar Bear Provincial Park, however Weenusk First Nation and the First Nation of Attawapiskat, Fort Severn and Peawanuck agreed that they zugutekam an extension of the park, because it seemed to them an appropriate means to keep mineral exploration and to protect the area permanently.