Minister McKenna welcomes UNESCO World Heritage Committee decision on Wood Buffalo National Park

OTTAWA, July 6, 2017 /CNW/ - The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today issued the following statement on the decision adopted by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site at the 41st Session in Krakow, Poland:

"The Government of Canada recognizes the Outstanding Universal Value of Canada's 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is committed to their ongoing protection. We respect the World Heritage Committee's decision regarding recommendations about the state of conservation of Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site.

Canada is committed to addressing and responding to the World Heritage Committee in the requested timelines as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting Canada's heritage places now, and for future generations.

A true response to this report will only be possible through collaboration at all levels within Canada - between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, through engagement with all eleven Indigenous partners, and through consultations with industry and other key stakeholders.

We are currently working with partners to develop an action plan guided by the World Heritage Committee's recommendations. Our co-operative management committee strives to respect both the mandate of Parks Canada and the cultures and traditions of Indigenous Peoples.

We know that further engagement and capacity-building with Indigenous communities is essential to ensuring the successful implementation of the action plan.

We are confident that through this collaboration, and by making use of the best available science and traditional knowledge, we can preserve the outstanding universal value of Wood Buffalo National Park ‎and address the critical issues identified by the World Heritage Committee.

We are committed to securing the future of Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site, so that it remains a treasured place with Outstanding Universal Value for generations to come."

Associated Links

Wood Buffalo National Park

UNESCO World Heritage Centre

SOURCE Parks Canada (Georgian Bay and Ontario East Field Unit)

For further information: Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 613-462-5473, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada Agency, 855-862-1812, [email protected]