Connecting Past and Present

October 19, 2022 By: Jenn Wong

Sheena Goodyear, CBC “A possible new wolf pack in Oregon has conservationists cheering,” September 15, 2022,
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/a-possible-new-wolf-pack-in-oregon-has-conservationists-cheering-1.6584644

The sighting of wolves in an area where they were eliminated in Oregon is celebrated this year. Modern protections were removed by the previous Trump administration, however, were restored under the Endangered Species Act this past February. As we’ve seen in past conservation movements, protections and how wildlife is valued is subject to political and social norms of the time. Leoplod et al noted in 1963 “predators were controlled to protect the “good” animals from the “bad” ones” in national parks until the 1930’s, however predatory animals are still subject to culls and hunting. [1] For example, the article mentions farmers seeing wolves as a threat to their livestock. This thread runs back through to the first agrarian colonists who had the same fears and hunted wolves. Bounties that were placed on the species in 1915 by Congress, as the predatory mammals didn’t “have a place in our advancing civilization” [2] Today, indigenous communities are attempting to guide government into management practices to coexist with the wolves. The loss of predatory animals then and now have had ripple down affects on other wildlife populations.

[1] Leopold, Aldo Starker, Stanley A. Cain, Clarence M. Cottam, Ira Noel Gabrielson, and Thomas L. Kimball. Wildlife management in the National Parks. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 1963. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/leopold/leopold.htm.[2] Steinberg, T. “Chapter 9: Conservation Reconsidered.” In Down to Earth: Nature’s Role in American History. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018: 145.

Adrienne Lamb, “Edmonton discussing possibilities to build a new national park located where people live,” CBC, May 22, 2022,
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/parks-canada-miriam-padolsky-tony-alexis-rouge-larry-noonan-national-urban-park-1.6445937

Parks Canada is planning to create 15 new parks by 2030. However, they differ from past national parks in that they will be located in urban centres. A new network of urban parks, they are aiming to have one in each province “where Canadians live.” The same idea of conservation and public enjoyment in early creation of national parks dates back to John B. Harken’s time as commissioner. However, their creation was more of a top-down and paternal approach to drawing up park boundaries and rapid development. Today, Parks Canada’s approach involves a holistic approach with public consultation and indigenous land stewardship and knowledge. The idea of an inclusive urban national parks network seems like something that would be right up Jane Jacob’s alley.