Exercise #3: Connecting Past and Present

April 21, 2026 By: AN CHEN

The CBC recently reported that Canada has only four years left to meet its goal of protecting 30% of its lands and oceans by 2030, which is roughly double what is currently protected. The government is now leaning on private companies and local communities to help reach that target, instead of relying only on traditional parks and reserves. This connects directly to the Unit 3 about how conservation has always involved a mix of government action, Indigenous stewardship, and grassroots efforts. The article also points out a major challenge that echoes our course discussions, which is making sure these “other-conserved areas” actually provide real protection for ecosystems.

https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7152175

The P.E.I. National Park in Prince Edward Island is getting upgrades for 2025 summer , including a full ban on pool inflatables like unicorn floaties and inner tubes, because lifeguards say half of all beach rescues since 2019 have been linked to these things. The park is also spending $180,000 to add parking and a new staircase across the dunes, all while keeping the dunes themselves closed to foot traffic to protect the fragile coastal ecosystem. This linked to Unit 3 about the constant balancing act parks face: they have to welcome visitors and make nature accessible, but also protect the very environment people came to see. Whether it is managing crowds, fixing storm damage from Hurricane Fiona, or keeping people safe, parks today are dealing with the same tensions between recreation and preservation that have shaped park policy for over a century.