NCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECONFIRMS GATINEAU PARK BOUNDARIES

The National Capital Commission’s (NCC) Board of Directors, during their board meeting held this afternoon in Ottawa, demonstrated its continued commitment to the long-term protection and integrity of Gatineau Park’s boundaries and ecosystems. The Board reconfirmed the Park boundaries established in 1997. The Board also discussed the acquisition strategy for lands within the Park’s boundaries, another example of how the NCC is working to maintain Gatineau Park as an important greenspace in Canada’s Capital Region.

“The National Capital Commission is committed to preserving Gatineau Park and its ecosystems for future generations of Canadians,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “We will continue to work towards the goals of the Gatineau Park Master Plan acquiring lands within the Park boundaries whenever possible.”

Since the 1930s, federal ownership of the lands in the Park has increased through the continuous and gradual acquisition of private properties within Park boundaries.
In keeping with Gatineau Park Master Plan (2005), the NCC is developing its acquisition strategy that identifies that private properties of strategic importance should be the priority for acquisition, subject to availability of resources and mutual agreement.

Preventing further development within Gatineau Park continues to be the NCC’s long-term objective. Last week, two properties located at 19 and 21 La Charité Road and totaling 6 660 square meters were purchased by the NCC as part of its continued effort to acquire lands.

In 2009, the NCC will also formalize its first conservation plan for Gatineau Park. The plan builds on a number of studies completed in the Park including a study of its more than 141 endangered species, a study on protected habitats and ecosystems (2007) and a biodiversity study of the
3,717 species found in Capital Region greenspaces including Gatineau Park (2005).

The Gatineau Park Ecosystem Conservation Plan, which is being developed in consultation with various interests groups and experts from the scientific community, outlines the NCC’s conservation objectives and an action plan to restore some of the Park’s ecosystems.

For further information about the National Capital Commission, members of the public can contact the NCC at 613-239-5555, 1 800 704-8227 or visit the website at www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca. TTY (text telephone for the hearing impaired) is available at: 613-239-5090 or toll-free 1 866 661-3530. The public NCC Board of Directors meeting can be viewed on the NCC website.

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