| The significant
and increasing loss of biodiversity and natural heritage areas has
created widespread global concern, and is generating a new commitment
to conserve and protect threatened species and spaces. The roles and
responsibilities of Ontario Parks respond to the international call
to increase the protection of natural heritage areas and biodiversity
around the world.
Over the past
decade, a succession of world charters have called for accelerated
protection efforts. As part of this growing movement, Canada and
159 other countries signed the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity at the Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992. Among other
things, they pledged to establish more protected areas, and to find
new ways of managing these areas while promoting environmentally
sound and sustainable development of natural resources.
Ontario's provincial
parks system makes a significant contribution to Canada's commitment.
Ontario Parks will continue to make a contribution to providing
leadership for its partners, and for other agencies and organizations
within Ontario, in the establishment of new protected areas.
IUCN
Protected Areas Management Categories
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