Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) (French: la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada (SNAP)) was founded in 1963 to help protect Canada's wilderness. Named in the Top 10 Canadian organization in 2007 , CPAWS has a membership of nearly 15,000, and 13 local chapters across Canada.

CPAWS Work

CPAWS vision is to keep at least half of Canada's public land and water wild — forever focusing on protecting many important areas of Canada's wilderness:

The Boreal forest is one of the last three large wild forests on the planet and one of the world's most important ecosystems.

The Eastern Woodlands from Algonquin Park (Ontario) to the Adirondacks (NY) and across the Northern Appalachians/Acadian Mountains in Quebec, New-Brunswick, and Nova-Scotia, conservation initiatives are undergoing to preserve wilderness corridors on public and private lands.

Yellowstone to Yukon is a region stretching from Yellowstone in Wyoming to the Yukon in Canada, this stretch of mountain chains connect a web of life and large landscape connectivity conservation is important for the survival of many species, even more with the threat of Climate Change.

Marine and Ocean Canada has the longest coastline in the world and more than 20% of the planet's fresh water. This abundance causes many people to take it for granted but CPAWS with partners work on increasing marine protected areas and change policy around marine conservation.

Parks Forever, if our national and provincial parks are a symbol of Canada's national identity, CPAWS and volunteers across the country stay vigilant regarding conservation management and policy.

In partnership with Mountain Equipment Coop in Canada, CPAWS created The Big Wild / Horizons sauvage to celebrates Canada's large wild expanses: our forests, lakes, free-flowing rivers and stunning coasts. It's an online community of people who are passionate about that wilderness. And it's people working together to ensure at least half of our wilderness is protected forever.

CPAWS Mission

CPAWS envisages a healthy ecosphere where people experience and respect natural ecosystems. This will be achieved by:

• protecting Canada’s wild ecosystems in parks, wilderness and similar natural areas, preserving the full diversity of habitats and their species;
• promoting awareness and understanding of ecological principles and the inherent values of wilderness through education, appreciation and experience;
• encouraging individual action to accomplish these goals;
• working co-operatively with government, First Nations, business, other organizations and individuals in a consensus-seeking manner, wherever possible.

James B Harkin Conservation Award

In 1972, CPAWS established the James B. Harkin Conservation Award, which is awarded to Canadians who promote conservation. Notable recipients of the Harkin Award include:

• 2008 Bob Peart
• 2007 Dr. Jim Thorsell
• 2005 Dr. J. Gordon Nelson
• 2003 Mike Harcourt, Derek Thompson
• 2002 Elizabeth May
• 2001 Monte Hummel
• 2000 Mike and Diane McIvor
• 1999 Dr. Stephen Herrero
• 1998 Dr. John Theberge (with special recognition of Mary Theberge)
• 1997 Cliff Wallis
• 1996 Chief Emeritus Ruby Dunstan
• 1994 Dr. J. Stan Rowe (d. April 6, 2004)
• 1992 Jennifer Shay, Vernon C. Brink
• 1990 Andy Russell
• 1989 Gavin Henderson
• 1987 Alex T. Davidson
• 1985 Michael J. Nolan, George W. Scotter, Charles Sauriol
• 1981 George F. Ledingham
• 1978 William Fergus Lothian
• 1975 Roderick Haig-Brown
• 1972 Hon. Jean Chrétien

See also

• National Parks of Canada

External links

• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (National)
• List of CPAWS chapters, with links