Calgary 
Canada may get a new national park in the Peel Watershed, located in Yukon.
Caption: Northern lights over the confluence of the Peel River and Snake River in the Peel Watershed. Credit: Tayu Hayward/Govt. of Canada
Efforts are underway to establish a new national park in the Peel Watershed, Yukon, a collaborative initiative involving the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, and both the Canadian and Yukon governments. This proposed park aims to safeguard over 3,000 square kilometres of the Northern Boreal Plains Natural Region, an area crucial for its rich biodiversity and cultural importance, especially to the local Gwich’in and First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun communities.
The Peel Watershed, encompassing approximately 74,000 square kilometres from Yukon to the Mackenzie River near Fort McPherson in the Northwest Territories, is a pristine landscape featuring vast boreal forests, dynamic river systems, and deep canyons. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Porcupine caribou herd, boreal caribou, grizzly bears, moose, peregrine falcons, and a plethora of migratory birds. The region also contains critical spawning areas for whitefish and other fish species.
Per the news release, the proposed national park aligns with the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan, under which certain areas like the Peel River corridor, Turner Lake Wetlands, and Caribou River have already been earmarked for protection. Establishing the park would not only help preserve the area’s ecological integrity but also support the recovery of species at risk and combat the impacts of climate change.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment by the federal government, as per the April 2023 Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, to protect 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.
If realized, this park, protecting an area more than half the size of Prince Edward Island, would be the fourth national park in Yukon, following Ivvavik, Kluane, and Vuntut National Parks.
