The Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA) is a national non-profit organization with the mission to facilitate and assist with the establishment of protected areas in Canada
On November 9, 2017, as part of its annual meeting, the CCEA
will present its 2017 Gold Leaf Award to Nunavik Parks. This prize
acknowledges the contribution of individuals or groups with special
achievements toward the protection of ecosystem diversity and the
establishment of protected areas. Nunavik Parks is being honoured in the
native organization category for its inspiring commitment to the
conservation and creation of protected areas in Nunavik. The four parks
already created in Nunavik cover approximately 37,000 km2, or
more than 7% of the region. As well, more than 13% of Nunavik is listed
as protected area. In addition to preserving a large part of the
region, Nunavik Parks has the mission to promote Inuit culture. This
purpose is central to the operations and management of the national
parks in Nunavik. Each park provides an immersive cultural experience in
addition to being a regional economic lever. Nunavik Parks is
continuing to work toward achieving the provincial conservation target
of protecting 20% of the region by 2020. Work is currently underway on
Parc national Iluiliq, located along the coast between the villages of
Salluit and Ivujivik.
Text from Camille Legall-Payne
