Restoration and active management
Gros Morne National Park
Sometimes our ecological integrity monitoring or species at risk monitoring programs show us that the park is not as healthy as it should be. When this happens, we need to figure out why, find ways to get it back on its feet, and make sure it stays healthy once it has recovered. This is where restoration and active management actions comes into play. However, restoration and active management are not as simple as they sound. Nature is constantly changing and many factors are influencing management decisions. Restoration work is an intricate process requiring science and traditional knowledge and often involves volunteers, stakeholders and partners.
In Gros Morne, some of our restoration projects include:
Forest Health
When moose numbers in the park were double that of the rest of the province, changes needed to be made due to their massive impact on forests. Did you know that moose eat 18 kilograms (almost 40 lbs) of balsam fir per day? Learn how our conservation team is restoring forest health at Gros Morne National Park.
Woodland Caribou
Woodland Caribou are medium-size members of the deer family and are a native species on the island of Newfoundland. Since 2021, Newfoundland Caribou have been listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act as a species of Special Concern. They are gregarious migratory animals, gathering in herds of tens to hundreds of individuals, and sometimes these movements can place them at risk. For example, during late fall and early spring, many caribou are found in coastal and lowland areas of Gros Morne National Park, particularly coastal bogs north of Rocky Harbour, as well as in Trout River Gulch. At these times, they often feed along roadways, placing them at risk of being hit by passing motor vehicles. Parks Canada works to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle collisions through signage, information sharing, and traffic enforcement.
Learn more about the work done across the country for caribou recovery at Parks Canada.
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon is an ecologically and culturally important native species in Gros Morne National Park. Their populations are monitored in three rivers - Western Brook, Dear Arm and Trout River - but they also occur in several other watersheds. The Lomond river is also popular for recreational salmon fishing. Low numbers of salmon have been returning to some of these rivers in recent years, and conservation measures such as river closures have been put in place when needed to ensure that Atlantic salmon continue to thrive in Gros Morne National Park.
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