Heritage Sites, Parks and Conservation Areas: Public Policy Resources

Welcome
Books
Government Information
Laws & Legislation
Maps & GIS
Websites
Writing & Citing

Welcome

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. (Unesco)

This guide provides links to official sources of government information about heritage, parks and and nature conservation. Selected links to non-governmental organizations with an interest in this policy area are listed under the Websites tab.

Books

Suggested Subject Headings:

Cultural property

Historic buildings

Historic sites

Marine parks and reserves

National parks and reserves

Nature conservation

Parks

Provincial parks and reserves

Government Information

Canada - Federal:

Canadian Heritage
- The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) enables Canada's museums to engage audiences through the use of innovative technologies.
- Its Directories link provides listings for museums around the world, archaeology listings and Canadian government departments.
- Annual reports of CHIN's work.
Parks Canada is the federal agency with the mandate on behalf of the people of Canada, to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations.
- National Parks of Canada
- National Parks System Plan (3rd edition)
- National Marine Conservation Areas
- National Historic Sites
- - Rideau Canal National Historic Site
    - Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy
    - Rideau Canal World Heritage Site Management Plan (PDF)
- World Heritage Canada
  - Canada's existing World Heritage sites
  - Canadian Heritage Rivers System
- Canadian Parks Council established in 1962 as the Federal Provincial Parks Council to enable Canada’s national, provincial and territorial park agencies to work together to promote excellence in park planning and management, advance park and protected areas interests and facilitate cooperation between member agencies on matters of shared interest and responsibility.
  - Publications and research
- Commission of Conservation Canada (via the Intenet Archive) The Commission on Conservation (1909-1921) was established to advise the federal government on the conservation of human and natural resources. Print editions of these reports are availabe in the Carleton Library collection. Search under author: Canada. Commission of Conservation. Only selected volumes of these historic reports are available online through the Internet Archive.

Canada - Provincial:

Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation

British Columbia

BC Parks
Heritage information (Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations)

Nunavut

Nunavut Parks
list of Parks and Special Places

Ontario

Conservation Ontario (a network of the 36 Conservation Authorities)
Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
- Heritage Conservation Districts
- Ontario Heritage Toolkit
Ministry of Natural Resources

Local:

Canada

Ottawa Parks and Recreation Dept. Ottawa parks
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Stanley Park

Foreign

New York City Central Park
Paris (France) Parks, woods, gardens, and cemeteries

Foreign:

Australia

United States

The evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920 (Library of Congress, American Memory Project) This website documents the historical formation and cultural foundations of the movement to conserve and protect America's natural heritage, through books, pamphlets, government documents, manuscripts, prints, photographs, and motion picture footage drawn from the collections of the Library of Congress.
National Park Service
- Find a Park
- Park Histories of the National Park Service and individual parks

International: