Regulations and conservation policies

Main Regulations Applicable in Québec National Parks in Nunavik

Gordon Cobain

Access

• Every person who enters a park or stays, travels or engages in an activity in a park must hold an authorization issued by the park authorities. The authorization shall be issued on payment of the fees applicable.
• Every person who intends to land an aircraft in a park must obtain prior authorization from the park authorities.
• Fly-overs of Lake Pingualuk as well as the interior portion of the Pingualuit Crater are strictly prohibited.

Hunting, fishing and trapping*

• Hunting and trapping of every kind is prohibited in a park.
• The possession of arms as well as hunting and trapping implements is prohibited in a park.
• Every person who intends to fish in a park must hold an authorization to fish issued by the Québec government.
• Fishing in a park may only be authorized for on-site consumption.
• The possession of fishing tackle is prohibited in a park except for holders of an authorization to fish issued by the Québec government.
• Every holder of an authorization to fish issued by the Québec government shall, after engaging in this activity, report the activity to the park authorities.

*     The provisions of this section are not applicable to beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.

Resource harvesting and harnessing

All forms of prospecting, and any utilization, harvesting or harnessing of resources related to logging, mining or the production of energy, and the laying of oil or gas pipelines or power lines, are prohibited in a park.

Zoning

Zoning is a useful tool that permits park planners to harmonize conservation and accessibility. It serves to define land uses and related levels of accessibility. Zoning makes it possible to prohibit access to sectors that contain fragile, rare or threatened natural resources, as well as to foster infrastructure construction in zones with the capacity to support development. Other categories of zoning fall between these two extremes. Five types of zoning exist for Québec national parks, according to the level of environmental protection necessary.

• Maximum preservation zones are designated for the preservation of the integrity of the natural environment. Access is prohibited except for educational or scientific purposes and this access requires an authorization issued by the park authorities.
• Preservation zones are characterized by fragile environments with low self-correction capacity. Access is restricted to marked trails. Occasionally, a few camping sites may be established on especially long trails.
• Natural environment zones cover the largest area of a park. They are designated for the discovery and exploration of the environment and permit the practice of educational and outdoor activities. As well, berry picking and fishing may be authorized under certain conditions.
• Intensive recreation zones are easily accessible and present high potential for the practice of certain recreational activities. Requiring only moderate protection, these zones are capable of supporting extensive development such as serviced beaches, as well as downhill ski and golf resorts.
• Services zones are designated for park services such as reception centres, rental offices, etc.

Zoning - Parc des Pingualuit

Version in PDF (6,02MB)

Code of ethics for visitors

No person who travels, stays or engages in an activity in a park for reasons other than scientific or management purposes may:

• fell, damage, remove or bring in a tree, a shrub, a herbaceous plant or a part thereof; however, the picking of edible vegetable products is allowed, except for commercial purposes or in preservation and maximum preservation zones;
• paint, deface or remove rocks or parts thereof, pebbles, fossils or other natural formations;
• feed animals living in the park;
• bring in animals or fish except:
  • guide dogs;
  • dogs used to engage in an activity offered in the park;
  • to travel across the park or to travel in the park in possession of an animal or a fish kept at all times inside a vehicle or a boat;
  • to travel or stay in a park or to engage in an activity in the park with a dog kept at all times on a leash and only at the places marked for that purpose;
• make fires at places other than those marked for that purpose.

Scientific research

Scientific research in a park must be authorized by the park authorities. The document entitled Scientific Research in Nunavik’s National Parks: A Researchers’ Guide is available to any researcher who intends to submit a research authorization application for a park in Nunavik.

Conservation Policy for Québec National Parks in Nunavik

The foremost objective of Québec national parks in Nunavik is to:

"ensure the conservation and permanent protection of areas representative of the natural regions of Québec and of natural sites with outstanding features, in particular because of their biological diversity, while providing the public with access to those areas or sites for educational or cross-country recreation purposes.”

Consequently, efforts devoted to the development and management of Québec’s national parks must be centered on achieving the primary objective of conservation.

In addition, Nunavik parks subscribe to the principles of Leave No Trace Canada, which has been adapted for Québec national parks by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (outdoor activity corporation, Sépaq).

This code of ethics for outdoor activities is based on seven principles, which suggest behaviours to adopt as we engage in our activities in order to leave the natural environment as beautiful (or even more so) as it was when we arrived.

Take the time to read the seven principals of Leave No Trace Canada, which have been adapted to the context of Québec's national parks. When you go to your favourite parks, think of the potential impacts of your actions. Use these principals as a guideline so you can make conscious and responsible choices aimed at preserving the natural heritage that belongs to all of us.

Robert Fréchette, private collection

1. Plan and Prepare Your Outings Well
   • Find out about the regulations in national parks, and the characteristics of the territories you would like to visit.
   • Plan an itinerary that suits all the members of your group.
   • Be prepared for bad weather, natural hazards and/or all forms of emergencies (adapted equipment and clothing, first aid kit, cell phone).
   • Try to plan your excursion to avoid visiting a park during peak periods.
   • Travel in small groups.
   • Reduce the packaging on your provisions to minimize the amount of garbage to bring home.
   • Tell those close to you about your itinerary.
2. Keep to Designated Areas
   • Limit your activities to the areas recommended by park employees.
   • Where there are marked trails, do not take shortcuts. This illegal practice is destructive of plant life.
   • Where there are marked trails, walk in single file in the middle of the trail, even if it is muddy or wet. Walking outside of these zones contributes greatly to the deterioration of plant life and causes extra erosion.
   • Even in winter, circulating off marked trails damages small trees buried under the snow.
   • Camp only on designated sites.
   • Do not spread out on your campsite.
   • Concentrate your activities in areas where there is no vegetation.
3. Dispose of Garbage Correctly
   • Bring back all garbage and left-over food. Before leaving, inspect the rest area or campsite to make sure not to leave any garbage or food. Pick up all garbage even if it is not your own. Report to park authorities any garbage that you could not carry out (barrel, wood, etc.).
   • Use the toilets when there are some nearby, both for urine and feces.
     • When there are no toilets nearby:
       • Urinate on mineral surfaces so that animals will not be attracted by the salt and damage the vegetation.
       • Bury your feces in a hole that is 15 to 20 cm deep. Fill the hole carefully afterwards.
       • Take your used toilet paper and personal products with you.
   • For cleaning and washing dishes, use existing infrastructure when available.
   • If there are no infrastructure nearby, stay far away from rivers, streams and lakes, and use a small amount of biodegradable soap. Filter the dirty water before draining it on the ground. Pick up solid waste and put it in the garbage.
4. Leave What You See Intact
   • Help to preserve our heritage: touch only with your eyes.
   • Leave stones, plants, and all other natural or cultural objects where they are.
   • Do not transport or introduce indigenous or non-indigenous species.
   • Do not build any type of structure or installation.
5. Minimize the Impact of Campfires
   • Use a gas camp stove for cooking.
   • If you make a fire, only use sites that are designated for this activity.
   • In national parks, the use of dead wood is prohibited.
   • Keep your fire as small as possible to minimize emissions from wood combustion.
   • Burn the wood down to ash and carefully put your fire out.
   • Learn to enjoy the light from a lantern or a candle rather than a fire.
6. Respect Nature
   • Appreciate plant life without picking, pulling out, or trampling it.
   • Observe wildlife at a distance. Don't follow or approach wild animals.
   • Never feed wild animals. This can be harmful to their health and alter their natural behaviour, ultimately compromising their chances of survival.
   • Leave your pets at home.
   • Protect wildlife and your food by storing your supplies and your garbage in a safe place.
7. Respect Other Visitors
   • Be respectful of other visitors and the quality of their experience.
   • Be courteous. Let others pass you on the trail.
   • Let the sounds of nature reign. Speak softly and avoid being noisy.
   • And don't forget that respect for the first six principles stems naturally from respecting the seventh principle.

Even though these principals are supported by national parks regulations, the knowledge and application of Leave No Trace Canada in all of our daily actions outdoors, as commonplace as they seem to be, contribute to minimizing our impacts on our natural heritage. In parks as in any milieu, we all play an essential role in preserving the environment for today, and for generations to come.