ABSTRACT
First established to preserve scenic wonders and tourist attractions, in recent years the rationale for protected areas has changed to become a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation and ecological sustainability, as well as an important barometer of world ecosystem health and the human condition (United Nations 2005). According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), the world's 17,500+ parks and other forms of protected areas cover approximately 11.6 percent of Earth's terrestrial base (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC 2011). In Canada, 5,300+ protected areas cover nearly 10 percent of the nation's terrestrial base and represent the third largest land-use type behind forested areas and permanent pasture lands (Canadian Council on Ecological Areas 2011). Despite the recent volatility of economic markets worldwide, protected areas continue to attract a high number of visitors and contribute to a significant amount of tourism-related economic activity in nearby communities. Canadian national parks alone attract more than 13 million visits per year and personal benefits obtained from visitation are the key element in societal acceptance and the approval of parks and their management (Bushell and Eagles 2007; Parks Canada 2009).
