Those were among the highlights of a 2022 management plan for Banff National Park in Alberta setting the direction for the next decade.Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc.
That, he said, includes working with the town of Banff to create a community plan that deals with climate change, bringing in electric or hybrid vehicles as part of Parks Canada’s fleet and reducing energy usage in its buildings.Article content The 2022 plan has removed a reference to gondolas, which Rasheed said means a proposal for cable cars to the Mount Norquay ski hill from the Banff townsite is off the table.The plan doesn’t rule out a high-speed passenger train from Calgary, but says twinning an existing rail line could lead to more wildlife deaths in the park, a concern also raised by environmental groups.Article content
An Indigenous advisory circle was established several years ago and meets several times a year to help guide planning, Rasheed said. “We partnered with the Stoney Nakoda Nation to manage those bison using cultural learnings,” said Rasheed, referring to an Indigenous-led report that says traditional knowledge could help the herd’s success.Article content
The plan notes grizzly bears, mountain goats, wolves, cougars and wolverines are sensitive and important species for the national park. It says habitat security for those species must be maintained or improved by 2030.