One of the legislated objectives for provincial parks and conservation reserves is "to facilitate scientific research and provide points of reference to support monitoring of ecological change on the broader landscape." In addition to research that MNR itself conducts in protected areas, MNR encourages research to develop better understanding of natural resource planning and management. This includes not only protection of natural and cultural values, but also ecologically sustainable land uses, including recreation.
Since 1930, nearly 2,000 research projects have been completed in provincial parks and conservation reserves. Most of these projects focussed on life sciences, but some focussed on earth sciences, social sciences and other topics.
MNR is a contributing partner with the Centre for Applied Science in Ontario Protected Areas (CASIOPA) and an member of the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA).
- Centre for Applied Science in Ontario Protected Areas
Since 1996, MNR has worked in a successful partnership with University of Waterloo, Parks Canada and six other Ontario universities to facilitate and publish applied science on protected areas in Ontario. The partnership was called the Parks Research Forum of Ontario (PRFO) from 1996 through 2008. The Centre for Applied Science in Ontario Protected Areas (CASIOPA) was established in 2009. The mandate of CASIOPA is to facilitate and transfer applied scientific research that enhances policy, program development, and on-the-ground management of protected areas in Ontario. CASIOPA workshops, meetings and publications helps researchers to report on and share the results of their work with protected area professionals and interested graduate students. For more information on the CASIOPA please visit www.casiopa.mediamouse.ca - Canadian Council on Ecological Areas
A national non-profit organization with a mission “to facilitate and assist Canadians with the establishment and management of a comprehensive network of protected areas representative of Canada’s terrestrial and aquatic ecological natural diversity”. CCEA’s roles include research, information bases, jurisdictional reports, workshops, publications and working groups on specific subjects such as climate change and ecological integrity. For more information visit http://www.ccea.org. - Parks and Protected Areas Research Group
The Parks and Protected Areas Research Group (P-PARG) is an initiative of Lakehead University, Ontario Parks (Northwest Zone), and Parks Canada (Pukaskwa National Park and Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area). The overall vision of P-PARG is to bring together a partnership that recognizes our common interest to advance parks and protected area research, anchored in (but not limited to) northwestern Ontario, as well as to improve education and communication within and among the partners and other interested parties. For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/PaPAResG.
