Nahanni National Park has grown up鈥攁nd out鈥攂y more than six times its former size. The massive expansion, announced on June 9 by the government of Canada and the Dehcho First Nation, brings the park鈥檚 area up to 12,000 square miles. Field studies of wide-ranging wildlife conducted by WCS-Canada played a key role in the decision to expand this globally important wilderness area in the Northwest Territories.

鈥淣ahanni is one of the great natural areas in the world,鈥� said Dr. John Weaver, who studied grizzly bears, woodland caribou, and Dall鈥檚 sheep in this remote region during 2002鈥�2007. 鈥淭he previous boundary was too narrow and too small for these big animals, and this expansion will protect critical habitat for these vulnerable wildlife species.鈥�

Expansion of the park makes it one of the largest in the world鈥攖hree and a half times the size of Yellowstone National Park鈥攚ith no roads and no major trails. Nahanni lies within the traditional territory of the Dehcho indigenous people, who were directly involved in the expansion process.

An additional 3,000 square miles in the South Nahanni River headwaters has also been withdrawn from development for consideration as a separate but contiguous national park in the territory of the Sahtu people.

鈥淭he studies carried out by Dr. Weaver provided the solid scientific basis for revising the park鈥檚 boundary to help ensure its ecological integrity,鈥� said Dr. Stephen Woodley, chief scientist for Parks Canada.

鈥淭his momentous decision by the Canadian government represents a new way of thinking about conservation at larger scales,鈥� said Dr. Justina Ray, executive director of WCS-Canada.