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Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeaceParkIfanThomas JeffMowSuperintendent Superintendent:WatertonLakesNationalPark GlacierNationalPark403-859-5133 4068887901ifan.thomas@pc.gc.ca jeff_mow@nps.govUSA,CanadaSize:4556sqkm(1,720sqmiles).

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Participantsincoordinatingtheongoingtransboundarycooperation:NationalGovernment:

• USNationalParkService• ParksCanada

Objectives:WatertonLakesandGlacierNationalParksrespectivelyprotectedoneofthefewreamingfullyintactecosystemsintheRockyMountainsoftheWesternUSandCanada.Theseparksconserveoutstandingexamplesofglaciation,alpineecosystems,eco-tonesbetweenmountainandprairielandscapesinrichculturalhistoryandtradition.TheprimaryobjectiveofthepeaceParkdesignationistocommemoratethelonghistoryofpeaceandfriendshipbetweenCanadaandtheUnitedStates,andtoemphasizebothnaturalandculturallinks.Valuesandimportance:TheWaterton-GlacierinternationalpeaceparkpromotesInternationalpeaceandcooperation.Thatworkisdemonstratedthroughcooperativemanagementofmigratorywildlife,endangeredspecies,invasiveweeds,fire,andbordersecurity.Managerscooperativelyandassistoneanotherincommunicatingwithvisitors,searchandrescue,bordercrossingandpromotionofopportunitiesforrecreationandeducation.Aspectsoftransboundarycooperation:Thetwoparksdonotoperateundertheguidanceofaformaljointmanagementplan.Whilethecooperationiscontinuousandhighlycollaborative,itisalsoinformalandbasedonsoundpersonalrelationshipsamongthestaffandpartnersofthetwoparks.OverthepastseveralyearsWGIPPimplementedaconsiderablecooperativeprogramforinvasiveplantspecies,whichincludesthecollectionandpropagationofnativeseedfromaparkgreenhouse,inparticularforthewhitebarkpine.Parksalsosupportoneanotherinmattersrelatedtoemergencyresponse,suchassearchandrescue,orjointfirefightingefforts.Othercooperativeinitiativesincludecommunicationregardingpublicsafetywarnings,weatherconditions,andtrailclosures.

Therehavealsobeenseveralsingleactionsbetweentwoparksthatwereaimedatpromotionofcooperation,andencouragingpeace,goodwillandfriendshipbetweentwocountries–suchasPeaceParkWeekthatwasorganizedbyRotariansandheldin1960-1062;Canada-U.S.DaysofPeaceandFriendshipthattookplacein1987;travellingexhibitsonthepeacepark,andsomeothers(Morrison2007).Usuallytheseone-timeeventsweretimedtosomekindofanniversaries.Stageintheprocess:Completed

DateEstablished:June18,1932

OfficialProtectedAreaDesignation• InternationalPeacePark• NationalPark,• UNESCOWorldHeritageSite,• UNESCOBiosphereReserve.

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TheCatalystandHistory:Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeaceParkwasdesignatedonJune18,1932“tocommemoratethelonghistoryofpeaceandfriendshipbetweenCanadaandtheUnitedStates,andtoemphasizebothnaturalandculturallinks”(Sandwithetal.2001).TheparkislocatedintheRockyMountainsofNorthAmericaandcombinesCanadianWatertonLakesNP(establishedin1895intheprovinceofAlberta)andAmericanGlacierNP(establishedin1910inthestateofMontana).HereCanadaandtheUnitesStatesshareacommonlandscape,andthededicatedPeacePark’s“outstandingscenicvalues,diversewildlifepopulations,sparklingwaters,remarkablehistoricandculturalheritage,andlargelyintactecologicalprocessesmakeitoneofthecontinent’smostvaluedtreasures“(StateoftheParks2002).British,American,andlaterCanadiansurveyteamsestablishedtheinternationalboundarybetweenthetwocountriesonpaperduringthe19thcentury.Therushforgoldfieldsinthemid-1850screatedademandfordemarcatingtheborder.Thereweresomeoccasionaldisputes,butthelongestundefendedborderintheworldhasbeenpeacefulsince1821(InternationalPeacePark1981).ItisbelievedthatthefirstproponentsoftheinternationalparkideawereGeorge“Kootenai”BrownandHenry“Death-on-the-Trail”Reynolds.Theysuggestedthatthetwoparksbejoined.George“Kootenai”Brownwasalong-timelocalsettlerinWaterton,whowasappointedforestranger-in-chargeinApril1910,becomingthepark’sfirston-sitemanager.InGlacier,WilliamLogan,aformermilitaryman,becamesuperintendent.LoganwasresponsibleforcontractingAlbertHenry“DeathontheTrail”ReynoldsasarangerinchargeofasectionofGlacieradjacenttoWaterton(Morrison2007).

“Itwasn’tlongbeforeBrownandReynoldsbecamecompatriots,comparingnotes,seekingoneanother’sadviceandassistance,andsocializing,whenpossible.Duringthelongwintermonthstheyhadplentyoftimetoconsiderthephilosophicalaspectsoftheirjobsanddiscusstopicsofinterest.Theyagreedonmanythingsandboththoughtthepresenceoftheinternationalboundarybetweenthetwoparkswasartificial.AccordingtoMiddleton’s[thefirstChairmanofthePeaceParksCommittee]account,Reynoldssaid“geologyrecognizednoboundariesandthatas[UpperWaterton]Lakelayinitsglaciercirque,noman-madeboundarycouldcleavethewatersapart.Itwouldbebettertoacceptnature’screationbyremovingtheboundarylineandacknowledgeonepark,onelakeinitsownterritory”-(Morrison2007).

Theparkrangersfirstdrovetheideaoftheinternationalpeacepark.Andalthoughinrealitytheboundarylinewasnotremoved,theirwayofthinkinginsomewaycatalyzedtheprocessofpeaceparkestablishment.WhilethefirstproponentsofWGIPPwerelocalrangers,therealpushandfacilitationoftheprocesswasdonebythenon-governmentorganization–RotaryInternational.

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“ThiswastheconvictionofearlyrangersworkinginCanada’sWatertonLakesNationalParkandtheUnitedStates’GlacierNationalPark.Afterall,theonlythingseparatingthetwoparkswasapoliticalline.Themountainswerecontinuous,thewatersflowedfreelyfromonesidetotheother;thewildlifeknewnodifference,sowhyshouldwe?”(WGIPPAssociation2015)

TheCardstonRotaryClubinAlbertacalledanannualsmallget-togetherofAlbertaandMontanaRotariansonJuly4-5,1931atthePrinceoftheWalesHotelinWaterton,andaccordingtothehistoricalrecords,thatwasthefirsttimewhendiscussionsonthecreationofaworld-wideInternationalPeacemovement,andestablishmentofWGIPParose(Morrison2007).Thatmeetingledtotheadoptionofaresolution,whichcalledforpetitionstotheproperauthoritiesfortheestablishmentofanInternationalPeacePark.OneofthekeypeopleinthisprocesswastheAnglicanRev.SamuelH.Middleton,whojustdaysbeforethegatheringhadbeeninauguratedasthethirdpresidentoftheCardstonRotaryClub.MiddletonwastheprincipalofStPaul’sIndianSchoolandpastorofWaterton’snewAll-SaintsAnglicanChurch.Hewastheonewhodraftedaresolution,andwaslaterpushingtheideaforward.

Thatresolutionwasacalltoaction.Rotariansfrombothsidesstartedbyimmediatelycontactingtheirelectedfederalrepresentatives(Brig.GeneralJ.S.StewardfromAlberta,andRep.ScottLeavittfromMontana)undertheumbrellaofthenewlyformedInternationalPeaceParkCommitteethatconsistedof19membersfromAlbertaandMontana.BothsidesbegantolobbytheirprospectiveGovernment,andintroducedbillsfortheestablishmentoftheWGIPP.CongressmenScottLeavittcirculatedhisproposedbillduringtheLegislativeSessionofthe72dCongressinWashingtonDC,USAandmanagedtogetitpassedbyDecember8,1931(AnnexE-1).AnActtoestablishWaterton-GlacierInternationalPeaceParkwasapprovedbytheUnitedStateSenateinMarch1932(AnnexE-2).CanadafirsthadrefusedtoenactpeaceparklegislationuntiltheAmericanbillwaspassed,andtheprocesswasfurtherdelayedbyastormofprotestfromtheproponentsoftheInternationalPeaceParkGardenattheborderofManitobaandNorthDakota–analternativeideaofdesignatingalandtopromotepeace(discussedinthenextchapter).ButeventuallytheCanadianGovernmentpassedthebillin1932.The“ActrespectingtheWaterton-GlacierInternationalPeacePark”,sponsoredbyJohnS.Stewart,aCanadianwarheroandapolitician,wasfinallyassentedtoonMay26,1932.Barriers,challenges,obstacles,orconstraints:Theinformalnatureofthiscooperativearrangementrequiresconsiderableattentionpaidtoongoingcommunication.Issuessuchaschangesandbordersecuritysuchasthosethathappenedafter9-11,2001affectbothsetsofparkmanagers.Dynamicecosystemchangesuchasfiredisturbanceorepisodiceventssuchasneedforsearchandrescueneedtobeorganizedbeforeacrisissetsin.Thus,Communicationneedstobeproactiveandcontinuous.Inthepastdecadevisitationlevelshaveincreasedvariablyandattimesrapidly.Thisincreaseddemandforrecreationalexperiencescanleadtodeterioratingvisitqualityandimpactstonaturalresources.Policiesimplementedtomanagevisitationinoneparkcanhaveimplicationsfortheotherbothinthemanagementoftheresourcesandeconomicimpactstosurroundingareas.Thus,includingoneanotherinconsiderationofalternativesthatcoulddisplaceor

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redistributevisitoruserequirescourtnation.Likemosttrans-boundaryprotectedareas,WGIPPislocatedinanareawherelandmanagementpoliciesexternaltotheparkcanresultinthreats.Recentexampleswouldincludemining,oilandgasdrilling,developmentpressure,andrivermanagement.TheCrownManagerspartnershipprovidesaregionalcommunicationforumforcommunicationtooccur.TheGovernanceandManagementStructures:TheprimarymanagementauthorityrestsattheNationallevelsasdescribedaboveandismanagedbytheNationalParkServicesoftheUSandCanada.Withintheecosystem,thatextendsmuchbeyondtheparks'boundary,thereisabroadercooperationbetweendifferentstakeholderswhobuiltthe“CrownManagementPartnership”.Itsoriginsstemfroma2001workshopinCranbrook,BC,thatwasorganizedbysuperintendentsofbothparks,andbecameanannualforumsincethen.Participationincludesfederal,aboriginal,provincialandstateagenciesororganizationsthatareresponsibleforland,environmentorresourcemanagementwithintheCrownoftheContinentEcosystem(CrownManagersPartnership2015).TheparksplaycentralroleinthisPartnership,andconsiderablecollaborationiscarriedoutthroughit.

Results:TheinternationalpeaceParkisasourceofconsiderableprideforboththeUSandCanadainspecificallyforMontanaandAlberta.ThecorelandscapethatitprovidesleadtoadditionaldesignationsasaBiosphereReserveandasaWorldHeritageSite.Theselayersofprotectionhavehelpedconservecriticalhabitat,outstandingopportunitiesforcivilsocietytoenjoyinspirationallandscapes,demonstrationsofInternationalcooperationanddiplomacyandconsiderablepositiveeconomicimpacttoabroadregion.LessonsLearned:TheGWIPPdemonstratesthepotentialofhowprivatesectorsupportcancontributegreatlytotheenduringprotectionofanoutstandingpublicresource.Inthiscase,theRotaryclubscoalescedlocalenergytoestablishthepeaceParkandcontinuetocelebrateitsvalueannually.Additionally,thismodeldemonstratesthatcarefullymaintainedandinformalrelationshipscanresultinaresilientmanagementstructurethedoesnotneedasingleguidingdocumentforthefunction.Infact,theinformalnatureoftherelationshipbetweentheNationalParkServiceandParksCanadaenablesmanagementtonimblyrespondtoadynamicsetofchallenges.Numerousstakeholders(frommultipleformsofgovernmentandnon-governmentorganizations)aredirectlyaffectedbythemanagementofthepeacepark.That’scoordination,communication,andagenuineappreciationthevalueoftheserelationshipsiscriticaltosuccess.

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ForMoreInformation

Name Title Organization Email Phone

JeffMow Superintendent GlacierNationalPark

Jeff_mow@nps.gov

4068887901

IfanThomas Superintendent WatertonLakesNationalPark

403-859-5133

WayneFreimund Professor,ProtectedAreaManagement

TheUniversityofMontana

Wayne.freimund@umontana.edu

406-243-5184

WatertonGlacierInternationalPeaceParksAssociation

https://sites.google.com/site/wgippa/

NikkiEisinger DevelopmentDirector

TheGlacierNationalParkConservancy

www.glacier.org 406.892.3250

RotaryInternational:www.rotary.orgGlacierNationalPark:www.nps.gov/glac/home.htmWatertonLakesNationalPark:www.parkscanada.pch.ca/watertonTheGlacierNationalParkConservancy:www.glacier.orgReferences

1. Boyer,D.1987.Waterton-Glacier:PrideofTwoNations.NationalGeographic,

June’87:805-822

2. ChadwickD.2007.Crownofthecontinent:twonationalparks–GlacierandWatertonLakes–joininasoaringwonderland.NationalGeographicSept’07:60+

3. Chester,C.andSifford,B.UnderthePenumbraofWaterton-GlacierandHomeland

Security:CouldaPeaceParkAppearalongtheU.S.-MexicanBorder?InQuinn,M.,Broberg,L.andFreimund,W.2012.Parks,Peace,andPartnership.GlobalInitiativesinTransboundaryConservation.UniversityofCalgaryPress,Calgary,Canada.

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4. CrownManagersPartnership.2015.“History”.http://www.crownmanagers.org.Accessed06/26/2015.

5. Mihalic,D.Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeacePark:Observationsand

RetrospectiononCooperationIssues.InQuinn,M.,Broberg,L.andFreimund,W.2012.Parks,Peace,andPartnership.GlobalInitiativesinTransboundaryConservation.UniversityofCalgaryPress,Calgary,Canada.

6. Morrison,C.(Ed.Djuff,R.)2007.Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeacePark:Bornof

aVision.WatertonNaturalHistoryAssociationandPnncherCreekRotaryClub.

7. Spenceley,A.andSchoon,M.PeaceParksasSocialEcologicalSystems:TestingEnvironmentalResilienceinSouthernAfrica.InAli,SaleemH.2007.Peaceparks:conservationandconflictresolution.TheMITPress,Cambridge.

8. StateoftheParks.AResourceAssessment.Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeace

Park.NationalParksConservationAssociation.November2002.

9. Tanner,R.,Freimund,W.,HaydenB.,Dolan,B.2007.TheWaterton-GlacierInternationalPeacePark:ConservationamidBorderSecurity.InAli,SaleemH.2007.Peaceparks:conservationandconflictresolution.TheMITPress,Cambridge.

10. Timothy,Dallen.1999.Cross-BorderPartnershipinTourismResourceManagement:

InternationalParksalongtheUS-CanadaBorder,JournalofSustainableTourism,7:3-4