Despite what the name suggests, Elk Island National Park near Edmonton, Alberta is known for its bison/Jennifer Bain

Elk Island National Park’s new management plan helps protect the environment and connect Canadians to nature in the aspen parkland.

Reviewed every 10 years, management plans are a requirement of the Canada National Parks Act and guide the management of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas.

The updated plan for the park — 35 minutes east of Edmonton, Alberta — outlines the following key strategies:

• Strengthening relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of Indigenous stewardship.

• Working towards ecological integrity in the park.

• Working with others in support of ecological sustainability on the broader landscape.

• Creating connections and inspiring people.

• Responding and adapting to climate change.

Elk Island National Park, home to bison, is the only fully fenced national park in Canada/Jennifer Bain

The plan was based on input from Indigenous partners of Treaty 6 and the Métis Nation of Alberta, member organizations of the Beaver Hills Biosphere including provincial and municipal representatives, local residents and visitors. 

More than 400,000 visitors come to the park yearly. It protects a representative portion of the Southern Boreal Plains and Plateaux natural region located on the Beaver Hills plateau. 

It’s within Treaty 6 territory and the Métis Nation homeland where at least eight Indigenous communities have direct ties to the park lands and in which there is linkage to Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 Nations.

The park is a cornerstone in ungulate conservation programs throughout North America and the world. It has transferred more than 3,000 bison to conservation projects, including to Indigenous Nations. It works closely with Indigenous Nations to bring the culturally significant animal back to its traditional rangeland, while also strengthening Indigenous connections with history and culture and supporting socio-economic opportunities related to bison. The park maintains the recognized healthy status of plains and wood bison herds and is home to abundant bison, elk and moose populations.

Elk Island is a member of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve. 

It's not hard to spot bison in Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton/Jennifer Bain