Research Priorities

We have identified research priorities linked to what parks are, how they contribute to Alberta's quality of life, and how to best manage them. Parks Division endeavours to foster research that provides critical knowledge in:

• natural sciences;
• social science;
• economics; and
• technologies & best practices.

Within these fields, our research needs are loosely categorized into three areas:

• basic research & inventory;
• understanding the roles of parks in the broader context; and
• long-term monitoring.

For more info on science and research in Alberta's parks:

• Review Parks Division Science Strategy
• Contact Dr. Joyce Gould, Parks Division Science Coordinator.  

Basic Research & Inventory 

• Documentation of biodiversity and species' distribution patterns
• Identification and description of ecosystem processes (e.g. fire history)
• Descriptions of climate and physical environment (past and present)
• Example - invasive species management at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park  
• • Contact Bill Dolan at  bill.dolan@gov.ab.ca 403-382-437
• Social sciences
• • System-wide descriptive data on visitors, visitor experiences, reduction of visitor impacts
  • Park-specific - example: patterns of visitor use, sense of place at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

  • Contact Aaron Domes at aaron.domes@gov.ab.ca or 403-647-2364, Extension 351

Understanding the Roles of Parks in the Broader Context

• Contributions of parks to conservation of biodiversity
• Ecological goods and services provided by parks
• Economic and social value of programs, services and places

South Region Research Priorities

• Conservation/reclamation/restoration of native grasslands
• Range management - to maintain grassland and riparian health and natural biodiversity
• Invasive alien plant inventories, monitoring and management
• Natural disturbance regimes and natural range of variability regarding grassland and forest ecosystems
• Cumulative effects and effectiveness of reclamation at oil/gas wellsites and pipelines in grassland parks
• Wildlife and/or sensitive species potentially impacted by park activities, recreation, roads, grazing, campgrounds, developments, etc.
• Wildlife species with potential for human-wildlife conflict
• Conservation of legally protected species-at-risk (listed either through the Alberta Wildlife Act or the federal Species at Risk Act)
• Sustainability of plains cottonwood riparian habitat
• Rare plant inventories and monitoring (on ACIMS Tracking List)
• Natural disturbance regimes, natural range of variability, processes regarding grassland and forest ecosystems
• Rattlesnakes and bull snakes at Dinosaur and Writing-on-Stone provincial parks
• Bats at Dinosaur Provincial Park
• Archaeological research
• Social and economic research relating to tourism, ecotourism, recreation, outdoor education curricula, accessibility for new Canadians, and visitor statistics, demographics and psychographics
• Impact of UNESCO World Heritage site designation on local communities, tourism trends, park operations, etc.