The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) (French: la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada (SNAP)) was founded in 1963 to help protect Canada's wilderness.

CPAWS, initially known as the National and Provincial Parks Association (NPPAC), was formed in 1963, with a focus on revitalizing Canadian's appreciation of wilderness parks.^[1] It is a national charity, with 13 chapters, that works collaboratively with governments, local communities, industry, and indigenous peoples to protect Canada's public land and water.^[2]

In 1972, CPAWS established the James B. Harkin Conservation Award, which is awarded to Canadians who promote conservation. Recipients of the Harkin Award include: Harvey Locke (2013), Mike Harcourt (2003), Elizabeth May (2002), Stephen Herrero (1999), Jennifer Shay (1992), Andy Russell, (1990), Charles Sauriol (1985) and Jean Chrétien (1972).

Between 1982 to 1993, the organisation published the Park News: The Journal of the National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada as an "outlet for a variety of articles on Canadian parks that will be of interest to the general public."^[1][3]

As part of their work to conserve at least half of Canada's Boreal forest, CPAWS has led a number of campaigns, including Helping protect Alberta's Little Smoky Caribou, Implementing the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, and Keeping the Restigouche Wild.

In 2015, Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) partnered with CPAWS as the project sponsor for the "MEC Big Wild Challenge"^[4] to encourage people to connect more with nature by being more active outdoors.^[5] This included a challenge for individuals to complete a specific Trail Run on September 19 in participating municipalities or to design their own outdoors in nature challenge. The overall goal was to protect the wilderness.^[5]

The organization has been a key citizens' group in many decisions relating to the establishment of new parks and wilderness areas and in obtaining significant conservation outcomes through land-use planning processes in many parts of Canada. CPAWS has submitted reports to the federal government related to a number of its key program areas. Their 2016 report subtitled, "Protecting Canada's National Parks a Call for Renewed Commitment to Nature Conservation", was submitted as evidence to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.^[6] The CPAWS parks program director, Alison Woodley, and Sabine Jessen, CPAWS' national director of their oceans program, were invited expert witnesses in discussions at a May 5, 2016 meeting of the House of Commons of Canada.^[7]

Canada has one of the oldest and most extensive parks systems in the world. CPAWS advocates for new parks and acts as a watchdog to ensure that existing ones are well-managed. With pressures on Canada's wilderness growing, creating more parks and ensuring existing ones are well-funded and protected is more important than ever.

Campaign Examples

• Stand up for Jasper!
• Join the movement for Canada's parks!
• Ensure the Rouge is protected forever
• Add your voice for protecting Thaidene Nene – the Land of the Ancestors!
• Keep the Flathead Wild
• Create a National Park in South Okanagan-Similkameen
• Celebrate the expansion of the world-famous Nahanni!
• Sign the Peel statement of support

Canada has the longest coastline in the world and a marine area that is half the size of the country. But its marine ecosystems tend to be out of sight and out of mind, and they are in serious trouble. CPAWS' long-term goal is for Canada to complete a national network of marine protected areas that protect at least half of Canada's oceans, with an objective to meet the international target of protecting at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.

Campaign Examples

• Dare to be Deep: Protect Canada's Oceans
• Southern Strait of Georgia
• Protegeons notre fleuve

Grasslands are some of the most unusual ecosystems in the world, but are also considered the most threatened, with the highest concentration of species at risk. CPAWS chapters in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are working to protect these unique landscapes and their rich biodiversity.

There is more and more evidence emerging that increasingly urban Canadians are less and less likely to be active outdoors or to have the opportunity to directly experience nature. Connecting Canadians to Nature is about building a culture of wilderness advocates through wilderness experiences. The Get Outside program offered by certain chapters (BC, Wildlands League) is an important component of this program area. CPAWS' Southern Alberta chapter also offers an extensive nature education program for school-age children and youth.

CPAWS focuses on protecting large tracts of land, oceans, and great freshwater lakes so species like grizzlies, woodland caribou and wolverine have room to roam, and whales and fish can thrive.

Examples of species CPAWS is working to protect

• Woodland caribou herds have declined significantly in the last 100 years. Several herds have disappeared completely. Evidence suggests the majority of these herds will go extinct without conservation action.
• "Atlantic Salmon - The Restigouche River and its tributaries support one of the most productive wild Atlantic salmon populations, with some of the largest salmon, in eastern Canada. CPAWS is working to protect the Restigouche watershed."^[8]
• Grizzly bears need room to roam, and Canada's interconnected mountain parks are ideal habitats. However, development and industrial pressure in the Rocky Mountain region are reducing the bears' numbers.^[2]

• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (National)
• List of CPAWS chapters, with links