Dinosaur Provincial Park
Country
Canada
Inscribed in
1979
Criteria
(vii)
(viii)
The conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "good" in the latest assessment cycle. Explore the Conservation Outlook Assessment for the site below. You have the option to access the summary, or the detailed assessment.
In addition to its particularly beautiful scenery, Dinosaur Provincial Park – located at the heart of the province of Alberta's badlands – contains some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made from the 'Age of Reptiles', in particular about 35 species of dinosaur, dating back some 75 million years. © UNESCO
Summary
2020 Conservation Outlook
Finalised on
02 Dec 2020
Good
Current state and trend of VALUES
Good
Trend
Stable
Overall THREATS
Overall PROTECTION and MANAGEMENT
Full assessment
Finalised on
02 Dec 2020
Description of values
Exceptional natural beauty
Criterion
(vii)
Stark ‘badlands’ landscape displaying natural beauty with outstanding examples of landforms produced by fluvial erosion in former glacial conditions, semi-arid steppes and riparian areas supporting attractive and diverse plant cover (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; IUCN, 1979; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006, 2014).
Outstanding examples of the Earth’s palaeontological history and ongoing geological processes
Criterion
(viii)
A landscape of deeply eroded Cretaceous-age shales and sandstones dating from 75-77 million years ago when the climate was sub-tropical and lush forest covered a low, swampy coastal plain. The site is outstanding in the number and variety of high quality specimens representing every known group of Cretaceous dinosaurs. The diversity affords excellent opportunities for palaeontology that is both comparative and chronological. Fossil remains of more than 23,000 specimens and 300 skeletons from more than 40 distinct species of dinosaur have been found at the site (Brown et al., 2015). Due to its exposure of Cretaceous sediments, the site also provides an excellent opportunity to conduct associated research on other fossil remains including fish, turtles, marsupials and amphibians (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; World Heritage Committee, 1992; IUCN, 1979; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006, 2014; Brown et al., 2013; Brinkman et al., 2015; World Heritage Committee, 2015).
Threatened Plains riparian cottonwood vegetation communities; rich avifauna
Diverse vegetation of high quality and in various successional stages ranging from pioneer willow stands to cottonwood forest, tall shrubs, ephemeral wetlands and sagebrush flats. These are critical winter habitat for native ungulates such as pronghorn, mule and white-tailed deer. The site includes some 24 kilometres of Plains cottonwood riparian vegetation communities, which are among the most threatened habitats in semi-arid regions. More than 150 species of birds are present, some of which are locally threatened or at their biogeographical limits, including golden eagle, prairie falcon and loggerhead shrike (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; IUCN, 1979; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006, 2014).
Assessment information
Current threats are low. Although the most problematic threat to the site’s palaeontological values is from recurring, illegal removal of fossils, education, monitoring and enforcement generally provide adequate deterrents. The increasing level of visitation has the potential to become a more pronounced threat to the site’s natural beauty and the related social value of visitor experience. A review of site capacity coupled with appropriate infrastructure development is necessary.
Oil/ Gas exploration/development
(Natural gas development)
Outside site
Gas exploration and development occurs on portions of the perimeter of the site and associated infrastructure has the potential to degrade the beauty of the site in those areas. The development is subject to resource impact assessments, guidelines to minimise visual impact and ongoing monitoring, and the park agency is engaged in those reviews (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; Alberta Department of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, 2010; State Party of Canada, 2006; Wells and Benner, 2004).
Other Activities
(Illegal removal of fossils)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
Outside site
Illegal removal and pilfering of fossils remain a threat. Access to the restricted zone in the park is only permitted with a guide, which reduces the occurrences (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; Alberta Department of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, 2010; State Party of Canada, 2006).
Invasive Non-Native/ Alien Species
(Invasive species)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
Outside site
Weed infestation occurs, but mainly in wetter areas and not in the ‘badlands’ terrain. A monitoring and control programme for invasive species is in place that addresses defined species, but not all invasive species in the park have been recognised by the Agriculture Department of the government for removal, hence funding for their removal is a challenge (State Party of Canada, 2006; Wells and Benner, 2004).
Tourism/ visitors/ recreation
(Park Development)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
The appropriate level of park development within the park component of the site has been debated throughout the park’s existence: seeking a balance between protection of the site’s values and visitor use and experience. Visitation has recently spiked in peak months due to external tourism promotion, without corresponding park facility development to increase capacity in this regard (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; Alberta Department of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, 2010; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006, 2014).
Potential threats are also minor as research involving excavations requires a permit and grazing is only permitted under license.
Other Activities
(High Impact Research)
Inside site
, Localised(<5%)
Research involving removal of in-situ specimens has the potential to alter the immediate environment.
Livestock Farming / Grazing
(Domestic Grazing)
Inside site
, Throughout(>50%)
Outside site
Within the site, all pre-existing grazing rights, both inside and outside the park, are subject to regulation pursuant to lease agreements and are monitored on an ongoing basis. The current grazing management regime adequately mitigates any risk to the Outstanding Universal Value of the site (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; State Party of Canada, 1979; Wells and Benner, 2004).
Overall, the threats to values of the site can be assessed as low. Grazing and research can be considered as potential threats, but these pose a very low threat to the property. There are a number of current threats, including illegal removal of fossils, gas exploration and development at the perimeter of the site, and invasive plant species. However, at present, these pose a low threat to the key values of the property.
Management system
The administrative and management framework for the site is well developed between the provincial park management and the Special Area #2 municipal management (State Party of Canada, 2014; IUCN consultation, 2017).
Effectiveness of management system
The site benefits from a management plan, developed with public input, for the provincial park component of the site and cooperative agreements with the Special Areas Board for the area outside the park. Annual operating plans are prepared and implemented in keeping with the management plan (State Party of Canada, 2014; IUCN consultation, 2017). A renewed management plan is currently under development (Alberta Parks, 2018).
Boundaries
The current boundaries are sufficient to maintain the integrity of the property (State Party of Canada, 2006, 2014).
Integration into regional and national planning systems
Staff responsible for the management of the site, both inside and outside the park, have participated in regional planning initiatives. As with most government agencies, closer cooperation between the conservation management agencies and the tourism promotion agencies would ensure a better level of site management (IUCN consultation, 2017).
Relationships with local people
Personal relationships have been established with First Nations, ranchers and other landowners in areas both within and surrounding the site and many are directly engaged in assisting site managers with surveillance and monitoring (State Party of Canada, 1979, 2014; IUCN consultation, 2017a).
Legal framework
Overall, the site is subject to the Historical Resources Act, which prohibits the unauthorised excavation and collection of fossils. The majority of the site is further protected by designation and management as a provincial park under the Provincial Parks Act. Perimeter portions of the site outside the park are subject to land use policies of Special Area #2 under the Municipal Government Act. Special Area #2 is managed by a Board, which ensures notification on leases such as domestic grazing to ensure site protection. The Special Areas Board does not generally consider any land use other than grazing (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006, 2014; IUCN consultation, 2017b).
Law enforcement
Enforcement under the three pieces of applicable legislation is carried out by park and Board management staff (State Party of Canada, 2014; IUCN consultation, 2017).
Implementation of Committee decisions and recommendations
Previous issues to do with boundary changes and the extent of the site have been the subject of Committee recommendations, all of which have been addressed (World Heritage Committee, 1991, 1992).
Sustainable use
The permits authorising grazing and recreational guiding within the park portion of the site ensure that those uses do not impact the site’s values. Domestic grazing outside the park is also leased and controlled to limit the impact on the site’s values. Notations are placed on the lease that the lease falls within the World Heritage Site.
Sustainable finance
Park development was based on a general local visitation, however, recent international marketing has resulted in increases in park visitation during the peak summer months. The balance between protection and the extent of park development and management to address this recent change in visitation has yet to be addressed. Funding levels for staffing and support are adequate for the rest of the year. Previous studies recommended that the authorities seek to establish more business partnerships and identify additional sources of revenue (State Party of Canada, 1979, 2006).
Staff capacity, training, and development
Staff are generally well qualified and training opportunities are readily available (State Party of Canada, 1979).
Education and interpretation programs
Education and interpretation programmes are highly effective with a field office of the Royal Tyrell Museum at the site and an interpretation centre in the park devoted to the park’s natural and cultural history as well as its geological and palaeontological resources.
Tourism and visitation management
The park’s management plan and the Special Areas’ plans and policies address the site’s values and strive to ensure that management programmes, as well as external policies on tourism, are supportive. As noted, management of tourism and visitation in the park portion of the site is highly effective for the majority of the year. However, recent tourism promotion has resulted in a significant increase in visitation in July and August: at times, beyond the capacity of the site’s present infrastructure. This impact needs to be reviewed to consider its consistency and acceptability to ensure the site’s values are maintained.
Environmental impact and facility design standards associated with Alberta provincial parks are implemented.
Facilities to cater for tourists visiting the site are established at the entrance to the site.
Environmental impact and facility design standards associated with Alberta provincial parks are implemented.
Facilities to cater for tourists visiting the site are established at the entrance to the site.
Monitoring
As with most parks, monitoring focuses on visitors; monitoring of resources occurs as a secondary priority. Monitoring outside the park is done primarily by lease holders.
Research
Both domestic and international scientific effort remains strong in all relevant fields of research and there are excellent professional relationships with research institutes. Individual research reviews with park staff could be strengthened as researchers can be tardy in sharing results (Confidential consultation, 2017). Research results contribute to displays in the visitor centre and guide management, and researchers assist site managers as eyes in the field. Fossils from the property are held in the collections of some 30 international institutions (UNEP-WCMC, 2012; State Party of Canada, 1979, 2014; Brown et al., 2013; Brinkman et al., 2015).
Generally, the protection and management of the site are highly effective. There is a strong legal, administrative and management framework. With the exception of recent peak times, staffing and funding are adequate to meet current needs. A review of tourism management at peak times would be beneficial to ensure values are maintained and that the site’s infrastructure provide adequate capacity. Relationships with local communities and key stakeholders are good. Research and environmental monitoring are of the first order. Of some minor concern are the issues to do with invasive species control and continued enforcement of the illegal removal of fossils.
Assessment of the effectiveness of protection and management in addressing threats outside the site
Highly Effective
Outside threats are very low and primarily restricted to gas exploration. Staff are engaged to address visual quality objectives.
Best practice examples
The park, in partnership with the Royal Tyrell Museum, has offered an opportunity for park visitors to learn about palaeontology research by participating in day and overnight dinosaur dig programmes for a fee.
In addition, there is a high-level, online process to review, coordinate and manage research permits to ensure both resource protection and meaningful scientific contributions.
In addition, there is a high-level, online process to review, coordinate and manage research permits to ensure both resource protection and meaningful scientific contributions.
Assessment of the current state and trend of World Heritage values
Good
Trend
Stable
Overall, the current state and condition of the Outstanding Universal Values and attributes of the site are good due to the existing legislation, management system and financial support.
Assessment of the current state and trend of other important biodiversity values
Low Concern
Trend
Stable
Research studies are subject to permit conditions. Invasive species have been of widening concern, especially where they encroach on native communities of rare or threatened species. Most invasive species are confined to the wetter areas of the park, away from the ‘badlands’ terrain (Wells and Benner, 2004). A monitoring and control programme is in place, but funding for their removal is a challenge (State Party of Canada, 2006).
Additional information
Importance for research,
Contribution to education
The site is an internationally significant source of knowledge about the former ‘Age of the Dinosaurs’. Large numbers of scientists from national and international institutions have conducted research at the site and new fossil discoveries are ongoing as more material is exposed by erosion. Fossil specimens are held in the collections of some 30 international institutions and education locally is provided by programmes in the visitor centre.
Soil stabilisation,
Water provision (importance for water quantity and quality)
The site is important for conservation of soil and freshwater resources especially through the protection of unmodified semi-arid steppe vegetation cover.
Outdoor recreation and tourism,
Natural beauty and scenery
The park contributes to recreation and tourism at the local, national and international level.
Although park development and management due to recent tourism promotion is currently acceptable, a trend toward increased visitation may be occurring. This trend should be reviewed to ensure that it does not lead to park development that would negatively impact the site’s values.
Direct employment,
Tourism-related income,
Provision of jobs
The park contributes to the local economy through visitation.
The site is internationally important for protection, scientific research and curation of dinosaur fossil material dating from the Cretaceous period and contributes significantly to our understanding of the ‘Age of the Dinosaurs’, ranking among the world’s most important palaeontological sites. It also plays an important role in conservation of soil and water resources and biodiversity as a continental semi-arid steppe biome and provides opportunities for recreation and education.
Visitation contributes to the local economy.
Visitation contributes to the local economy.
| № | Organization | Brief description of Active Projects | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Tyrell Museum | Continuing paleontology research |
tyrellmuseum.com
|
| 2 | Dinosaur Research Institute | Continuing paleontology research |
dinosaurresearch.com
|
References
| № | References |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Alberta Department of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. (2010). Dinosaur Provincial Park and Area Tourism Development Plan Study. Ontario and Alberta, Canada: IBI Group and Canadian Badlands Ltd.
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| 2 |
Alberta Parks. (2018). ‘Parks Research and Management’. Dinosaur Provincial Park. [online] Available at: https://albertaparks.ca/parks/south/dinosaur-pp/park-resear… (Accessed 25 May 2020).
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| 3 |
Brinkman, D.B., Densmore, M., Rabi, M., Ryan, M.J. and Evans, D.C. (2015). Marine turtles from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Science, 52, 581-589.
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| 4 |
Brown, C.M., Ryans, M.J. and Evans, D.C. (2015). A census of Canadian dinosaurs: more than a century of discovery. [online] Oldenburg. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/24570644/A_Census_of_Canadian_Dino… (Accessed 20 April 2020).
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| 5 |
Brown, S.A.E., Collinson, M.E. and Scott, A.C. (2013). Did fire play a role in formation of dinosaur-rich deposits? An example from the Late Cretaceous of Canada. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 93(3), pp. 317–326. [online] Available at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/271951409 (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 6 |
IUCN consultation. (2017a). IUCN World Heritage Confidential Consultation Form: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada.
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| 7 |
IUCN consultation. (2017b). IUCN World Heritage Confidential Consultation Form: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada.
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| 8 |
IUCN. (1979). World Heritage Nomination – IUCN Evaluation, Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada). [online] Available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/71/documents/ (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 9 |
State Party of Canada. (1979). Nomination for the World Heritage List of Canadian Natural Site Dinosaur Provincial Park.
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| 10 |
State Party of Canada. (2006). Periodic Report First Cycle: Dinosaur Provincial Park. [online] Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/71/documents/ (Accessed 1 December 2020).
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| 11 |
State Party of Canada. (2014). Periodic Report Second Cycle Section II: Dinosaur Provincial Park. [online] Paris, France: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/document/164074 (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 12 |
UNEP-WCMC. (2012). Dinosaur Provincial Park. UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Information Sheets. [online] Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC. Available at: https://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources-and-data/world-heritage… (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 13 |
Wells and Benner. (2004). Pilot inventory of invasive plant species in Dinosaur Provincial Park. [online] Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Publication. Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/3675210 (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 14 |
World Heritage Committee. (1991). Decision 15 COM VIII. Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada). [online] Available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/3489 (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 15 |
World Heritage Committee. (1992). Decision 16 COM VIII.12. Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada). [online] Available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/3408 (Accessed: 18 February 2019).
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| 16 |
World Heritage Committee. (2015). Decision 39 COM 8.E. Dinosaur Provincial Park (Canada)- Adoption of Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value. [online] Paris, France: UNESCO. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6407 (Accessed 18 February 2019).
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