Parks
are a heritage, a way to share the finest natural environments
today, then pass them on for posterity. For communities, parks
may mean employment, nearby recreation spots or distant vacations.
For the individual, parks offer solitude, physical challenge
and spiritual renewal.
BC
Parks is responsible for the designation, management and conservation
of a system of ecological reserves, provincial parks and recreation
areas located throughout the province. These contain many of
the best representative elements and special features of British
Columbia's natural heritage.
As
a public trust, our mission is to protect representative and
special natural places within the Province's Protected Areas
System for world class conservation, outdoor recreation, education
and scientific study.
The
provincial system of parks is dedicated to the protection of
natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment
of the public. BC Parks is committed to serving British Columbians
and their visitors by:
protecting
and managing for future generations a wide variety of outstanding
park lands which represent the best natural features and diverse
wilderness environments of the province.
providing
province-wide opportunities for a diversity of high quality
and safe outdoor recreation that is compatible with protecting
the natural environment.
Inherent
in this mandate is the requirement to maintain a balance between
BC Parks' goals for protecting natural environments and outdoor
recreation.