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the park will be managed as zone II. Outdoor recreational activities that require minimal
services and facilities of a rustic nature are contained in zone III areas. Approximately one
percent of the park is within zone IV where a broad range of facilities are accommodated,
including park roads and ski areas. The town of Banff and the Hamlet of Lake Louise are the
zone V areas; they cover less than one percent of the park (Banff Management Plan).
The Federal Government has also supported corporate responsibility as a means to
promote ecological integrity. The Canadian Pacific hotels have developed a Green Plan that
fosters more environmentally responsible company behaviour by encouraging recycling. In
Banff in particular they are offering special programs such as guided park tours and public
lectures to teach visitors about ecology (Zinkan and Syme, 1997).
Similarly, through a partnership with Parks Canada and Brewster Transportation and
Tours, tour bus passengers receive authentic ecologically based information along with their
guided tour. This expands the means by which the park can communicate with visitors about
environmental issues (Zinkan and Syme, 1997).
V. CONCLUSION
Why is this policy discussion significant? National parks play an important role in
national and international conservation efforts. Many parks are situated within ecosystems
which contain species threatened with imminent decline and loss of habitat. The pressure for
parks to pay for themselves and for conservation initiatives tends to encourage further tourism
expansion. The environmental impact is related to the scale and intensity of the activity. “. . .
in a democratic and pluralistic society, where established orders are increasingly called into
Convention