Gros Morne, one of Canada's newer national parks, covers over 1,900 km2 of exceptionally scenic country on the west coast of Newfoundland. However, the Park was initiated by the provincial government mainly for economic reasons rather than for the value of its natural heritage—particularly to stimulate development in an area of high unemployment. To some degree, this has been achieved—but not without considerable cost, as the area is one of long-established settlement and utilization. Most of the settlements were excluded from the Park, but some were not, and in spite of resident opposition, all but one of these has now been removed.There has been equally strong opposition to restrictions on traditional semi-subsistence activities. Such measures were in line with existing Parks Canada policies in the early 1970s, but by the time the formal Park agreement was signed in 1973, a number of important changes had occurred. Following opposition such as was met in Gros Morne, and the creation of new parks in areas inhabited by native peoples, more recent Parks Canada policy statements indicate some relaxation of previously rigid positions. Thus certain semi-subsistence activities are continuing in the Park. The situation is not so clear as regards settlements within parks, though people are now being encouraged to move rather than being forced to leave. The possible eventual removal of Sally's Cove, the only settlement remaining strictly within the Park, is difficult to reconcile with policies that place increasing emphasis on Man-land relationships and the cultural heritage.Gros Morne provides an opportunity for Parks Canada to foster a viable community within the Park, based on a traditional Newfoundland culture and consistent with the pertinent parts of its 1979 policy statement. This would be much more in keeping with the natural and cultural heritage than the urban-type recreational facilities that are being built or considered for the Park.

We have a great power not to destroy and in exercising that power, we will give proof of our consideration for the future, and for the first time in our history we will be recognised as custodians of the earth. Tasmania has rivers flowing to the sea … these are great natural energy resources just crying out to be developed and developed they must be.

T his article reviews cooperative management arrangements for the Australian Alps, a relatively unknown yet positive case of cross-border resource management. Although modestly resourced and administratively simple, it has produced positive results. These results are discussed, remaining challenges identified, and lessons distilled that might inform interjurisdictional natural resource management elsewhere. Key features of the Alps case discussed include: the logic of a cohesive bioregion and set of land uses as focus for cooperative management; flexible organisational arrangements; links between research and management; the role of committed individuals with operational responsibilities; appropriate (reasonable) expectations; and, conversely, the fragility of such 'soft' and flexible arrangements.

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