The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies

This status report examines how climate change and variability are expected to affect outdoor recreation and tourism in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. It analyzes the relationship between the natural resource base (water, vegetation, and wildlife) and recreational activities, noting that while warmer temperatures may extend the summer season, they threaten winter sports and water quality. The report highlights the economic risks for rural communities diversifying into tourism and provides recommendations for more locale-specific climate scenarios and resource management strategies.

• Climate change is expected to increase temperatures in the Prairie Provinces, which will likely extend the season for summer activities but degrade the quality of water-based recreation. Higher temperatures may lead to lower lake levels and increased algae and plant growth, making activities such as swimming, fishing, sailing, and water skiing less pleasurable.
• Winter recreation activities, including cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and ice fishing, face significant threats from a shorter winter season and reduced snow cover. A cited study from Quebec suggests the downhill ski season could be shortened by 50 to 70 percent, and similar concerns are expressed for the prairie provinces.
• The prairie ecozone and its associated wildlife are expected to shift northward as the climate becomes warmer and drier, potentially replacing the boreal forest. This migration may force hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to travel further north to follow game, and rapid change could lead to the extinction of species unable to adapt.
• Climate change may create socio-economic instability for rural communities that are diversifying their economies through tourism. Specifically, high-capital facilities like ski resorts are at risk; if attendance drops due to sub-optimal conditions, operators may go out of business, leading to job losses and reduced revenue for local hotels and restaurants.
• Increased water scarcity due to rising temperatures and drought conditions is expected to trigger resource conflicts. Recreational water users will likely compete with the agricultural and industrial sectors for limited supplies of high-quality water.
• The report recommends several actions to enhance adaptation, including the development of locale-specific climate scenarios, a deeper understanding of the economic costs of maintaining recreation conditions, and the establishment of legislation to resolve resource conflicts.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (1997). The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies. 1997. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies |date=March 1997 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment1997effects, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {1997}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }