View "Protecting a Wilderness
Legacy" & a map of Ship Harbour Long Lake.
Province Begins Process for New
Wilderness Area
Natural
Resources/Environment and Labour
December 7, 2007 12:55
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The
province is taking the steps to designate a new wilderness area on
about 14,000 hectares of Crown land in the Ship Harbour Long Lake
area of Halifax Regional Municipality, Premier Rodney MacDonald announced
today, Dec. 7.
"Protecting
the environment is one of the five priorities outlined in the throne
speech," the premier said. "Today, I'm proud we are turning our words
into action. This announcement lays the foundation for consultations
that will help the province determine a large and exciting new wilderness
area."
As
part of the process, Minister of Natural Resources David Morse has
established a moratorium on new forestry and development activities
in an area identified in a ground-breaking agreement between Neenah
Paper Co. and a coalition of major environmental groups.
Neenah
Paper Co., Ecology Action Centre, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society,
Eastern Shore Forest Watch and the departments of Natural Resources
and Environment and Labour signed the agreement that supports establishing
a candidate wilderness area in November.
The
candidate wilderness area is centered on Ship Harbour Long Lake and
runs east to Scraggy Lake and west to Admiral Lake. A map showing
the proposed boundaries is available online at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/protectedareas
.
Mr.
Morse said the next step will be a full and effective public consultation.
"Key
stakeholders, including the minerals, forestry and tourism industries,
environmental groups, outdoor recreation groups and local community
interests, will be asked for input into the design of the consultation
process," he said. "The results of the consultation will be vital
to the process that helps us finalize the boundaries of what will
become the new designated area."
Discussions
will also be held with the aboriginal community through the Made
in Nova Scotia Process and a socioeconomic analysis will be conducted.
The province expects to complete the designation process within a
year.
"I
am pleased this will be another new protected area for Halifax Regional
Municipality and a boost to the province's goal of protecting 12
per cent of our land mass," said Environment and Labour Minister
Mark Parent. "I want to thank our non-governmental and industry partners
for their co-operation in reaching this agreement."
As
part of the November agreement, Neenah Paper, which held licensed
forest rights in the identified area, has been given permission to
harvest one final time on specific sites. The province has also agreed
to provide the company with wood supply elsewhere in return for the
company foregoing its lease in the area.
"This
area is one of the last truly wild places left in mainland Nova Scotia," says
Raymond Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator for the Ecology Action Centre. "It's
a place of remarkable beauty, healthy wildlife habitat and intact
Acadian Forest. It's also a critically important area for biodiversity
conservation. We applaud the government's leadership and Neenah Paper's
assistance in protecting this extraordinary treasure."
Studies
have identified the Ship Harbour Long Lake candidate wilderness area
as having high conservation value because of its roadless natural
areas, representative landscapes not currently protected, old forest
stands, major wetlands and river corridors, more than 50 lakes, areas
of high scenic value, and wilderness recreation and tourism potential.
The
area has been the focus of a grassroots campaign to protect it since
1999.
Neenah
has voluntarily postponed harvesting there since 2001. However, use
of the agreed harvest sites has recently become critical as the company
tries to maintain the wood supply needed to operate its plant at
Abercrombie, Pictou Co.
"Our
company recognizes that this is an important area for conservation
and we are pleased to be part of an agreement to allow its consideration
for protection," said Neenah spokesperson Jack Kyte. "We see this
as a unique example of how stakeholders can find innovative solutions
toward sustainability, if the needs of all parties are considered,
such as our need for a stable wood supply."
The
harvested blocks make up a relatively small amount of the candidate
wilderness area and are along existing roads. The company has agreed
to leave the vast majority of the land as is.
The
Environmental and Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act commits the
province to protecting 12 per cent of its land mass by the year 2015.
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FOR BROADCAST USE:
The
province is taking the steps to designate a new
wilderness
area on about 14-thousand hectares of Crown land in
the
Ship Harbour Long Lake area of Halifax Regional Municipality,
Premier
Rodney MacDonald announced today (December 7th).
A
groundbreaking agreement between Neenah Paper, which holds
licence
rights to some of the land, the government and several
key
environmental groups set the stage for today's announcement.
That
agreement allows Neenah to conduct one last harvest of
some
trees in specific areas included in the proposed wilderness
area.
But it also establishes a moratorium on new forestry and
development
activities in the proposed zone.
The
process of public consultations on the designation and
final
boundaries will now begin.
-30-
Media
Contacts: Bruce Nunn
Environment and Labour
902-424-6427
E-mail: nunnbx@gov.ns.ca
Diane
LeBlanc
Natural Resources
902-424-2354
E-mail: leblandj@gov.ns.ca
Joe
Gillis
Premier's Office
902-424-6600
E-mail: gillisj@gov.ns.ca
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