[NatureNS] re Sable Island National Park proposal

References: <900F99CE-021E-499C-AB9C-3646F8F17958@eastlink.ca>
Cc: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>,
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:51:50 -0400
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Thanks for the tip about Parker Donham's "Contrarian" blog, which I =20
haven't read yet.  Two things off the top of my head: would-be =20
tourists on boat or cruise trips may be tempted to try to land on the =20=

island and ask for permits to do so, so that the source of tourism =20
interests might be wider than just trips starting in Nova Scotia.  =20
Secondly, I am particularly worried about Environment Minister Jim =20
Prentice's remarks about "protection" of life and ecosystems and, on =20
the other hand, saying that a seal cull could be allowed IF =20
NECESSARY!!??  And then he is going to seek counsel on the latter =20
from, of all people, FISHERMEN!!??  The issue of culling seals has =20
also popped up in one of the supposedly "protected" Wilderness Areas =20
of Nova Scotia, namely Scatarie Island W. A.'s Hay Island in Cape =20
Breton, where some "harvesting" of grey seals was allowed first by =20
Mark Parent and then last year by Sterling Belliveau.  What kind of =20
"protection" is this?!  In the Nova Scotia case, something has to =20
happen to the part of the Wilderness Areas Protection Act that has =20
the ministerial discretion that apparently allows such political and =20
not scientific intrusions.

Cheers? from Jim in Wolfville, and I look forward to feedback on my =20
own remarks here.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Paul S. Boyer" <psboyer@eastlink.ca>
> Date: January 29, 2010 3:08:51 PM AST
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Sable Island National Park proposal
> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>
> I agree with Rob Woods.
>
> The visitation to Sable Island by eco-tourists could be tightly =20
> controlled, as it is for the Gal=E1pagos Islands.  It is easy to set =20=

> up a few marked trails, and require that visitors stay on roads, =20
> the few trails, and the beach.  The costs alone would prevent mass =20
> visitation.  The type of visitor would be largely influenced by =20
> self-selection: probably only serious nature-lovers would make the =20
> trip.  It would be best if there were few "improvements": no =20
> casinos, hotels, restaurants, &c.
>
> Bear in mind that Sable Island shrinks each year, and will not even =20=

> be there much longer.  There is no great harm in letting a few =20
> visitors on the island each year, and they could help support a =20
> human presence.
>
> =97 Paul Boyer
>
> On 29 Jan 2010, at 10:47 AM, Rob Woods wrote:
>
>> I do not see why Sable Island cannot be a national park but still =20
>> require permits to visit. Nahanni NP requires all overnight =20
>> visitors to register in advance and access is limited. Also even =20
>> Float Plane day visitors are restricted to companies that have a =20
>> registered landing permit.
>>
>> As for the number of visitors - this is an island 160KM offshore =20
>> Canso across rough seas. Your average tourist is not going to make =20=

>> such a trip both because of cost and time to get there and =20
>> especially if facilities are limited. Nahanni does not have =20
>> visitors centre either. While I agree their would be more visitors =20=

>> to the Island than today, I think we are only going to attract the =20=

>> die hard enviromental tourist who is willing to pay the extra =20
>> costs which could help the island and other nova scotia national =20
>> parks. Access fees can be made financially significant.
>>
>> I am not saying there isnt a better solution but the National Park =20=

>> System has a lot of latitude with access. As a national park there =20=

>> also becomes restrictions on ownership, industry, hunting etc. =20
>> Usually more so than other wildlife protect areas.
>>
>> Rob Woods
>> Georgefield NS
>>
>> From: Fritz McEvoy <fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com>
>> To: NS NATURE <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
>> Sent: Fri, January 29, 2010 10:27:37 AM
>> Subject: [NatureNS] Sable Island National Park proposal
>>
>> Hi All,
>>    I've been following the discussion of the Feds proposed making =20
>> Sable Island a national park on Parker Donham's "Contrarian" blog =20
>> and wondered why I haven't seen any discussion here on the idea; =20
>> good or bad.
>>    Most of the feedback I've seen has been that it is a bad idea =20
>> and at first blush I tend to agree.
>>    The National parks are a wonderful institution but their =20
>> philosophy (at least in the Cape Breton Highlands National =20
>> Park;the one I know best) on protecting wilderness tends to waffle =20=

>> between protect everything and keep people out and let in the =20
>> tourists and make parks pay for themselves. Over the last decade =20
>> they have been doing the former by trying to limit park overuse =20
>> and emphasizing more wilderness protection & research. This came =20
>> after decades of a more tourist friendly philosophy that was more =20
>> interested in visitor totals than wilderness protection. Lately =20
>> they have turned to a mixture of the two; protect some parts and =20
>> encourage tourist visitation in others. This is probably the best =20
>> solution as swinging back and forth; at the whim of whatever =20
>> philosophy is in vogue at the moment: makes it impossible to have =20
>> a long term strategy that can have time to work for all parties =20
>> involved.
>>    The sable Island proposal has a few good things going for it; =20
>> The National Parks have lots of money for research and would allow =20=

>> for the installation of infrastructure (permanent air strip, =20
>> research facilities' weather station etc.) and a permanent human =20
>> presence on the island.
>>  On the other hand they want to allow much more access for =20
>> tourists to visit and there is no protection from the oil & gas =20
>> industries that I can see.
>> I don't think the province; who would have to approve this change =20
>> in status; have stated a firm position; although they have not =20
>> ruled it out and seem OK with further discussion.
>>  For those interested in this proposal I recommend you check out =20
>> Parker's blog as he has much more, and better stated, views =20
>> including links to the actual proposal and a facebook page for =20
>> those opposed to the plan. http://contrarian.ca
>>  All the best.
>>                        Fritz McEvoy
>>                        Sunrise Valley, CB
>>
>>
>> Windows Live Messenger makes it easier to stay in touch - learn how!
>>
>> Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!
>


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
Thanks for the tip about Parker Donham's "Contrarian" blog, which I =
haven't read yet. &nbsp;Two things off the top of my head: would-be =
tourists on boat or cruise trips may be tempted to try to land on the =
island and ask for permits to do so, so that the source of tourism =
interests might be wider than just trips starting in Nova Scotia. =
&nbsp;Secondly, I am particularly worried about Environment Minister Jim =
Prentice's remarks about "protection" of life and ecosystems and, on the =
other hand, saying that a seal cull could be allowed IF NECESSARY!!?? =
&nbsp;And then he is going to seek counsel on the latter from, of all =
people, FISHERMEN!!?? &nbsp;The issue of culling seals has also popped =
up in one of the supposedly "protected" Wilderness Areas of Nova Scotia, =
namely Scatarie Island W. A.'s Hay Island in Cape Breton, where some =
"harvesting" of grey seals was allowed first by Mark Parent and then =
last year by Sterling Belliveau. &nbsp;What kind of "protection" is =
this?! &nbsp;In the Nova Scotia case, something has to happen to the =
part of the Wilderness Areas Protection Act that has the ministerial =
discretion that apparently allows such political and not scientific =
intrusions.<div><br></div><div>Cheers? from Jim in Wolfville, and I look =
forward to feedback on my own remarks here.<br><div><br><div>Begin =
forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">"Paul S. Boyer" &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:psboyer@eastlink.ca">psboyer@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;</font></di=
v><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: =
</b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica">January 29, 2010 3:08:51 PM AST</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>=
</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Re: [NatureNS] Sable Island National =
Park proposal</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Reply-To: </b></font><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>=
</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> I agree with Rob =
Woods.<div><br></div><div>The visitation to Sable Island by eco-tourists =
could be tightly controlled, as it is for the Gal=E1pagos Islands. =
&nbsp;It is easy to set up a few marked trails, and require that =
visitors stay on roads, the few trails, and the beach. &nbsp;The costs =
alone would prevent mass visitation. &nbsp;The type of visitor would be =
largely influenced by self-selection: probably only serious =
nature-lovers would make the trip. &nbsp;It would be best if there were =
few "improvements": no casinos, hotels, restaurants, =
&amp;c.</div><div><br></div><div>Bear in mind that Sable Island shrinks =
each year, and will not even be there much longer. &nbsp;There is no =
great harm in letting a few visitors on the island each year, and they =
could help support a human presence.</div><div><br></div><div>=97 Paul =
Boyer</div><div><br><div><div>On 29 Jan 2010, at 10:47 AM, Rob Woods =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: =
separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; font-size: medium; =
font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; =
letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: =
auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; =
widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: =
12pt; "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I do not see why Sable Island cannot be a =
national park but still require permits to visit. Nahanni NP requires =
all overnight visitors to register in advance and access is limited. =
Also even Float Plane day visitors are restricted to companies that have =
a registered landing permit.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">&nbsp;</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">As for the number of visitors - =
this is an island 160KM offshore Canso across rough seas. Your average =
tourist is not going to make such a trip both because of cost and time =
to get there and especially if facilities are limited. Nahanni does not =
have visitors centre either. While I agree their would be more visitors =
to the Island than today, I think we are only going to attract the die =
hard&nbsp;enviromental tourist&nbsp;who is willing to pay the extra =
costs which could help the island and other nova scotia national parks. =
Access fees can be made financially significant.</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">&nbsp;</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I am not =
saying there isnt a better solution but the National Park System has a =
lot of latitude with access. As a national park there also becomes =
restrictions on ownership, industry, hunting etc. Usually more so than =
other wildlife protect areas.</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">&nbsp;</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Rob Woods</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Georgefield NS<br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: =
12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; =
"><br><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', =
'new york', times, serif; "><font face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><hr =
size=3D"1"><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold; ">From:</span></b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Fritz McEvoy &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com">fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com</a>&gt;<br=
><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold; ">To:</span></b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>NS NATURE &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>&gt;<br=
><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold; ">Sent:</span></b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Fri, January 29, 2010 =
10:27:37 AM<br><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold; =
">Subject:</span></b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>[NatureNS] Sable Island =
National Park proposal<br></font><br>Hi All,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; I've been =
following the discussion of the Feds proposed making Sable Island a =
national park on Parker Donham's "Contrarian" blog and wondered why I =
haven't seen any discussion here on the idea; good or =
bad.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Most of the feedback I've seen has been that =
it is a bad idea and at first blush&nbsp;I tend to agree.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>&nbsp;&nbsp; The =
National parks are a wonderful institution but their philosophy (at =
least in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park;the one I know =
best)&nbsp;on protecting wilderness tends to waffle between protect =
everything and keep people out and&nbsp;let in the tourists and make =
parks pay for themselves.&nbsp;Over the&nbsp;last decade they have been =
doing the former&nbsp;by trying to limit park overuse =
and&nbsp;emphasizing more wilderness protection &amp; research. This =
came after decades of a more tourist friendly philosophy that was more =
interested in visitor totals than wilderness protection. Lately they =
have turned to a mixture of the two; protect some parts and encourage =
tourist visitation in others. This is probably the best solution as =
swinging back and forth; at the whim of whatever philosophy is in vogue =
at the moment: makes it impossible to have a long term strategy that can =
have time to work for all parties involved.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; The sable =
Island proposal has a few good things going for it; The National Parks =
have lots of money for research and would&nbsp;allow for the =
installation&nbsp;of infrastructure (permanent air strip, research =
facilities' weather station etc.) and a permanent human presence&nbsp;on =
the island.<br>&nbsp;On the other hand they want to allow much more =
access&nbsp;for tourists&nbsp;to visit and there is no protection from =
the&nbsp;oil &amp; gas industries that I can see.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>I don't think the =
province; who would have to approve&nbsp;this change in status; have =
stated a firm position; although they have not ruled it out and seem OK =
with further discussion.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;For those interested in =
this proposal I recommend you check out Parker's blog as he has much =
more, and better stated, views including links to the actual proposal =
and a&nbsp;facebook page for those opposed to the plan.<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"http://contrarian.ca/" target=3D"_blank" =
rel=3D"nofollow">http://contrarian.ca</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><br>&nbsp;All the =
best.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
Fritz =
McEvoy<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
Sunrise Valley, CB&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br><br><hr>Windows Live =
Messenger makes it easier to stay in touch -<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a =
href=3D"http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9706113" target=3D"_blank" =
rel=3D"nofollow">learn how!</a></div></div></div><br><hr =
size=3D"1">Looking for the perfect gift?<a =
href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/gift/"><b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>Give the gift of =
Flickr!</b></a></div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></blockquote></di=
v><br></div></body></html>=

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