nature reserves

From: "Kermit deGooyer" <kdegooyer@hotmail.com>
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:01:01 PST
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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ACTION ALERT


ACTION NEEDED ON NATURE RESERVE DESIGNATIONS 


Background:

Under Nova Scotia's 19 year old Special Places Protection Act the 
Province can designate ecologically significant lands as nature 
reserves.  Seven sites have been designated since the act was passed, 
including some old forests and rare plant refuges.   Several dozen other 
candidates have been identified since the early 1970s.  The Province has 
not designated any new sites since the early 1990s.  Nature reserves are 
typically smaller than Wilderness Areas and have a higher level of 
protection.


Recent history:

In April 1997, DNR Minister Eleanor Norrie promised that the Province 
would designate 5 new nature reserves by the end of 1997 (Nova Scotia's 
Protected Areas Action Plan, 1997), but it didn't happen.  In November 
1998, in response to our concerns about the pace of designations, 
Ecology Action Centre received a letter from then Environment Minister 
Don Downe stating "...it is anticipated that several designations will 
be in place by the end of the current fiscal year [March 31/99]."

This deadline probably won't get met but e-mails, faxes, and/or letters 
to the new Environment Minister Michel Samson will keep some pressure on 
DOE to get these designations done sooner than later (or never).   The 
leading 5 candidates for protection are Duncan's Cove (rare plants) Hfx. 
Co. , Roman Valley (old hardwood forest) Guysborough Co., Quinns Meadow 
(rare plants) - Shelburne Co., Spinneys Heath (rare plants) Yarmouth 
Co., and Quinan Lake (old forest) Yarmouth Co. 


What you can do:

Tell Michel Samson that you want DOE to designate 5 nature reserves by 
the end of March.  Remind him that the Province committed to having 5 
new designations in place by the end of 1997.  Also tell him the pace of 
nature reserve designations is too slow and that DOE needs to set 
specific targets for additional designations beyond the current 5. (also 
promised by Norrie in the 1997 Action Plan).  Don't forget to ask for a 
response to your concerns.  "CC"ing letters to the Premier would also be 
helpful.  Addresses below.

Thanks,

Kermit deGooyer
Ecology Action Centre
429-2202



*********************************************

Hon. Michel Samson
Minister of the Environment
PO Box 2107
Halifax, NS  B3J 3B7

e-mail:  samsonmp@gov.ns.ca
fax:  (902) 424-0644

Premier Russell MacLellan
1700 Granville St.
Halifax, NS   B3J 2T3

e-mail:  premier@gov.ns.ca
fax:  (902) 424-7648



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