URGENT -- Save NS Public Lands in ONE Minute

Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 10:04:11 -0400 (AST)
From: Heather Breeze <aa670@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
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DECEMBER 13&14, 2000: ADD YOUR VOICE FOR PUBLIC LANDS.  IT'S EASY!

TODAY hundreds of people from all over Nova Scotia are calling and e-mailing 
Premier John Hamm with an important and timely message: Protect Nova 
Scotia's Public Lands - they are threatened by a proposed new Land Use Plan. 

YOUR voice is crucial.  PLEASE take ONE minute to send an electronic 
postcard to the Premier by clicking on or going to:

http://www.whatasite.com/publicland/publicland_letter.html

or by calling his office at 902-424-6600 (key points to make in the phone
call can be found below).

Thank you from the Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition.


If you'd like to know more, keep reading...

Background

In September 2000 the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
proposed a long-term “Integrated Resource Management” (IRM) land use plan 
for Nova Scotia’s provincial Crown lands.  The plan recommends that 80% of 
these publicly-owned lands be open for industrial resource extraction like 
clearcutting and mining despite previous government commitments to protect 
more land.


Key Wildlands on the Chopping Block

DNR is calling for nearly all of Nova Scotia’s unprotected public
wildlands to be available for industrial uses.  Undeveloped public lands at 
Fogarty’s Cove, Kluscap Mountain, Gully Lake, Ship Harbour Long Lake, 
Herring Cove, Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes, Nictaux River, Eigg 
Mountain-James River, Tusket River, Liscomb, Sackville-Beaverbank, 
Timberlea-Prospect, East Hants, and other places, as well as proposed 
additions to the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, and most coastal Crown lands 
could be lost to logging, mining, or roads if the Province adopts the IRM 
plan.  These areas need legal protection.


Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition

The Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition consists of conservation,
recreation, tourism, science, and community organizations that believe Nova 
Scotia’s public lands are worth saving.  We think public lands should remain 
wild lands.  The coalition includes groups as diverse as the Federation of 
Nova Scotia Naturalists, the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, 
the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, and the Ecology Action 
Centre, as well as several local and rural organizations that have called 
for specific Crown lands in their region to be protected under legislation.  
The coalition believes protecting wilderness is good for the environment, 
our communities, and our quality of life in Nova Scotia.


Day of Action

December 13 & 14 are two "Days of Action" to help protect Nova Scotia’s
public lands.  The provincial government has not yet responded to the IRM 
plan proposal and comments on the plan are still being accepted.  The 
Coalition is asking individuals to appeal to the Premier to take another 
look at the IRM plan, and specifically to (a) overhaul the IRM plan to 
recognize conservation as the primary role of Crown lands, (b) honour Nova 
Scotia'’s protected area commitments, (c) legally protect remaining Crown 
wildlands over 200 hectares, significant natural areas identified by the 
Department of the Environment during the IRM process, and lands proposed for 
protection by various NGOs and/or municipalities, and (d) place development 
moratoriums on remaining wildlands, significant natural areas, and proposed 
protected sites until they are legally protected.


ADD YOUR VOICE IN ONE MINUTE – SEND AN ELECTRONIC POSTCARD!

To send an e-POSTCARD to Premier John Hamm, with automatic copies to the 
Ministers of Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, Sport & Recreation, 
and opposition parties please visit
http://www.whatasite.com/publicland/publicland_letter.html

Just fill in the blanks, click, and send.


ADD YOUR VOICE IN ONE MINUTE – CALL!

If you prefer, just dial the Premier’s office at (902)
424-6600. Some points you may want to pass on:

·	the IRM plan should be overhauled so that Nova Scotia honours its 
commitment to complete its protected areas network
·	only 28% of Nova Scotia is provincial Crown land, and much of that has 
already been clearcut or roaded.  The Province ought to legally protect the 
remaining Crown lands that are wilderness while we still have the chance
·	the Province should review and amend outdated logging agreements, some 
dating back to the 50s and 60s, that give logging companies "first dibs" on 
public lands that merit protection
·	the Departments of Environment (Protected Areas Division) and
Tourism need to have a coordinating role in deciding future uses of Crown 
land (currently Natural Resources, essentially a logging & mining 
department, calls the shots)
·	tourism is a $1.3 billion/year industry in Nova Scotia that depends on 
safeguarding our province's beautiful outdoors and wild coastline
·	if you like, add a plug for any proposed Wilderness Area in your region 
(for a map and profile of some proposed Wilderness Areas visit 
http://www.publicland.ca and click on “IMAGE MAP”)
·	add whatever else you think is important regarding provincial Crown lands

If you live in Pictou County you can also call Dr. Hamm's constituency 
office at (902) 755-4266.


ADD YOUR VOICE IN ONE MINUTE – FAX or WRITE!

A handwritten letter carries more weight than an e-mail form letter.  If you 
prefer the pen and pad, the Premier’s mailing address is:

Hon. John Hamm
Premier of Nova Scotia
PO Box 726
Halifax, NS	B3J 2T3

The FAX number is (902) 424-7648.
His e-mail is premier@gov.ns.ca

A sample letter is posted at
http://www.supercity.ns.ca/~land/irm_topics.html#five
or you can refer to the e-POSTCARD at 
http://www.whatasite.com/publicland/publicland_letter.html


Additional Information

For more information on provincial wilderness commitments, proposed new 
Wilderness Areas for Nova Scotia (maps and site profiles), the IRM planning 
process and a map of the IRM land use plan, please visit 
http://www.publicland.ca

For background on the Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, including who we 
are and our vision and position statements on Crown lands and new protected 
sites, visit http://www.publicland.ca and click on “Nova Scotia Public Lands 
Coalition” or go directly to http://www.supercity.ns.ca/~land/coalition.htm

For DNR's view of the IRM process and plan visit 
http://gov.ns.ca/natr/irm/default.html

For further information please call the Ecology Action Centre at (902) 
429-2202.

Many thanks for adding your voice!



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