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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! -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- The preceding message was posted on Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar) -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Questions about sust-mar? Problems? Email <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> Please remember to UNSUBSCRIBE if your email account is changing, or if you are going away. To leave the list, just send email to <majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> As the text of your message, type only "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes)
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