Wilderness Protection Act Introduced

Environment Minister Don Downe has introduced legislation to protect 31 important natural areas across Nova Scotia.

"The Wilderness Areas Act is a reflection of the will of the people," said Mr. Downe. "It's a bill that promises we will respect the laws of nature."

Nearly 20 per cent of the Crown land in Nova Scotia will come under the protection of the new legislation. The 31 sites were selected after extensive consultation with the people of Nova Scotia.

A public review committee recommended all 31 sites to the government for inclusion in the protected areas strategy. They were selected because they were representative samples of natural landscapes and ecosystems or they contained rare or outstanding natural features. The act will ensure the maintenance of ecological integrity, natural ecological processes and biodiversity of these areas.

Mr.Downe said while the focus is on protecting the lands, he wants Nova Scotians to know they will be welcome to enjoy these beautiful wilderness areas. "We want these lands to be windows on the natural environment," said the minister.

The 31 sites will be the focus for wilderness recreation and nature-based tourism, environmental education and scientific research. Sport fishing and traditional patterns of trapping and hunting will continue to be respected.

The process of developing local stewardship plans will begin in northern Cape Breton. "For more than a century, the people of northern Cape Breton have been careful and diligent stewards of the land," said Mr. Downe. "But, the history of expropriation by the federal government to establish the Cape Breton Highlands National Park has created a legacy of suspicion that will take time to overcome."

He said, "In order to establish a more trusting relationship, the government has made a commitment in the legislation not to hand over lands to the national park system. That commitment is as clear as it can be. It will now be put in legislation."

In order to ensure the people north of the national park have a say, the government is committed towards producing a land stewardship agreement for the Polletts Cove - Aspy Fault area.

"The government will help the people to develop a stewardship arrangement that protects the land, but just as importantly respects the people," said Mr. Downe. The target date for the completion of the community consultation period is June 30, 1999.

Mr. Downe said each of the sites will have management plans respecting local uses and traditions. He said people who live near these protected Crown lands will have an important voice in the establishment of the management plans. "Many of these neighbours have a special attachment to these Crown lands and are just as protective of the environment as anyone. We want that partnership to continue and flourish."

Consistent with Premier Russell MacLellans' announcement to protect the Jim Campbells Barren, the act has rigorous rules restricting development. The public review committee recommendation that mineral rights established before Feb. 9, 1993 be honored has been accepted. However, Mr. Downe has committed that if any mining application comes forward the proposal would have to undergo an environmental assessment and show that the activity will have minimal environmental impact.

"Anyone wanting to open a mine must prove how such a proposal would make environmental sense in the middle of a wilderness the people want protected."

Penalties for the breach of the Wilderness Areas Protection Act will be consistent with those in the Environment Act, up to $1 million for corporations and $500,000 for individuals.

The introduction of the bill completes a task Mr. Downe began in 1995, when as Natural Resources Minister he accepted the public review committee report that recommended the protection of 31 of the provinces most valuable natural landscapes.

"Today, as Minister of the Environment, I am proud to be the one who will now complete that job."

The protected wilderness areas are:

Alder Grounds - County of Guysborough Boggy Lake - Counties of Guysborough and Halifax The Big Bog - County of Guysborough Bonnet Lake Barrens - County of Guysborough Bowers Meadows - County of Shelburne Jim Campbells Barren - County of Inverness Canso Coastal Barrens - County of Guysborough Clattenburgh Brook - County of Halifax Cloud Lake - Counties of Kings and Annapolis Economy River - Counties of Colchester and Cumberland Middle River-Framboise - Counties of Cape Breton & Richmond French River - County of Victoria Gabarus - County of Cape Breton Liscomb River - County of Guysborough Margaree - County of Inverness McGill Lake - County of Annapolis Middle River - Counties of Victoria and Inverness North River - County of Victoria Ogden Round Lake - County of Guysborough Polletts Cove-Aspy Fault - Counties of Inverness and Victoria Portapique River - Counties of Colchester and Cumberland Lake Rossignol - County of Queens Scatarie Island - County of Cape Breton Sugarloaf Mountain - County of Inverness Tangier Grand Lake - County of Halifax Terence Bay - County of Halifax Tidney River - Counties of Shelburne and Queens Tobeatic - Counties of Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Queens Trout Brook - Counties of Inverness and Victoria Waverley-Salmon River Long Lake - County of Halifax White Lake - County of Halifax