Comments Sought on Plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR -Comments Sought on Plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area

Nova Scotia's largest protected area has a draft management plan. The draft plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area was released for public comment today, April 23.

"We want as many Nova Scotians as possible to participate in the planning for the future of this important wilderness area," said Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash.

The draft management plan proposes management direction for varied topics including ecosystem protection, wilderness recreation, vehicle use, campsite leases, and nature tourism.

The draft plan is the result of a planning project launched in March 2002. The Tobeatic Advisory Group has been providing advice on what the plan should say since then.

Mr. Morash said the group has provided a solid foundation for the public consultation. "We've spent the past two years conducting an intensive planning exercise with the area's users and neighbours, now it's time for all Nova Scotians to have their say."

Open-house information sessions, and information displays in local libraries will give residents an opportunity to learn more about the draft management plan, speak with staff, and offer written comments on the document. The open houses will be held in Liverpool, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis Royal and Halifax through May.

Nova Scotia Environment and Labour has prepared a worksheet to help participants provide comments on the draft management plan. The department will use the comments obtained through the public consultation to complete the management plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

The public comment period ends Friday, June 4. The draft management plan and related materials are available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ at any Environment and Labour office or by calling 1-800-567-7544.