Tobeatic Lease Retirement Program Improves Protection

Nova Scotia's Tobeatic Wilderness Area is beginning a new era of greater environmental protection.

Twenty-seven of 32 campsite leaseholders have agreed to terminate their leases and stop using small wooden camps located in the protected wilderness area. They volunteered to join the province's campsite leaseholder retirement program. Unused camps will be removed.

Permanent recreational camps are not consistent with plans to preserve the Tobeatic's unique wilderness character.

"It is good to see the level of participation in this lease- retirement program," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour. "It was a difficult decision for many leaseholders, but their actions today will benefit all who follow, seeking to experience the wild nature in the Tobeatic."

Tobeatic Wilderness Area is more than 100,000 hectares of land located just west of Kejimkujik National Park in the province's southwestern interior. It includes old-growth forests, some endangered species, unique glacial landforms and undisturbed wetlands.

Campsite leaseholders will each receive $20,000 for their interest in the camp lease. Twenty-one of them will relocate.

"I am pleased this lease-retirement program meets the goals of the Tobeatic Management Plan," said David Morse, Minister of Natural Resources. "My department will help leaseholders relocate to sites on provincial land outside of the protected area."

The extended deadline for application for the lease-retirement program was the end of January.

"I hope that many former leaseholders continue to visit the Tobeatic -- to fish, hunt, tent, hike, canoe or picnic -- and keep alive the rich outdoor heritage of southwestern Nova Scotia," said Mr. Parent.

Five leaseholders opted to remain in the Tobeatic. They will renew their leases under the terms of a wilderness camp licence, which requires a higher standard of care and agreement to act as stewards of the wilderness area. The wilderness camp licence is valid only for the life of the current leaseholders. Access by land vehicle to these sites is not permitted.

Leaseholders in the retirement program will have an opportunity to remove personal belongings and camp equipment before the structures become provincial property.

The Tobeatic's management plan was released in October 2006.