Post by POINTY STICKS on Apr 30, 2008 9:19:01 GMT -4
N.S. wilderness group happy with protection plan for Chignecto
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tue. Apr 29 - 4:11 PM
AMHERST — Cumberland Wilderness is happy with a plan to give added protection to areas of the Chignecto Game Sanctuary and adjoining properties.
``It's progress,'' says group spokesperson Harry Thurston. ``Considering three years ago they were attempting to remove all the protection from the sanctuary we're quite happy that they are now looking to give it more protection.''
Last week, Transportation Minister Murray Scott and officials from the Department of Natural Resources briefed Cumberland municipal council on a plan to protect 4,620 hectares of land within the sanctuary and 3,661 hectares of Crown land outside the sanctuary.
Thurston feels it's an excellent first step toward achieving the goal of a wilderness area for Cumberland County. However, he says the Department of Natural Resources plan is inadequate for the purpose of protecting habitat and wildlife.
``At the same time, the plan they have presented doesn't go far enough and doesn't take into account things we think are important like migratory corridors,'' Thurston said. ``The area they are suggesting to protect is a significant size, but it's made up of relatively small patches of land that are disconnected. We think you have to have a plan where there are connections between the habitats that are connected.''
Thurston is also concerned that the plan ignores the government's own guidelines for the creation of protected areas. The Colin Stewart Forest Forum has been asked to recommend candidate areas for protection based on the best available scientific research. Within the government, a branch of the Department of Environment and Labour is primarily responsible for selecting wilderness areas.
"In this case, it appears as though neither was consulted," Thurston said. "While DNR and Mr. Scott claim to have consulted with stakeholders, they also ignored the advice of Cumberland Wilderness and other conservation groups."
Thurston said his group will continue to lobby for additional protection including for migratory paths and is confident the Colin Stewart Forest Forum will come back in a few months with recommendations for additional protection.
"They are going to report in the next couple of months on what areas they feel should be protected," Thurston said. "Government has said they are waiting for the report. We are confident that Chignecto is high on that list and the feedback we've had is that there are substantial lands within Chignecto and adjoining Crown lands be protected."
Thurston said his group is pleased with the Natural Resources plan because it acknowledges traditional uses, including limited off-highway vehicle use.