The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, today announced plans to proceed with consultation on 10 proposed protected areas.
Priority is being placed on sites identified by the Wilderness and Ecological Reserve Advisory Council’s 2021 priority assessment. Sites include nine proposed protected areas described in the Home For Nature report (Ripple Pond; Halls Gullies; Cape Norman; Watts Point Extension; Facheaux Bay; Conne River North; Stony Lake; Rodney Pond; and Cape St. George) and a tenth site, Indian Arm Brook.
The Honourable Bernard Davis will be available to the media today (Thursday, May 25) at 12:00 noon. The availability will take place in front of the House of Assembly, East Block, Confederation Building.
Details, including the location, ecological features, and proposed size and boundary of the proposed protected areas described in the A Home for Nature report can be found here. Details about the proposed Indian Arm Brook protected area can be found here.
Engagement is crucial to determining what protected areas are established, final boundaries, and how areas are managed. Site specific consultations will be held between 2023 and 2026 with the public, Indigenous Groups and Organizations, municipalities and stakeholders to determine the level of community support for each of the proposed protected areas.
Quotes
“The province’s protected areas are a priority for our government. These consultations are critical in the process of considering new protected areas, and the input from Indigenous Groups and Organizations will be imperative. We are committed to taking bold steps to protect the invaluable land and marine ecosystems and unique species throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Working together, we can take a significant step forward in protecting our province for current and future generations, and in fulfilling Canadian and global protected area targets.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister Responsible for Environment and Climate Change
“Protecting our environment through the process of establishing protected areas is the foundation for sustaining our lands, communities, and economy. Our environment supports and houses our natural ecosystems, allowing them to grow and thrive. If we fail to protect our environment, we will put the lives of humans, animals, plants, and all that we as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians hold dear to our hearts at risk. The announcement to proceed to the next step in the establishment of ten protected areas is indeed something to be celebrated. We are eager to meet with the minister and his officials to discuss these sites in more detail and look forward to the exciting and collective work ahead of us.”
Graham Wood and Stanley Oliver
Co-Chairs, Wilderness and Ecological Reserve Advisory Council
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Learn more
A Home for Nature: Provincial Protected Areas Planning
Questions and Answers – Home for Nature
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