It may come as a surprise, then, to learn that Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the worst performers in Canada for the total percentage of land allocated for parks and protected areas. Only New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have done less.
This situation is unfitting of a province that’s home to such stunning natural beauty and where people have such a deep connection with the land.
Fortunately, things are starting to change. Last year, the provincial government finalized an agreement with the federal government to officially establish Akami-uapishku-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve in Labrador, creating the largest protected area in Eastern Canada. This area protects a magnificent landscape of mountain tundra, coastal ecosystems, boreal forests, islands and wild rivers that are home to caribou, Atlantic salmon and trout.
And, since the fall election, the new provincial government has already signalled that protected areas will be a higher priority. In the ministerial mandate letters, released publicly just before the Christmas holidays, Premier Dwight Ball specifically directs Environment and Conservation Minister Perry Trimper to “finalize and publicly release a Natural Areas System Plan in collaboration with your colleagues.”
The Natural Areas System Plan is a long overdue network of protected areas developed by the Newfoundland and Labrador government several decades ago, but never released publicly. These stalled protected areas represent some of the best remaining natural areas in the province, including incredibly significant coastal seabird colonies, old forests, species-at-risk habitat, and important wetlands.
These are encouraging signs, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society looks forward to collaborating with the provincial government as it works to finalize the new protected areas and to ensure that the incredible natural wilderness of this province is protected for future generations.
Similarly, we look forward to working with the new provincial and federal governments to develop a buffer zone around Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in recognition of its unique geological features and spectacular natural beauty.
In many ways, Gros Morne is the jewel in the crown of the parks system in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the cornerstone of our growing tourism economy which is now valued at over a billion dollars a year. UNESCO has called for a buffer zone around the park to ensure its globally significant natural beauty is not damaged by adjacent industrial activities.
Our province is a truly magnificent place. Here’s hoping that 2016 will be a year when more of our natural heritage is conserved. Things certainly look positive.
Tanya Edwards and Suzanne Dooley, St. John’s
Co-executive directors, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society NL
