Steve Reid

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April 1 2012

New Brunswick Still a Laggard on Protected Areas – New Crown Forest Plan Step Backwards

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) says the new Crown forest management plan announced today by the Minister of Natural Resources is a step backwards for conservation.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB, said, “The new Crown forest plan reduces the overall conservation of wildlife habitats and riverbank buffers. This is disturbing because we know that wildlife researchers believe that current conservation levels may not be enough to maintain all the kinds of native wildlife throughout the province. The government has now approved a plan to go even further below what is needed. This is the wrong direction for conservation.”

Clowater said, “While the plan approves an increase in protected areas from 4{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Crown forest to 8{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Crown forest, this will result in only 4.5{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the province being protected. This is not even in the ballpark of what is needed to ensure conservation of our rivers, wilderness areas and sensitive wildlife. New Brunswick will still have the lowest protected areas proportion in Canada, only above PEI. As well, the new protected areas will come from the currently conserved old forest, so there is actually a net loss in area to conservation.”

“Given concerns about climate changes and uncertainty about how well we are currently conserving habitats and water, we are very concerned about the decision to go from a 5 year plan to a 10 year plan. We believe this is a risky move, one that locks us into very limited conservation objectives, and doesn’t provide the flexibility to improve conservation for another decade.”

“CPAWS NB appreciates that the Minister took the time to review the forest plan approved by the previous government, which would have severely rolled back conservation on public land. We’re pleased that the Minister consulted widely with the conservation community, and recognized the value of habitat conservation as in important factor in his considerations,” noted Clowater.

CPAWS had recommended that at least 17{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Crown land (8.5{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the province), including the largest patches of old forest, be designated by 2015 in permanent protected areas, where no logging or mining would take place. This amount would move us closer to the level in other provinces, where the average amount of land protected is nearly 9{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}.

April 1 2012

Le Nouveau Brunswick est toujours traînard en matière de conservation – Le plan d’aménagement forest

Steve Reid News

(Fredericton) – Le Nouveau Brunswick est toujours traînard en matière de conservation – Le plan d’aménagement forestier des terres de la Couronne nuit encore.

La Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada, section Nouveau-Brunswick (SNAP NB), dit que le nouveau plan d’aménagement forestier des terres de la Couronne, annoncé aujourd’hui par le ministre des ressources naturelles, est un pas en arrière pour la conservation.

Roberta Clowater, directrice exécutive de la SNAP NB dit, « Le nouveau plan d’aménagement forestier des terres de la Couronne réduit la conservation globale des habitats fauniques et zones tampons riveraines. C’est troublant parce que nous savons que les scientifiques qui spécialisent dans la recherche des animaux sauvages pensent que les niveaux actuels de conservation risquent de ne pas pouvoir maintenir tous les types d’animaux sauvages indigènes dans la province. Aujourd’hui le gouvernement a approuvé un plan pour aller encore plus loin de ce qui est nécessaire. C’est la mauvaise direction pour la conservation. »

Clowater a dit, « Alors que le plan approuve une augmentation dans les aires protégées de 4 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des forêts de la Couronne à 8 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des forêts de la Couronne, ceci assurera la protection de seulement 4,5 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} de la province. Ceci n’approche pas ce qui est nécessaire pour assurer la conservation de nos rivières, nos aires de nature sauvages et notre faune sensible. Le Nouveau-Brunswick possèdera toujours la plus petite proportion d’aires protégées au Canada, seulement au-dessus de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard. De plus, les nouvelles aires protégées viendront de la vieille forêt actuellement conservée donc il y a effectivement une perte nette de conservation. »

« Étant donné les préoccupations concernant le changement climatique et l’incertitude sur comment bien nous protégeons nos milieux sauvages et nos eaux, nous sommes très préoccupés par la décision de passer d’un plan de 5 ans à un plan de 10 ans. Nous croyons que c’est un geste risqué, qui nous offre des objectifs de conservation très limitées et ne fournit pas la flexibilité nécessaire pour améliorer la conservation pour une autre décennie. »

« La SNAP NB apprécie que le ministre a pris le temps d’examiner le plan d’aménagement approuvé par le gouvernement précédent qui aurait sévèrement nuit à la conservation des terres publiques. Nous sommes heureux que le ministre a consulté avec la communauté environnementale et reconnu la valeur de la conservation de l’habitat dans ses décisions,» a souligné Clowater.

La SNAP a recommandé qu’au moins 17 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des terres de la Couronne (8,5 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} de la province), y compris les plus importantes sections de forêt ancienne, soient désignées d’ici 2015 comme zones protégées permanentes sans exploitation forestière ou minière. Ceci nous rapprocherait au niveau des autres provinces, où le montant moyen des terres protégées est près de 9 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}.

March 2 2012

Quarante-cinq groupes disent au gouvernement : « Ne sacrifiez pas la conservation pour des approvis

Steve Reid News

(Fredericton) Quarante-cinq groupes environnementaux et groupes pour la faune, se joignent aux groupes des propriétaires de boisés de la province pour rappeler au gouvernement qu’il ne faut pas sacrifier les mesures de conservation établies depuis longtemps sur les terres de la Couronne pour accroitre temporairement l’approvisionnement en bois de l’industrie forestière. D’autant plus que ce bois additionnel pourrait très bien être fourni à l’industrie par les propriétaires des lots boisés privés de la province.

Roberta Clowater, directrice générale de la section NB de la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada et présidente du Réseau des terres de la Couronne ajoute : « Bricoler avec le système actuel et démanteler les protections environnementales mises en place pour de bonnes raisons au cours des vingt dernières années ne résoudra pas le problème et n’offrira pas une solution largement appuyée. »

« Les mesures de conservation forestière du Nouveau-Brunswick sont considérées par nos propres biologistes de la faune et de la flore et par nos écologistes forestiers comme étant le strict minimum nécessaire pour éviter des extinctions locales d’animaux et de plantes. Toutes réductions du statuquo seraient inacceptables et non durables. » added Clowater.
Les forestiers du ministère des Ressources naturelles ont calculé qu’une réduction de 10 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des possibilités de coupe annuelle (PCA) est nécessaire pour maintenir à l’avenir un approvisionnement en bois durable. L’ancienne administration était prête à sacrifier les habitats fauniques de longue date et les mesures de conservation pour réduire les PCA par 5 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} durant les cinq prochaines années. Ceci est inacceptable pour les signataires.
En se fondant sur les renseignements publiés en automne dernier par le groupe de travail sur les terres privées, il est clair que les boisés privés peuvent produire assez de bois pour satisfaire une augmentation de la demande. Les groupes soussignés demandent donc au ministre des Ressources naturelles, Bruce Northrup, d’appuyer la conservation de nos cours d’eau, de notre faune et de nos écosystèmes forestiers en refusant d’affaiblir les normes actuelles, et d’encourager les entreprises d’accroitre leurs achats de bois des propriétaires privés de boisés au Nouveau-Brunswick.

March 2 2012

Forty-five Groups to Government: Don’t Sacrifice Conservation for Short-term Wood Supply

Steve Reid News

(Fredericton) Forty-five environmental, wildlife and private woodlot groups have signed on to a statement telling government they do not want government to sacrifice long-standing conservation measures on Crown land to provide a temporary increase in wood supply for the forest industry. Additional wood sought by the industry can be readily supplied by the private woodlot owners of the province.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, NB Chapter, and chair of the Crown Lands Network of groups, said, “Tinkering with the current system, and turning back the clock on environmental protections established for good reasons over the last twenty years will not solve the problem, or result in a solution that has any broad-based support.”

“New Brunswick’s forest conservation measures are considered by our own wildlife biologists and forest ecologists to be the bare minimum needed to avoid local animal and plant extinctions. Any reduction from the status quo would be unacceptable, and not sustainable,” added Clowater.

DNR foresters have calculated that a 10{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} reduction in Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) is required to maintain a sustainable wood supply into the future. The previous government was prepared to sacrifice
long-standing wildlife habitat and conservation measures to limit the reduction in AAC to 5{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} for the next five years. This is unacceptable to the signatories.

Based upon information released by the Private Lands Task force in early February, private woodlots clearly are producing enough wood to supply an increased demand. The undersigned groups are asking the Minister of Natural Resources Bruce Northrup to support the conservation of our rivers, our wildlife, and our forest ecosystems by refusing to weaken the existing standards, and encourage industry to increase their purchases of wood from New Brunswick’s private woodlot owners.

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February 16 2012

Message from over 10,000 people to Premier Alward: Protect New Brunswick’s Restigouche Wilderness!

Steve Reid News

(Fredericton) – On February 16 at 11 am, CPAWS New Brunswick Chapter Executive Director, Roberta Clowater, will deliver a list of names to Premier Alward at the Centennial Building of over 10,000 Canadians who are asking him to protect at least 10{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the province’s largest remaining wild watershed.

CPAWS’ delivery of the message is timed to occur shortly before the expected completion of a new plan for Crown forests by New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources.

“We’re inspired to see so many people, mainly New Brunswickers and Quebecers, but thousands of visitors too, who care about protecting this extraordinary wilderness area in the Restigouche, and want to see those values protected,” said Clowater.

CPAWS reached out to people about the opportunity to protect the Restigouche – famed for its wild salmon rivers, forested misty mountains and wildlife — through social media such as Facebook and in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op.

“The number of people responding really underscores our message to Premier Alward that the province needs to take action now to protect more of our wilderness, especially the Restigouche. We’ve tapped a vein of public concern about the future of our province’s great wild places – and now we’re calling on the government to take action,” said Clowater.

“It’s inexcusable that New Brunswick ranks second from the bottom in the percentage of protected areas in all of Canada, compared to other provinces and territories. We’re not doing our fair share to protect wilderness and wildlife, or the important recreation and tourism jobs they support in New Brunswick,” added Clowater.

“To move New Brunswick towards the Canadian average, the government needs to commit to protecting at least 17{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the province’s Crown land by 2015, which amounts to 8.5{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the province. This would allow more of the wildest parts of Restigouche and the province to be permanently protected from development and industrial activity.”

Currently, only 3{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of New Brunswick is permanently protected, compared to nearly 9{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of land in other provinces. Nova Scotia has set a target of protecting 12{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the entire province by 2015 and is well ahead of New Brunswick in reaching its goal.

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January 31 2012

Response to Crown Task Force: More Conservation Needed, Not Less

Steve Reid News

The report of the Crown Land Task Force, chaired by Dr. Norm Betts, was released in late November and may raise more issues than it solves. We are concerned that several of the recommendations made by the Task Force, if implemented, will exacerbate an already challenging problem in New Brunswick’s woods.

Areas managed specifically to conserve old forest habitats, riverbank buffers, deer wintering habitat, and permanent protected areas (called the “Conservation Forest” by the Department of Natural Resources) together represent about 30{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Crown land. The Task Force suggests that the needs of wildlife can be met with even less conservation forest (28{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}). This fails to take into account additional pressures that may be placed on forests by climate change impacts, and by the proposed doubling of the predominantly mixed-wood forest area converted to plantations. Current data suggest that the proposal for a greater proportion of land devoted to conifer plantation is a risky approach if we are to maintain healthy populations of sensitive plants and animals. From a conservation perspective, our forests are being managed too close to the margins, and decreasing the proportion of conservation forest will take a toll on New Brunswick’s wildlife.

The report recommends increasing the amount of Protected Natural Areas to 12{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Crown land (about 6{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of the provincial land base). Even then, New Brunswick would still be the 2nd lowest province in Canada, just above PEI, in terms of protected areas. While more protected areas are needed, this small increase would not compensate for reducing habitat conservation elsewhere.

The Task Force recommends setting an economic goal for forest products at $4 billion. Setting such a hard target in a dollar value is, in our opinion, a flawed approach to natural resource management, and may increase conflict over natural resources. Forests are subject to climate and other environmental and human disturbances, while the values of our forest products are at the mercy of international markets. When prices received for wood products are low, as is currently the case, a target based solely on economic value will likely increase the demand for wood volume, leading to further encroachment on wildlife habitat.

The report recommends that forestry be placed under the control of a Special Operating Agency, run by a Chief Forester. We cannot support management of public lands that is separate from the Department of Natural Resources and has unclear accountability to the public. Government manages public land in the public trust, and there need to be clear lines of transparency of decisions, accountability to public values, and clear avenues for public input into management goals and objectives. Accountability and input recommendations were made by the 2004 all-party Select Committee on Wood Supply, and need now to be implemented.

Finally, the report acknowledges that “in this period of low timber production, meeting 100{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of economic and environmental objectives will not be achievable”. Failing to meet environmental objectives that forest ecologists already consider inadequate is unacceptable. New Brunswickers have repeatedly stated that their values for public land give strong priority to ensuring that water and habitats are protected, and the resource base is resilient enough to provide a variety of products and resources into the future. It is not an acceptable trade-off to reduce environmental objectives because the wood supply resource is going through a low point.

In a province where we are struggling to make sure there is a future for a forest-based economy, we cannot afford to compromise the very forest ecosystem that would allow a diversified forest economy to be realized. Our forest industries need to be developed based on what the forests can afford to give, not an arbitrary financial goal driven by external market forces.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, NB Chapter, Fredericton
David Coon, Executive Director, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Tony Diamond, Ph.D., Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB, Fredericton
Graham Forbes, Ph.D., Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB, Fredericton
James Marriner, Past President, NB Wildlife Federation, Upper Coverdale
Roger Roy, RPF, Ph.D. Faculté de foresterie, Université de Moncton, Edmundston
Marc-André Villard, Ph.D., Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton
Vince Zelazny, Registered Professional Forester, Fredericton

January 31 2012

Réponse à Group de travail terres publique, plus de conservation est nécessaires, pas moins

Steve Reid News

Le rapport du Groupe de travail sur les terres de la Couronne présidé par le Dr Norm Betts, qui a été publié à la fin novembre, semble soulever plus de problèmes que de solutions. Nous sommes préoccupés par le fait que plusieurs recommandations formulées par le Groupe de travail, si elles sont appliquées, ne feront qu’aggraver un problème déjà important dans les forêts du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Les zones aménagées spécifiquement pour conserver les habitats de forêts anciennes, les bandes riveraines (zones tampons), l’habitat d’hivernage du chevreuil et les zones protégées permanentes (désignées comme « Forêt de conservation » par le ministère des Ressources naturelles) totalisent environ 30 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des terres de la Couronne. Le groupe de travail laisse entendre que l’on peut répondre aux besoins de la faune avec encore moins de forêts de conservation (28 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}). Toutefois, ceci ne tient pas compte des pressions additionnelles qui pourraient être exercées sur les forêts en raison des changements climatiques et de la proposition de doubler les zones de forêt mixte converties en plantations. Les données disponibles indiquent que la proposition d’une proportion plus importante de terres consacrées à la plantation de conifères constitue une approche risquée si l’on veut maintenir des populations en santé des espèces sensibles de plantes et d’animaux. Du point de vue de la conservation, nos forêts sont gérées trop près des limites et une réduction de la proportion de la forêt de conservation aura des conséquences néfastes sur la faune du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Le rapport recommande d’augmenter la superficie de zones naturelles protégées à 12 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des forêts de la Couronne (environ 6 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des terres forestières de la province). Cependant, pour ce qui est des zones protégées, le Nouveau-Brunswick occupe encore l’avant-dernière place au Canada, juste avant l’Î.-P.-É. Même si plus de zones protégées sont requises, cette faible augmentation ne compenserait pas pour la réduction d’habitat de conservation ailleurs.

Le groupe de travail recommande de fixer un objectif économique de 4 milliards de $ pour les produits forestiers. À notre avis, établir un objectif aussi rigide en matière de dollars, constitue une approche inadéquate pour la gestion des ressources naturelles qui pourrait accentuer les conflits sur le contrôle des ressources naturelles. Les forêts sont sujettes aux aléas du climat et à d’autres perturbations naturelles et humaines, alors que la valeur de nos produits forestiers est à la merci des marchés internationaux. Quand les prix obtenus pour les produits du bois sont peu élevés, comme c’est actuellement le cas, un objectif basé uniquement sur la valeur économique contribuera probablement à augmenter la demande en bois, ce qui amènerait à empiéter davantage sur l’habitat de la faune.

Le rapport recommande que la foresterie soit placée sous le contrôle d’une Agence spéciale dirigée par un forestier en chef. Nous ne pouvons pas appuyer une gestion des terres publiques distincte de celle du ministère des Ressources naturelles et dont l’imputabilité à la population n’est pas claire. Le gouvernement gère les terres de la Couronne avec la confiance du public et il faut des directives claires en matière de transparence des décisions, de l’imputabilité pour les valeurs publiques et des façons précises de demander l’apport de la population dans l’établissement des buts et objectifs. Des recommandations sur l’imputabilité et la consultation ont déjà été formulées par le Comité spécial sur l’approvisionnement en bois en 2004, qui était composé de membres de tous les partis. Il faudrait maintenant les mettre en vigueur.

En dernier lieu, le rapport reconnaît qu’« en cette période de faible production de bois d’œuvre, il ne sera pas possible d’atteindre 100 {a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} des objectifs d’ordre économique et environnementaux. ». Il est inacceptable de ne pas être en mesure d’atteindre des cibles environnementales déjà considérés insuffisantes par les écologistes des forêts. Les néobrunswickois ont indiqué à plusieurs reprises que leurs valeurs en ce qui concerne les terres de la Couronne accordent une grande priorité à la protection de l’eau et des habitats, et du maintien d’une forêt qui est suffisament résiliente pour fournir une variété de produits et de ressources pour l’avenir. Fixer des objectifs environnementaux moins élevés, parce que l’approvisionnement en bois est à un bas niveau n’est pas un compromis acceptable.

Dans une province où nous devons lutter pour assurer l’avenir d’une économie axée sur les ressources forestières, nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre de compromettre l’état de l’écosystème forestier, la base d’une économie forestière diversifiée. Le développement de nos industries forestières doit se faire en fonction de ce que les forêts peuvent donner et non en fonction d’un objectif financier dicté par les forces externes des marchés étrangers.

Roberta Clowater, Directrice Générale, Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada – section Nouveau-Brunswick, Fredericton
David Coon, Director Générale, Conseil de conservation du Nouveau-Brunswick, Fredericton
Tony Diamond, Ph.D., Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB, Fredericton
Graham Forbes, Ph.D., Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB, Fredericton
James Marriner, Président sortante, Fédération de la Faune du N-B, Upper Coverdale
Roger Roy, RPF, Ph.D. Faculté de foresterie, Université de Moncton, Edmundston
Marc-André Villard, Ph.D., Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton
Vince Zelazny, Registered Professional Forester, Fredericton

June 29 2011

Press release: New Brunswick ranks 2nd to last in wilderness protection: new report finds

Steve Reid News

Fredericton – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is pleased that Canada has made progress in the past decade in increasing the amount of protected wilderness, but concerned that we continue to lag behind the global average of nearly 13{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of land permanently protected from industrial development, according to a report released today by Global Forest Watch Canada.

“In New Brunswick, we’re particularly concerned that within the last decade, we have only increased the amount of permanently protected areas by 2{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}, and that we remain only above PEI in the proportion of our land in protected areas, at 3{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}. This is largely due to the provincial government giving little priority to protecting our province’s wilderness,” says Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS New Brunswick Chapter.

“This timely report from Global Forest Watch shows that only 8.5{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} of Canada’s wilderness today is permanently protected. This is far below the amount that needs to be protected to conserve our country’s biodiversity. We know that the primary reason that species continue to decline so badly is habitat loss, so protecting much more land from industrial development is key to conservation,” says CPAWS National Conservation Director, Alison Woodley.

CPAWS’ vision is that Canada will protect at least half of our public lands and waters. There is growing scientific evidence that this is the magnitude of protection needed to ensure that the full diversity of life within our country will survive and flourish in the future.

“In New Brunswick, our poor protected areas record means that wildlife including Canada lynx and American marten may be lost from the province over time, because we have not protected important natural areas, such as wilderness in the Restigouche River watershed,” adds Roberta Clowater.

Over the past decade, the percentage of permanently and temporarily protected lands in Canada has nearly doubled from 6.6{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88} to just over 12{a3162b1395e34f5bc6dd788a255c8e2a209e2a614c3b42176989b624267eff88}. The federal government’s recent progress on creating or expanding large national parks has made an important contribution to this increase, along with new protected areas created in many provinces and territories.

“CPAWS New Brunswick is working with communities to show that New Brunswickers support wilderness protection and diversifying the economy through ecotourism, and they expect government to take leadership to protect the wildest parts of the province, including the wilderness areas in the Restigouche region,” added Clowater.

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For more information on protected areas and changes between 2000 and 2010 by province and territory, view Global Forest Watch’s “Report at a Glance”, Canada’s Terrestrial Protected Areas Status Report 2010: Number, Area and Naturalness, at www.globalforestwatch.ca.

June 9 2011

Good News Around Oceans Day – Marine Protected Areas in the Oceans around New Brunswick

Steve Reid News

On June 6 this week, CPAWS issued a challenge to the federal government to create 12 new marine protected areas by the end of 2012, in preparation for Oceans Day on June 8. In New Brunswick, this includes areas in the internationally important Bay of Fundy. We believe there is a need to ensure protection into the future for the values being highlighted by the Bay of Fundy’s candidacy as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of Nature. You can read our news release and backgrounder here – http://cpaws.org/news/12-new-marine-protected-areas-by-2012

On Oceans Day, CPAWS welcomed the announcement by Keith Ashfield, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, of an Area of Interest for a new Marine Protected Area in Shediac Valley in the Northumberland Strait off New Brunswick`s northeast coast. The area is an important spawning and nursery area for Atlantic cod and yellowtail flounder and provides critical habitat for an endangered population of winter skate. The area is of prime importance for a sustainable lobster fishery. Next steps include further scientific study and public consultation. Find out more information about the candidate Shediac Valley MPA here: English – http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/back-fiche/2011/hq-ac10b-eng.htm; French – http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/back-fiche/2011/hq-ac10b-fra.htm

April 5 2011

New Brunswick and Quebec Restigouche Conservation Groups to Gather in Campbellton

Steve Reid News

Fredericton – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is bringing groups and government representatives from Quebec and New Brunswick together on April 7^th in Campbellton to explore ways they can work together to conserve Restigouche forests and rivers.

At the CPAWS-organized workshop called Collaborating for Restigouche Conservation, groups and agencies that have a primary mandate to work on forest, river and fish and wildlife conservation in the Restigouche region will be discussing a potential plan of action.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director or the New Brunswick chapter of CPAWS, explains, “We hope that we will be able to work together and develop an action plan for promoting increased conservation designations on public land, and joint publicity to promote nature-based tourism opportunities in the region. We understand the important economic role of salmon angling and ecotourism – together they bring in over $11 million to the region, and support over 375 jobs each year. We now need to share this information far and wide, so economic developers and governments realize that protecting these natural values makes economic sense.”

“We believe that both provinces need to do a better job of conserving the natural areas that are the backbone of the regional tourism economy. Also, the international marketplace now demands environmentally responsible forest products, and we need to protect wildlife and habitats to prove sustainability to buyers of forest products,” adds Patrick Nadeau, Executive Director of the Quebec chapter of CPAWS.

CPAWS New Brunswick and CPAWS Quebec hope that the workshop will result in more coordinated conservation projects, and provide a stronger collective voice for increased conservation of the region’s public lands, waters and wildlife. “We want to promote conservation measures and a sustainable economic development plan to ensure that for generations to come, people will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the Restigouche, and its clean waters, wildlife and fresh air,” adds Clowater.