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Largest Protected Areas Increase in NB History is a Gift for Nature

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DECEMBER 13, 2022

TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF WABANAKI PEOPLES/FREDERICTON, NB – A coalition of four provincial environmental and conservation organizations — Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-New Brunswick Chapter, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Nature NB, and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick — issued the following joint statement in response to the government of New Brunswick’s Nature Legacy announcement today.

“We are encouraged that the provincial government has designated an additional 277,900 hectares of new protected areas to fulfill its commitment to protect 10 percent of lands and waters in the province.

Today’s announcement is the largest one-time increase in protected areas in New Brunswick’s history and represents a significant leap for nature conservation in the province.

The unique natural spaces and wildlife we love in New Brunswick are threatened by development, intensive industrial uses, and climate changes. The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss demand real action and solutions now. In New Brunswick, over 88 species are listed under the provincial Species at Risk Act.

When we conserve and connect intact and functioning ecosystems, we help protect the threatened, at-risk, and endangered plants, animals, and biodiversity of New Brunswick, and migratory wildlife such as beloved songbirds that rely on New Brunswick habitat for their survival.

The Nature Legacy initiative has been a long time in the making.

Since 2018, our organizations have partnered on campaigns to engage the New Brunswick government in Canada’s ambitious goal to conserve 17 percent of land and freshwater by 2020. The provincial government committed in 2019 to protect 10 percent of New Brunswick, as part of the nation-wide effort. In 2020 the federal goal grew to 30 percent by 2030.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the thousands of New Brunswickers who answered our call, stood up and demanded better protection of the wetlands, rivers, forests, coasts, and islands that we cherish. The new conserved lands include forests and wetlands that protect the headwaters of the Miramichi, Nashwaak and Big Salmon rivers, river corridors in the Restigouche, and peat bogs near Kouchibouguac National Park. Members of the public nominated many of these new protected areas. They will help protect habitat for at-risk species, such as Piping Plover, Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon, wood turtles and Monarch butterflies.

As world leaders currently gather in Montreal to find solutions for the growing crisis of nature loss at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (“NatureCOP”), today’s announcement is an example of taking concrete steps to address this crisis here at home.

There is still much work ahead if New Brunswick is to do our part to achieve the national and international target to protect 30% by 2030.

We must follow through on commitments to reconciliation through conservation. Wolastoqiyik, Mi’gmaq and Peskotomuhkati peoples have been the stewards and knowledge keepers of this place since time immemorial. Land and water protection can only be more successful with Indigenous-supported and Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

As we look to the future of conservation in the province, it is critical that we continue to hold our governments accountable for implementing the recent Climate Change Action Plan by:

  • setting a more ambitious provincial target for protected areas beyond 10% that aligns with federal targets and places New Brunswick as a leader across provinces
  • developing and implementing a new biodiversity strategy that will maintain biodiversity and aid in the recovery of threatened and at-risk species and their habitats
  • developing tools that help to understand forest and wetland contribution to climate action and increase their protection as important carbon stocks
  • co-developing with Indigenous Nations new ways to manage and steward protected areas in ways that support Indigenous values, connections, and communities.”

MORE QUOTES:

“These new protected areas are a gift for nature, and a gift to all the people in New Brunswick who are connected to nature. This is the biggest step NB has ever taken to live up to our responsibilities as a part of nature, and to bring us into a better balance with the nature we depend upon for our health and the resilience of our communities. There is more to do, and it needs to be done in a way that empowers Indigenous-led conservation,” says Roberta Clowater, Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter.

“We celebrate today’s commitment to protect old forests and headwaters fundamental to the health and well-being of plants and animals. We are at the beginning of a journey that brings more balance between nature protection and human activity; a journey essential to protecting biodiversity and holding carbon for climate protection,” says Louise Comeau, Director of Climate Solutions, Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

“Today’s announcement is a significant step toward the protection of the wetlands, rivers, forests, coasts, and islands we all love. We are thrilled to see new protected areas being established next to existing nature preserves, expanding important wildlife refuges, and creating safe passageways for moose, bald eagles, wood turtles, warblers, and Canada lynx. Setting aside these special and sensitive ecosystems is a critical lifeline for species threatened and at risk in the face of climate change and habitat loss.”  – Stephanie Merrill, Chief Executive Officer, Nature Trust of New Brunswick

“New Brunswickers have time and time again, expressed their deep connection with nature and their desire to protect our natural heritage for future generations. Today’s announcement is a reflection of this Nature Legacy and an important step as we work together to halt nature loss and support the recovery of species at-risk like the iconic Piping Plover and Monarch butterfly. There is still more work to do to move us forward and we look forward to supporting the province’s commitment to go beyond 10%” – Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Executive Director, Nature NB.

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Contacts:

Roberta Clowater, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter: rclowater@cpaws.org; (506) 452-9902

Louise Comeau, Conservation Council of New Brunswick: louise.comeau@conservationcouncil.ca

Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Nature NB: executive.director@naturenb.ca; (506) 459-4209

Stephanie Merrill, Nature Trust of New Brunswick: Stephanie.merrill@ntnb.org

 

Dec.13, 2022 – The provincial government of New Brunswick announced the protection of over 277,000 hectares of provincial land, the biggest increase in conservation ever for our province.  CPAWS NB’s executive director, Roberta Clowater, is interviewed by Vanessa Vander Valk, host of Shift on CBC Radio NB.

 

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La plus grande augmentation des aires protégées de l’histoire du Nouveau-Brunswick est un cadeau pour la nature

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13 DÉCEMBRE 2022

TERRITOIRE TRADITIONNEL DES PEUPLES WABANAKI/FREDERICTON, NB – Une coalition de quatre organisations provinciales de l’environnement et de la conservation – la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada-section Nouveau-Brunswick, le Conseil de conservation du Nouveau-Brunswick, Nature NB et la Fondation pour la protection des sites naturels du Nouveau-Brunswick – a émis la déclaration conjointe suivante en réponse à l’annonce faite aujourd’hui par le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick dans le cadre de l’initiative Patrimoine naturel.

«Nous sommes encouragés de voir le gouvernement provincial désigner 277 900 hectares supplémentaires de nouvelles aires protégées afin de réaliser son engagement de protéger 10 pourcent des terres et des eaux de la province.

L’annonce d’aujourd’hui est la plus grande augmentation unique d’aires protégées de l’histoire du Nouveau-Brunswick et représente un grand pas pour la conservation de la nature dans la province.

Les espaces naturels et la faune uniques que nous aimons au Nouveau-Brunswick sont menacés par le développement, les utilisations industrielles intensives et les changements climatiques. Au Nouveau-Brunswick, plus de 88 espèces sont inscrites sur la liste de la Loi sur les espèces en péril de la province. La double crise des changements climatiques et de la perte de biodiversité exige des mesures et des solutions concrètes dès maintenant. Lorsque nous conservons et connectons des écosystèmes intacts et fonctionnels, nous aidons à protéger les plantes et les animaux rares, en voie de disparition et en danger qui dépendent des habitats du Nouveau-Brunswick pour leur survie.

L’initiative Patrimoine naturel se prépare depuis longtemps.

Depuis 2018, nos organisations se sont associées dans le cadre de campagnes visant à engager le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick dans l’objectif ambitieux du Canada de conserver 17 pourcent des terres et de l’eau douce d’ici 2020. Le gouvernement provincial s’est engagé en 2019 à protéger 10 pourcent du Nouveau-Brunswick dans le cadre de l’effort national. Depuis, le gouvernement fédéral s’est fixé un objectif encore plus important de protection de 30 pourcent d’ici 2030.

Nous sommes profondément reconnaissants envers les milliers de Néo-Brunswickois qui ont répondu à notre appel en se levant et en exigeant une meilleure protection des terres humides, des rivières, des forêts, des côtes et des îles qui nous sont chères. Des bassins hydrographiques des rivières Miramichi et Nashwaak aux forêts anciennes et aux corridors fluviaux dans les eaux d’amont de la Restigouche, plusieurs de ces nouvelles aires protégées ont été désignées par le public et peuvent continuer à fournir un habitat aux espèces en péril, comme le pluvier siffleur, le saumon atlantique de l’intérieur de la baie de Fundy, la tortue des bois et le papillon monarque.

Alors que les dirigeants du monde entier se réunissent actuellement à Montréal pour trouver des solutions à la crise croissante de la perte de la nature lors de la 15e Conférence des parties à la Convention sur la diversité biologique des Nations Unies (« NatureCOP »), l’annonce d’aujourd’hui est un exemple de mesures concrètes prises à prendre pour résoudre cette crise ici, chez nous.

Il reste encore beaucoup de travail à faire si le Nouveau-Brunswick veut faire sa part pour atteindre l’objectif national et international de protection de 30 pourcent d’ici 2030.

En particulier, nous devons poursuivre nos engagements en matière de réconciliation par la conservation. Les peuples Wolastoqiyik, Mi’gmaq et Peskotomuhkati sont les intendants et les gardiens du savoir de ces territoires depuis des temps immémoriaux. La protection des terres et des eaux ne peut connaître plus de succès qu’avec des initiatives de conservation soutenues et dirigées par les autochtones.

Alors que nous envisageons l’avenir de la conservation dans la province, il est essentiel que nous continuions à tenir nos gouvernements responsables de la mise en œuvre du récent Plan d’action sur les changements climatiques en:

fixant une cible provinciale plus ambitieuse pour les aires protégées au-delà de 10 pourcent, qui s’aligne sur les cibles fédérales et place le Nouveau-Brunswick comme chef de file parmi les provinces;

élaborant et en mettant en œuvre une nouvelle stratégie en matière de biodiversité qui permettra de maintenir la biodiversité et de contribuer au rétablissement des espèces menacées et en péril ainsi que leurs habitats;

élaborant des outils qui aident à comprendre la contribution des forêts et des terres humides aux mesures climatiques et à accroître leur protection en tant que réserves de carbone importantes;

codéveloppant avec les Nations Autochtones de nouvelles méthodes de gestion et d’intendance des zones protégées de manière à soutenir les valeurs et  les communautés Autochtones.

CITATIONS:

« Ces nouvelles aires protégées sont un cadeau pour la nature et un cadeau pour tous les gens du Nouveau-Brunswick qui sont liés à la nature. Il s’agit de la plus grande mesure jamais prise par le Nouveau-Brunswick pour assumer nos responsabilités en tant que partie de la nature, et pour nous amener à un meilleur équilibre avec la nature dont nous dépendons pour notre santé et la résilience de nos communautés. Il y a encore beaucoup à faire, et il faut le faire d’une manière qui favorise la conservation dirigée par les Autochtones » – Roberta Clowater, Directrice exécutive de la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada – Section N.-B.

« Nous célébrons l’engagement pris aujourd’hui de protéger les vieilles forêts et les eaux d’amont fondamentales pour la santé et le bien-être des plantes et des animaux. Nous sommes au début du parcours qui apporte plus d’équilibre entre la protection de la nature et l’activité humaine ; un parcours essentiel pour protéger la biodiversité et retenir le carbone pour la protection du climat » –  Louise Comeau, Directrice des solutions climatiques du Conseil de conservation du Nouveau-Brunswick.

« L’annonce d’aujourd’hui est un pas important vers la protection des terres humides, des rivières, des forêts, des côtes et des îles que nous aimons tous. Nous sommes ravis de voir que de nouvelles aires protégées sont établies à côté des réserves naturelles existantes, élargissant ainsi d’importants refuges fauniques et créant des voies de passage sûres pour les orignaux, les pygargues à tête blanche, les tortues des bois, les fauvettes et le lynx du Canada. La protection de ces écosystèmes spéciaux et sensibles est une bouée de sauvetage essentielle pour les espèces menacées et en danger face aux changements climatiques et à la perte d’habitat. » – Stephanie Merrill, Directrice générale de la Fondation pour la protection des sites naturels du Nouveau-Brunswick

« Les Néo-Brunswickois ont à maintes reprises exprimé leur lien profond avec la nature et leur désir de protéger notre héritage naturel pour les générations futures. L’annonce d’aujourd’hui est un reflet de ce Patrimoine naturel et une étape importante alors que nous travaillons ensemble pour mettre fin à la perte de la nature et soutenir le rétablissement des espèces en péril comme le pluvier siffleur et le papillon monarque.  Il reste encore du travail à faire pour progresser et nous sommes impatients de soutenir l’engagement de la province à dépasser les 10 % » – Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Directrice générale de Nature NB

Contacts:

Roberta Clowater, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter: rclowater@cpaws.org; (506) 452-9902

Louise Comeau, Conservation Council of New Brunswick: louise.comeau@conservationcouncil.ca

Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Nature NB: executive.director@naturenb.ca; (506) 459-4209

Stephanie Merrill, Nature Trust of New Brunswick: Stephanie.merrill@ntnb.org

Irishwoods

Nature COP in Montreal – What it Means for New Brunswick

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By Roberta Clowater

This December is an exciting time for nature action. All eyes are on Montreal for Nature COP – the 15th Conference of the Parties who have signed the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Government leaders from around the world are gathering to decide on a new plan to protect nature. At this pivotal moment, here is why this big meeting matters to decision-makers in New Brunswick.

All people living in New Brunswick depend on nature to support our cultures, health, and economy. Intact nature protects our communities from floods, storm surges and soil erosion. Wild nature secures homes for pollinating bees and healthy schools of fish.

Healthy nature is about balance and connections. We need protected areas so nature has places where it can just be NATURE.

Every year, expert reports come out with evidence that nature is declining rapidly – more endangered wildlife, fewer intact forests, smaller wetlands that can’t hold back the rising waters. Most of the problem is caused by loss of habitat from development, pollution, overexploitation and climate changes.

For those who are paying attention, these results point a huge blinking arrow to a big problem. We are out of balance with nature.

To help bring balance, Canada and hundreds of countries are rallying to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030. This number and deadline give governments a sense of urgency. A target makes nature a priority for action and motivates us to achieve what we said we would do.

Canada is not even half-way there. We all have work to do to get this done.

Most decisions about how and where to protect nature happen in the provinces. Right now, about 6% of New Brunswick is strongly protected for nature. The New Brunswick government needs to scale up action to address Canada’s nature emergency.

In July, NB Minister of Natural Resources Mike Holland announced 84 new Nature Legacy protected areas. These new areas are a big step in the right direction for nature conservation in New Brunswick. Government plans to get 10% of the province protected by 2023. We need to encourage our government to do more of this!

CPAWS New Brunswick has an action roadmap for how to do this together.

These are 5 actions the provincial government needs to take as they go into Nature COP meetings:

  1. Secure all of the 10% protected areas legally
  2. Develop a plan to protect additional areas to go beyond 10%, including areas proposed by Indigenous peoples, citizens, and organizations through the Nature Legacy project
  3. With Indigenous Nations, create new ways to co-manage and jointly steward protected areas, and identify Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas that support Indigenous values and connections
  4. Engage communities to help steward and manage protected areas, and create jobs in a conservation economy, and,
  5. Adopt more ecologically-friendly industrial practices across the province, to ensure habitats between protected areas are well-connected.

For New Brunswick to do our part for nature, we need to make sure it’s not simply a numbers game. Nature and wildlife need strong long-term protection, secured in law. We can’t just claim we are protecting habitats and say the job is done.

We need to have refuges where American marten, barred owl and endangered Canada warblers, North Atlantic right whales and wild Atlantic salmon can thrive. We need to conserve the bogs that store carbon and absorb floodwaters, and the old forests that shade cold-water streams for fish. We need large areas of land and ocean to provide room for wildlife to roam for food, shelter and mates. We need to steward and keep an eye on these protected habitats to make sure they help nature recover.

New Brunswickers have told us they want nature to be protected, and they want to take part in this journey. Recent public opinion polls tell us that 80% of New Brunswickers want to protect at least one quarter of the province for nature and wildlife. To ensure nature and people thrive in the future, we need to protect much more land and ocean.

We know we are the generation that must halt and reverse the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss – and we can do it. We can’t afford to wait any longer to make change.

We all need to pull together to act on our shared responsibilities to nature. We need governments in New Brunswick to commit to even more ambitious goals beyond protecting 10% of our province.

As a society, we need to grab on to opportunities to understand and tap into all the ways of knowing about our connections to land and water. We need to embrace and empower Indigenous-led conservation and knowledge. We need to strengthen the connections people feel with wild nature, so we truly value our part in it.

All our voices matter. Let’s make the Nature COP in Montreal the turning point for action on nature. It’s time all our government leaders listen to New Brunswickers and take bold action to make sure we are living in a better balance with nature.

 

CPAWS NB staff holding signs-Steve Reid

Nature COP

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Nature COP: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

 

 

By: Anika Smithson

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is approaching, and people are getting ready to spend time with family and friends. However, many governments and environmental groups are preparing for a different type of gathering – one with nature as the main focus.

This December, governments, Indigenous Nations, and organizations from all over the world will be attending the UN Conference on Biological Diversity, in Montreal, to discuss the importance of protecting nature for the future of the planet. This is more commonly known as COP-15 or Nature COP.

What is COP-15 or Nature COP? 

COP means Conference of the Parties, and it’s a conference that brings together signatory countries (parties) of a convention. In this case it is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD was adopted in 1992 at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Main goals of the CBD include:

  • The conservation of biodiversity
  • Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity
  • Equitable sharing of information related to biodiversity

This is the 15th meeting that will discuss all things related to the CBD, hence the name Nature COP or COP-15.

To advance the goals of the CBD, biodiversity targets were created to guide the world’s actions from 2011-2020. Now, two years into a new decade, a Global Biodiversity Framework will be created to serve as a guide until 2030. This framework will outline new targets for nature protection, pollution reduction and sustainable management of natural resources, as well as recognize nature as a key player in solutions to climate change. It will also contain actions that will help achieve the new targets, such as suggestions on policies for industry and financial commitments required to achieve the targets.

Nature COP will be a place for Canada to announce its targets in relation to fulfilling its promise to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

Why is it important? 

Nature is the planet’s life support system – it produces the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. We are a part of nature and can influence it in both positive and negative ways. We are currently in a dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss and protecting nature is one of the best solutions to help both. By committing to a global biodiversity framework, we can step up efforts to ensure nature is protected. This can only happen if the commitments agreed upon are turned into meaningful and effective action. 

Canada must do its part to help protect the earth, our home. However, the targets Canada sets can only be achieved with the help of the provinces and territories, as they have the primary responsibility for public land and water protection.

What does this mean for New Brunswick?

 New Brunswick will have a significant role to play, as what happens here affects the world and what happens to the world affects New Brunswick. The province is home to stunning forests, rivers, lakes, coastline and ocean. This abundance of nature is worth protecting. Not only does it provide food and habitat for wildlife, it has cultural and spiritual significance,  helps to keep us healthy physically and mentally,  provides us with recreation opportunities, allows us to connect to the land, each other and ourselves and provides a livelihood to communities. We must ensure we are taking care of nature, just as nature takes care of us.

Photo by Nick Hawkins

Some of the best ways we can work towards safeguarding nature include:

  • recognizing Indigenous Leadership in conservation
  • creating protected areas on land and in the ocean
  • stewarding lands and waters in an ecologically responsible manner

CPAWS NB is looking to the province of New Brunswick to set a positive example when it comes to nature conservation by fulfilling their promise of 10% protection of public lands and waters, building relationships with Indigenous Nations, and setting ambitious targets for future land/water protection and ecologically responsible management of forests and other natural resources.

The hard work never stops. It will take collective action from individuals, organizations and governments doing the work on the ground to achieve a place where we live in harmony with nature.

What can You do?

CPAWS NB staff, photo by Steve Reid

SEND A LETTER telling the New Brunswick Government you support fulfilling their promise of 10% public land protection in the province and relationship building with Indigenous Nations.

Review our ACTION TOOLKIT to learn about actions you can take to #SpeakUpForNature and ensure New Brunswick plays its part in nature conservation.

Follow CPAWS NB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on what’s happening with Nature COP and New Brunswick.

Follow the hashtag #COP15 to stay updated on what’s happening in relation to the conference.

Banner photo by Emily Ruttan

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Connecting Nature across the Chignecto Isthmus

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By: Sandra Bender

I am 23 kilometers long with two coastlines. In addition to being a very important transportation link, I am recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally as a vital wildlife corridor. Indeed, I provide the only route for terrestrial wildlife to move in and out of Nova Scotia. Who am I?

Chignecto Isthmus, Photo by Mike Dembeck

Let me give you some additional details about myself. I am a narrow strip of land that joins Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the rest of the continent. I have two distinct coasts – to the northeast is the Northumberland Strait and on southwest is the Bay of Fundy. I host the towns of Amherst, NS and Sackville, NB, the Trans-Canada Highway and an inter-provincial railway crossing.  I am the Chignecto Isthmus, and ecosystem connectivity is vital to my health and prosperity.

Ecosystem connectivity refers to the ability of plants or animals to move through a landscape. Connected ecosystems maintain suitable habitats and allow my flora and fauna to move about as they need to survive and thrive.  Greater connectivity across my ecosystem means fewer barriers to the small movements or grand migration of species. When people plan for connectivity in my ecosystem, regional biodiversity is protected as neighbouring ecosystems are linked. Without connected ecosystems, Nova Scotia could become an ecological island, isolated from New Brunswick and mainland North America. This could reduce the opportunity for migration and dispersal of terrestrial wildlife between the provinces.

Lynx, Photo by Mike Dembeck

I am home to many species including black bear, moose, fisher, lynx, coyote, red fox, osprey, bald eagle, eastern white cedar, black ash, skunk cabbage and a number of rare or uncommon species, including 56 species of birds and 101 species of plants. Many of the wildlife living here need to move about to forage, nest, and reproduce.

When ecosystems are connected, sometimes through natural or human-made movement corridors, links between habitats allow these and other species to access the resources they need to survive. This is especially important for species that are heavily impacted by habitat fragmentation, when human activities such as residential development, road construction, agriculture, and intensive forestry separate habitats. Sadly, all of these activities take place at a significant rate on the Isthmus, resulting in an increasingly fragmented ecosystem.

Moose, Photo by Mike Dembeck

As New Brunswick and Nova Scotia develop infrastructure, the impacts of climate change will be felt across the Isthmus if connectivity isn’t protected. Restricting movement and decreasing ecological connectivity could pose risks for wildlife, and will likely limit the ability of plants and animals to adapt to climate change.

CPAWS NB and CPAWS NS want to see me as healthy as possible by establishing and improving my connectivity. They have worked with each other, as well as local residents and researchers, to identify opportunities for greater connectivity across my area. This is collaboration for connectivity. If you ask me, I don’t think one can happen without the other.

Thankfully, my humans get it.  What encourages me most is the wide range of people involved in the efforts to keep my many species and habitats thriving. Land trust organizations active on the Isthmus including our friends at Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NB Community Land Trust have worked with landowners and governments to protect me. 

Acadian forest, Chignecto Isthmus, Photo by Mike Dembeck

Local residents, hunters, trappers, landowners, and conservationists helped to identify and provide feedback on areas that are important to wildlife movement. They also provided valuable information on changes and risks to this movement. For example, community members have suggested that connectivity conservation efforts should focus along the northern portion of Highway 16 in New Brunswick to create a wildlife “movement funnel” across the Isthmus. This area represents some of the largest patches of habitat in the NB-NS border area and is critical to any projected connectivity route. So many people working together in my best interest is heartening!

Without greater protection it will be much harder for species to withstand the pressures of habitat destruction and fragmentation, increased competition for limited resources, and other stressors. All of these factors create isolated “islands” that affect wildlife’s ability to survive. Protecting wilderness within connected ecosystems is critical. This is why CPAWS NB is calling for more protected areas in New Brunswick, and more protected areas that are ecologically effective and strategically placed to allow for ecosystem connectivity that supports our local wildlife.

We know that nature and wildlife are important to New Brunswickers. Add your voice to our e-letter campaign and tell your MLA that protecting nature in New Brunswick is important to you! 

References

MacDonald, A. & Clowater, R. (2007). Natural Ecosystem Connectivity Across the Chignecto Isthmus – Challenges and Opportunities. A collaborative project of CPAWS New Brunswick and CPAWS Nova Scotia. Retrieved November 5, 2018: https://www.cpawsnb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ChignectoFinalVersionJune06v2.pdf

Nature Conservancy Canada. (2018). Moose Sex Project (Chignecto Isthmus).

Retrieved November 5, 2018: http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/nova-scotia/featured-projects/Chignecto-Isthmus.html

Conservation Corridor. (2018). Corridors in Conservation. Retrieved November 5, 2018: http://conservationcorridor.org/corridors-in-conservation/

Header photo by Julie Reimer

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NB Forest Strategy a Welcome Step for Conservation – Looking Forward to Action on Protected Areas

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The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) welcomes the release of the updated Forest Strategy from the New Brunswick Department of Energy and Resource Development. While there are still gaps in this plan, we are looking forward to concrete action on protected areas. CPAWS NB is encouraged that the strategy will re-instate conservation policies (over five years) for some old forests and wildlife habitats that lost those protections in 2014. The strategy recognizes the importance of the long-term conservation of biodiversity, and the need to involve and respect the knowledge and rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS’s New Brunswick Chapter, says, “This Forest Strategy is a positive indicator of movement in the right direction for conservation. We are pleased that government has listened to those ecologists, wildlife groups, Indigenous Peoples and environmental organizations who made the case for increased conservation. We are cautiously optimistic that this shows stronger intention for habitat conservation, and protecting water quality and the forests’ role in flood prevention. However, we should note that it slowly returns habitat conservation to 2012 levels and is not an advance in on-the-ground conservation by itself. CPAWS encourages the government to go even further with their plans regarding climate change and forests, making sure that the resilience of the forests is paramount in all forest management decisions.”

Governments have been eroding protection of forest habitats. In 2012, the provincial government reduced the level of conservation forest from 31% of Crown forests to 28%. In 2014, against the advice of wildlife ecologists, that number was reduced even further to 23%. As a result, many of the provinces old growth forests have been lost to five years of forest cutting and road-building. Wildlife that need old forests, such as flying squirrels, American marten and pileated woodpeckers, have been put at risk.

“To protect the nature in our forests, more of the so-called “conservation forest” needs to be in protected areas. This Forest Strategy does not tell us what level of protection the habitats will be given. A modern Forest Strategy needs to have a serious insurance policy of significant areas where nature is permanently protected from industrial development,” says Roberta Clowater. “This would also help New Brunswick address the commitment Canada has made to protect 17% of its landscape by 2020.”

To date New Brunswick has protected only 4.6% of the province and needs to add more.

The Forest Strategy includes plans to increase transparency about the state of New Brunswick’s forests. While this is a positive move, it means the public will find out after the fact about the impacts of forest harvesting on habitats, water or other values. CPAWS New Brunswick believes the Strategy needs to actively promote cooperation among governments, Indigenous Peoples, industry, NGOs, researchers and the tourism sector. Together, with public input, we can develop forest management plans that manage risks, protect a wide range of forest values, and have consistent ways for the public to be involved.

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For interviews, contact: Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org ; phone: 506-452-9902

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB, interviewed on CBC Radio program “Shift”, Aug. 14, 2018

Protecting the Restigouche

Protecting the Restigouche

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Protecting the Restigouche

A Canadian Heritage River, the Restigouche River system is one of Eastern Canada’s most spectacular wild watersheds. Its 1 million hectares of valleys, hills, and streams flow across northwestern New Brunswick and Quebec’s Gaspé.

The international Two Countries, One Forest network recognizes the Restigouche as one of 5 critical ecological linkages in the northern New England / southern Quebec / Maritimes region. Yet, government has protected from development less than 3 percent of the watershed in New Brunswick, leaving most areas open for mining, logging or new development proposals. Forest management plans show that most of the wildest areas of forest on Crown land will be logged within 5 to 10 years. This will remove habitat around salmon streams and for wildlife that need old forests.
The Restigouche is important for wildlife

Moose, black bears, American marten, fisher, bald eagles, barred owls, scarlet tanagers and numerous interior forest birds thrive amidst forest-covered hills, deep gorges and some of the most pristine rivers and streams in Eastern Canada.

Atlantic salmon – The Restigouche River and its tributaries support one of the most productive wild Atlantic salmon populations, with some of the largest salmon, in eastern Canada.

Canada lynx – Restigouche natural areas are home to critical populations of Canada lynx. The area provides a natural corridor for lynx to disperse for feeding and breeding between the Gaspé and northern Maine.

New Brunswick’s Acadian Forests

New Brunswick’s Acadian Forests

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Help protect New Brunswick’s forests!

New Brunswick currently protects less than 4 percent of our forests from development and industrial activity. That is way below the bare minimum needed to conserve our wildlife and wilderness values for the future. New Brunswick is second to last of all provinces in Canada in the proportion of land we’ve protected. It’s nowhere near enough!

New Brunswick’s Acadian Forests dominate our landscape. Their long-lived, towering trees keep our rivers cool and filter their waters. They provide homes for iconic Canadian species, including Canada lynx, American marten, flying squirrels, moose, deer, and once even caribou. Warblers, barred owls, hazelnuts, and fiddleheads have thrived in the midst of these giants.
New Brunswick currently protects less than 4 percent of our forests from development and industrial activity. That is way below the bare minimum needed to conserve our wildlife and wilderness values for the future. New Brunswick is second to last of all provinces in Canada in the proportion of land we’ve protected. It’s nowhere near enough!
CPAWS had recommended that at least 17 percent of New Brunswick’s Crown land, including the largest patches of old forest, be designated by 2015 as permanently protected areas. We also asked the province to immediately take action to keep all of the Crown land they were conserving as old forests, wildlife habitat and riverbank buffers.
In 2014, the New Brunswick government released its 10-year plan for Crown lands, and chose not to accept our recommendations.
What's wrong with the current forestry strategy for Crown lands

The provincial government created new Protected Natural Areas in 2014. This brought New Brunswick’s proportion of protected land up to 4.7 percent of the province. The national average is 10 percent.

At the same time, government removed conservation from more than one-quarter of our public land they used to manage to conserve fish, wildlife habitat and our rivers. The forestry industry has access to these previously conserved habitats for increased logging and clear-cutting. Researchers are very concerned that it will be difficult to conserve viable populations of all our wildlife under this plan.

The strategy puts at risk our cold-water rivers and their wild Atlantic salmon populations. Old forests in the headwaters of the Restigouche and Miramichi Rivers used to provide shady habitat, but now are open for increased clear-cutting.

At the same time, government will allow industry to double the amount of tree plantations, to occupy one-quarter of Crown forests. Tree plantations are NOT the same as old growth mixed forests, and take away habitat vital for the survival of native wildlife such as barred owls, flying squirrels and American marten.

For our forests to be resilient to climate change, we need to conserve diversity and natural forests. The current strategy is reducing natural diversity in forests and along waterways. This increases the risk new or increased pests and diseases, droughts, floods and fires will degrade our forests.

P7140156

Commentary: New Brunswick needs to protect more natural areas

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[The following commentary appeared in The Daily Gleaner on April 5, 2017.]

For the first time since 1992, Canadian governments are working together to expand our network of protected areas to conserve nature. The federal government and all provinces and territories recently agreed to work on a plan to meet international targets for protected areas.

In 2010, Canada committed to protecting at least 17 per cent of land and 10 per cent of our ocean by 2020, under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

New Brunswick needs to contribute to this plan and report on actions. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NB Chapter (CPAWS NB) is eager to support our government to put nature conservation at the forefront of our nation building.

CPAWS NB has a three-point plan for how the provincial government can do this. First, New Brunswick should commit to a new action plan to have at least 10 per cent of the province in legally protected natural areas and nature-oriented parks.

This would bring us up to the national average, and be more comparable to the action plans of all the other provinces.

We need a road map showing how New Brunswick will contribute to the nation-wide targets. We should focus not only on quantity, but also on the quality of protection. Our province’s researchers already have the information to identify the right areas for protection of nature, and the right ways to protect them.

Second, the New Brunswick government should work with the federal government to create protected areas around key coastal habitats. This could include some mud flat habitats that are vital stopovers for hungry migrating shorebirds. It could include ocean waters that surround protected island nature reserves, or inter-tidal zones next to coastal parks, like Fundy National Park.

Third, the province could step up the protection of remaining old forest habitats on Crown land.

They could give protected natural area status to ecologically rich wetlands, lakes and river headwaters. Most of the old forest habitats on Crown land remain open to all kinds of industrial development. This puts at risk these forests’ ability to be resilient to climate change impacts, and to continue providing us with flood protection or habitat for pollinators.

We have an opportunity to protect a special ecotourism gem in the Restigouche region. It’s already known for its salmon angling and canoeing. However, industrial development is eating away at these wild forests and rivers year by year. We could create a world-class wilderness tourism destination – the Restigouche Wilderness Waterway – a wide protected corridor along the river, on Crown land. It would help protect the million-dollar salmon angling economy. If we conserve this area’s special nature, promising ecotourism businesses could reliably promote a quality wilderness destination around the world.

CPAWS NB, our volunteers, partners and supporters stand ready to help our province achieve this goal. On Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, there could be no better gift than well-protected nature – the iconic symbol of our cultures. As the climate changes, protecting natural areas is even more important, because the habitat we save might be our own.

ROBERTA CLOWATER is executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – New Brunswick Chapter, in Fredericton.

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