Terrestrial Campaigns

May 25 2023

CPAWS NL welcomes announcement to start consultations for protected areas, as new local polling reveals residents of Newfoundland and Labrador show support for more protected areas!

Caitlyn Simmons Campaigns, News, Terrestrial Campaigns

CPAWS NL welcomes announcement to start consultations for protected areas, as new local polling reveals residents of Newfoundland and Labrador show support for more protected areas!

May 25, 2023 St. John’s, NL – We are delighted to hear the recent announcement from the provincial government, that 10 proposed protected areas will proceed to public consultation.

The proposed Protected Areas plan, A Home for Nature, was finally released during Spring 2020 for public consultation. The plan, which was initially devised several decades ago, is based on science and guidance for over 25 years. “The priority sites identified by WERAC in this recent announcement represent some unspoiled areas or low impacted sites, critical habitat for various species of plants and wildlife, unique features and as well as representation of various eco-regions that may be unique”, stated Tanya Edwards, Executive Director, CPAWS NL. “We have been waiting for an announcement such as this for such a long time and we applaud the provincial government as they take this step forward to help protect biodiversity loss and maintaining these valuable natural areas and unique species.”

A recent poll commissioned by CPAWS Newfoundland and Labrador, in Spring of 2023, within the province, further supports today’s announcement by highlighting what we already know: The majority of Newfoundland and Labrador residents feel the current amount of land in the province being protected is “not enough”.

The poll conducted shows that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians support parks and protected areas with 85% agreeing that these areas contribute to the economy and tourism, and 76% agreeing that a planned system of parks and reserves is the best way to conserve natural areas.

Parks and protected areas are important to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 80% of respondents indicated parks and recreation are important to their quality of life. While almost 90% feel it is important that areas are set aside for the protection of wildlife and their habitat.

“It’s not surprising that residents love the great outdoors and want to keep it as pristine as possible for its health and recreational activities”, states Suzanne Dooley, Conservation Director CPAWS NL, “ We are encouraged that the province and the members of WERAC will be seeking feedback from the public, indigenous groups and organizations, municipalities and stakeholders to determine support and what the protected areas will look like.”

The results of this poll are timely to this recent announcement in Newfoundland and Labrador and further demonstrate that the provincial government and the public are both aware of the same reality. With the climate and biodiversity crisis the planet is currently facing we have to be ambitious in our actions.

CPAWS NL has been long term advocate for new protected areas and we hope that the province will fulfill their commitment to advance these sites plus others in a timely manner with feedback from the public.

POLL HIGHLIGHTS

A majority (55%) of Newfoundland and Labrador residents feel the current amount of land in the province being protected is ‘not enough’. Four percent consider the current amount of land being protected is ‘too much’.
Almost 7 in 10 respondents support Newfoundland and Labrador committing to a target of 30% of its land being set aside for conservation purposes by 2030.
Across the province, residents feel strongly that when choices must be made between the environment and commercial or recreational use, protection of the environment must come first. There is recognition that a resource-based economy must protect the resources for sustained economic growth. 80% of the province agree that determining land uses must be based upon maintaining the quality of the environment for future generations.
There is a great deal of concern for the economic future of the province among respondents, with 89% being at least somewhat concerned, and almost half (46%) being extremely concerned. Closely related to the economic future is concern for the health of marine areas (83%), and the economic future of the marine industry (83%).
A minority of provincial residents (21%) feel the economy should come before protection of wildlife habitat, a view that is rejected by 60% of respondents.
Nine in 10 respondents (89%) agree that protection of wilderness and marine areas is needed. 82% feel action must be taken to prevent loss of biodiversity in marine areas in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Most respondents indicated they are somewhat aware of the biodiversity crisis. Younger respondents are most aware of the biodiversity crisis.
Eighty-four percent of respondents do not know what Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas are.
Parks and protected areas are important to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 80% of respondents indicated parks and recreation is important to their quality of life. Almost 90% feel it is important that areas are set aside for the protection of wildlife and their habitat.
There is strong support for parks and protected areas, with 85% agreeing that these areas contribute to the economy and tourism, and 76% agreeing that a planned system of parks and reserves is the best way to conserve natural areas.

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READ THE FULL REPORT

For More Information

Suzanne Dooley, Conservation Director, CPAWS NL

sdooley@cpaws.org

Tanya Edwards, Executve Director, CPAWS NL

tedwards@cpaws.org

Phone: (709) 726-5800

April 1 2020

Protected Areas Plan

cpawsadmin Forest Campaigns, Terrestrial Campaigns

Protected Areas Plan A Home For Nature

On May 28, 2020, the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) (an independent group of appointed volunteers, over the last 25 years, from across the province who have a wide variety of backgrounds but share an interest in conservation and an awareness of the importance of protected areas) was finally granted the opportunity to publicly release the long-awaited proposed Protected Areas Plan for the Island of Newfoundland, entitled A Home for Nature. The proposed plan for the Island of Newfoundland, which was devised and edited over the past several decades within the various governmental departments, is a blueprint for developing a system of protected areas for the Island.

The boundaries proposed in this plan are not final. The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) will engage the public in two ways. During the first phase, the public had until October 1, 2020 to submit feedback on the plan to WERAC, who used this feedback to provide recommendations to the government, and create the What We Heard Report. Once the overall plan is approved, consultations on each proposed site will proceed to ensure stakeholders and the government have the chance to review the proposed boundaries and determine what activities should be acceptable in each site, such as existing traditional uses.

Importance of Protected Areas

Protected areas are one of the core ways to help us conserve nature – all our species and their habitats. As we develop much of the landscape in our province for resource-based industries, we also need to create areas where the focus is on nature conservation. Creating this balance is fundamental to sustainable living in our province, not only for nature but for our own physical and mental health and well-being. They are areas dedicated to conserving nature and wildlife for current and future generations. They are places to experience and enjoy and learn about our natural and cultural heritage.

The areas put forth in the proposed plan will protect examples of some of the Island’s natural regions that do not have any type of protection or have only partial protection (i.e. some natural features are missing). There are also hotspots of biodiversity such as important breeding bird areas and rare plant sites that should receive protection. These areas have a lower level of impact from human activities. In some natural regions, there simply aren’t any areas without previous human disturbance (i.e. roads, trails, hydroelectric developments, and forestry or mining activities), so the areas selected have either grown back to some degree or are the most intact option remaining that still has representative characteristics. In some natural regions, more than one reserve is proposed so that all the typical features of a natural region are included in at least one of the reserves. If there were several options for a proposed reserve, the sites that had the least impact on potential resource development were selected.

For more information check out the WERAC Questions & Answers guide and the story map about the proposed plan.

Background

In 2019, the federal government committed to protecting 25% of our land and water by 2025, and 30% by 2030. These are lofty goals and a small window of delivery given the rate at which conservation has historically progressed in Canada.

Currently, less than 7% of Newfoundland and Labrador carries any measure of protection. In fact, we’re considered one of the lowest across the country. Newfoundland remains the only province that does not even have a sustainable plan!

Since the early 90’s the provincial government has publicly committed to devising a subsequent network of protected areas but had yet to deliver. Based on science, the candidate protected areas represent some of the best remaining natural areas in the province, including incredibly significant coastal seabird colonies, species-at-risk habitat, and important wetland habitat.

Under the Current Liberal Government:

2015: the newly elected Liberal government committed to “ finalize and publicly release a Natural Areas System Plan in collaboration with your colleagues” in the responsible Ministers Mandate letter.

2017: in May a Private Members Bill was put forth in the House of Assembly to “Support the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador designating more protected areas in our province.” A motion that was approved and documented by all parties.
2019: the new Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Mandate Letter cited “Working in collaboration with your colleagues, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment and the Minister of Natural Resources, to continue work on a Natural Areas System Plan.”

In February 2020, after much debate, public pressure, and the resignation of 2 prominent members of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC), the Minister responsible for Fisheries and Land Resources, publicly announced he will be giving WERAC an opportunity to release the latest version of the proposed Protected Areas Plan, after which was initially only 30 days to gauge public feedback, which has now been extended to 5 months, and then go to Cabinet.

Based on this, if there’s support for WERAC’s plan, the Minster could initiate a direct legislated enactment of the plan. In its first phase, the plan sought support and input so that WERAC can provide recommendations to the provincial government on what and how these new proposed protected areas could look like for the island while allowing ongoing traditional activities that are currently in place to continue. This is just the first phase of public dialogue and each site moving forward will have individual consultations in collaboration with stakeholders on the design.

Now more than 25 years later, the long-awaited proposed Protected Areas Plan, entitled A Home for Nature, has been released (May 2020).

Volunteer_Aaron_OBrien_The_Tolt_in_Bay_du_Nord_WR

March 27 2020

Protected Areas Stewards

cpawsadmin Forest Campaigns, Terrestrial Campaigns

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!

What is a Protected Area?

A protected area is a defined area of land and/or sea dedicated to the long-term conservation and maintenance of biological diversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, which are managed through legal or other effective means.

There are many ways that a system of protected areas benefits society:

Reservoirs to protect and preserve biodiversity
Strengthening our resiliency to climate change – increasing Earth’s
carbon storage, acting as a natural defense against flooding and erosion, mitigate extreme weather events
Continuing the allowance and possibility of Traditional and Local cultural values and uses
Protecting human needs – ensuring freshwater availability, healthy soils, wild foods, and the opportunity to explore and enjoy our natural spaces
Economics – ecotourism is one of the largest economic sectors in the world!
Study areas for scientific research and education
Benchmarks that help us measure the health of lands and wildlife outside natural areas and the impacts of climate change, pollution, extraction, alien invasive species
An “insurance policy” against loss or damage to similar ecosystems in other locations

Stewardship may be defined as the ‘careful and responsible management of ecosystem resources entrusted to humans in the interest of achieving and protecting ecosystem integrity for its intrinsic value and/or for the benefit of current and future generations’.

Protected Area Stewards are individuals and organizations that help to develop a world-class network of parks and protected areas. They provide input to site managers to assist with the management and operation of a number of protected areas throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Duties of a Steward include:

To record the state of important natural terrestrial and aquatic features, flora and fauna, including endangered or threatened species and habitats.
To record any evident changes, threats, or disturbances to the protected area.
To identify any intentional or accidental violations contrary to the legislation of the protected area.
To inform Protected Area Managers of their findings.

Besides helping to protect environmentally sensitive areas as a Steward you also have:

a great learning opportunity
an outdoor adventure for individuals, families, or friends
volunteer experience for your resume

Get out there, and Protect your Natural Areas!

Learn more about the program:

To Become a Steward:

Please read the following statements below and email us your contact information.

I agree to become a Protected Areas Steward.
I will follow the guidelines and regulations outlined in the CPAWS-NL Volunteer Stewardship Monitoring Guide as well as those of Parks and Natural Areas Division, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador during my visits to protected areas.
I will visit a protected area at least once per year, fill out the standardized form in the monitoring guide to the best of my ability and return it to the CPAWS-NL office in St John’s via mail or in-person, or submit the information electronically online.
I understand that CPAWS is not responsible for any injury or damage as a result of my volunteer visits, or while in transit to and from the monitoring site.

Email your name, email address and mailing address to NLinfo@cpaws.org.

On receipt of your email one of our Staff will contact you.

Already a Steward? Enter your Survey Data Forms Online:

Click Here to Fill in Your Online Data Form

March 5 2018

Gros Morne National Park

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Parks Campaigns, Terrestrial Campaigns

Gros Morne National Park protects 1,805 square kilometres of western Newfoundland’s coastal lowlands and towering Long Range Mountains and is one of Canada’s most treasured national parks. Gros Morne was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its unique geological features and spectacular natural beauty. In 2013 the park was threatened by a major proposal to drill and frack for oil, metres from the park boundary. After wide-spread public outcry, this proposal was halted. However, in 2017, a new set of threats to the park emerged – major infrastructure changes within the park are causing irreparable damage the character and beauty of the park and are threatening the area’s value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability. Once again, public voices are coming together, this time in protest of irresponsible infrastructure developments which are causing harm to the park. Gros Morne remains vulnerable to threats such as new industrial proposals, unsustainable visitation numbers, and irresponsible infrastructure changes. That’s why CPAWS is working with concerned local community members, businesses and prominent Canadians to encourage the federal and provincial governments to improve protection of Gros Morne National Park through improved management and creation of permanent buffer zone around the park.

The Threats

Industrial Proposals

Construction Project Proposals – In 2018, a 2100-square meter drydock, was proposed in the midst of the iconic Bonne Bay region. On June 29^th, 2018, the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Bay-Shoal Brook wrote the Minister stating that they made a motion to deny permission for 3T’s Limited proposal for drydock/ wharf construction on Glenburnie beach, indefinitely, recognizing the potential impacts of the project to UNESCO World Heritage Site status and to the ecological integrity of the area. A drydock in the proposed location could change tidal flow, increasing the risk of flooding in the community, and would damage sensitive estuarine and tidal flat habitats.

A construction project of the proposed scale threatens the ability of Gros Morne National Park to protect the natural and cultural heritage of one of Canada’s most treasured wilderness spaces. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gros Morne is globally valued for its outstanding universal value as an area with exceptional natural beauty and unique geological features. The proposed drydock project would irreparably alter the overall beauty and character of the region. Visitors to the region do not differentiate the enclave Gros Morne communities as separate from the National Park – in fact, the communities within the Gros Morne region serve to enhance visitor experiences to the area. Though an enclave town, Glenburnie’s aesthetics and ecological significance remain essential to the ecological and cultural well-being of the bordering National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Regional infrastructure changes with the potential to impact outstanding universal values require the utmost caution in their planning and management. As such, stakeholder input from local, national, and global bodies should be sought and regarded with the greatest esteem and attention. CPAWS continues to work with Parks Canada to improve their management of our national parks and continues to push Parks Canada to engage with and cooperate with Canadians and area residents on decisions which can create vulnerabilities in park management and integrity.

Oil Drilling and Fracking – In 2013 Gros Morne was threatened by a proposal to drill a series of oil exploration wells along the west coast of Newfoundland. The drilling program would have used hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fracking)—the high-pressure injection of water containing toxic chemicals to shatter underground shale beds—to extract oil. Industrializing the Gros Morne coastline would not only have threatened the remarkable ecosystems of this World Heritage Site, it would have threatened the vital regional and provincial tourism economy which relies on the pristine natural beauty of Gros Morne’s coast and mountains to attract visitors from across Canada and around the world.

On November 5th, 2013 the provincial government announced a moratorium on fracking to allow time for further study and public consultation. Then on December 5th 2013, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board announced it would not renew the license of the company proposing it. The license expired on January 14th, 2014. In June 2014, in response to concerns raised by CPAWS, local citizens and businesses, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recommended that Canada create a permanent protective buffer zone around the Gros Morne National Park to prevent harm from future industrial activities around the park.

Infrastructure Changes

Trail Infrastructure – In 2017, Parks Canada began the first stages of a $3 million project to update facilities at Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The iconic boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond was removed and replaced with a 4.8m wide hardened gravel road. The public was not consulted about these changes, and now, many voices are speaking out about the changes and demanding to be heard. Trail development has resulted in outcomes beyond simple rehabilitation of existing infrastructure: the development footprint of the trail has increased significantly, irreparably altering the character of the site and one of the park’s most sought-after experiences. The changes threaten the area’s exceptional natural beauty, a value for which the park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability. Further development work of the trail, planned to occur during winter 2019, must not be allowed to proceed.

Gros Morne National Park and the regional tourism economy are vulnerable to future industrial proposals and infrastructure changes. There are no long-term solutions in place to protect Gros Morne.

What’s needed is a buffer zone around the park to keep Gros Morne permanently free of adjacent oil drilling and fracking and other industrial threats; and reemphasis on ecological integrity as the number one priority of our National Parks accompanied by thorough environmental assessment with effective public consultations.

Working closely with local concerned citizens, CPAWS is urging the provincial and federal governments to ACT NOW to:

establish a buffer zone around Gros Morne to keep the national park and surrounding area permanently free from industrial threats like oil drilling and fracking;
halt any further development in the area until a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation has been conducted

Take Action for Western Brook Pond

Many have spoken out in traditional media and on social media regarding the changes to the boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Over the course of the winter, Parks Canada removed the boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond and replaced it with a 4.8m wide hardened gravel road. This change was made without public consultation and has resulted in outcomes beyond the simple rehabilitation of existing infrastructure: the development footprint of the trail has increased significantly, irreparably altering the character of the site and one of the park’s most iconic experiences.

These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability.

Parks Canada’s responsibility for managing our National Parks’ ecological integrity has implications beyond Canada. Gros More National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is globally valued for its outstanding universal values as an area with exceptional natural beauty. The replacement of boardwalk trails with a paved road is blatantly incompatible with the park’s integrity as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is in contradiction to Canada’s 2018 State Party Report to the World Heritage Committee – in the report, Canada indicated no infrastructure development was ongoing in Gros Morne National Park.

This development does not fit with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s promises to involve Canadians in decision-making, limit development in our national parks, or to put ecological integrity first in all management decisions.

CPAWS is calling for a halt to any further development in the area until a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation has been conducted, and the immediate restoration of the bog that was destroyed when this road was built.

Add your voice to the growing number of people who want to ensure that Gros Morne is protected for future generations.

Take Action Now

Write to the Minister and let her know you are unhappy with Parks Canada making important decisions in our special places without the input of Canadians. Ask her to halt further development in Western Brook Pond in the absence of a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation. Ask for the immediate restoration of the bog that was destroyed when this road was built. Send your letter now!

Our Work

Terrestrial Campaigns

CPAWS NL welcomes announcement to start consultations for protected areas, as new local polling reveals residents of Newfoundland and Labrador show support for more protected areas!

CPAWS NL welcomes announcement to start consultations for protected areas, as new local polling reveals residents of Newfoundland and Labrador show support for more protected areas!

Protected Areas Plan

Protected Areas Plan A Home For Nature

Importance of Protected Areas

Background

Protected Areas Stewards

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!

What is a Protected Area?

Duties of a Steward include:

Get out there, and Protect your Natural Areas!

To Become a Steward:

Already a Steward? Enter your Survey Data Forms Online:

Gros Morne National Park

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!