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Oct. 7, 2005
Industry and environmental groups support government action on protected areas

St. John's - Though often at odds over environmental issues, representatives of the pulp and paper sector and environmental groups are standing together in support of a plan to establish 28 new protected areas in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The province has been working on its protected areas plan for several years," stated Chris Hogan of the Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA). "The plan identifies 28 new candidate protected areas, which are some of the most outstanding examples of our province's natural heritage. There has been thorough consultation within government, and the time is now right to move forward with public consultation and designation of these sites," stated Hogan.

The pulp and paper sector is also squarely behind the plan's implementation. "The forestry community, and our company, are fully supportive of the creation of a network of parks and reserves in this province," stated George VanDusen of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper. "We recognize that protected areas are a key component of sustainable development. A complete network of protected areas will therefore not only be good for the environment, but will also contribute to long-term security for our industry. On the whole, it's the right thing to do for our business, our employees, and the communities where we work."

Agreement between industry and environmental groups on the creation of a protected areas network for the province was solidified following a September 28, 2005 meeting in Corner Brook. Organised by the Western Newfoundland Model Forest and the PAA, the meeting was also attended by representatives from Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, Abitibi Consolidated, the Canadian Institute of Foresters, and a number of other environmental groups and government agencies.

"Though there was recognition that there will be disputes about where the boundaries of some of these 28 proposed reserves fall," explained Hogan, "there was nevertheless broad endorsement amongst all meeting participants that this plan is a critical component of sustainable resource development for our province. We are pleased that the government committed to tackle this issue in their 2003 Blue Book, and we are keen to support them as they unroll the plan."

Newfoundland and Labrador is the only Canadian province without a protected areas plan in place.

For further information, please contact:

Chris Hogan
Protected Areas Association
(Tel): 709.726.2603
(E-mail) Chris.Hogan@nf.aibn.com
(Website) www.paanl.org

Jim Taylor
General Manager
Western Newfoundland Model Forest
(Tel) 709.637.7302
(E-mail) jimtaylor@wnmf.com

It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.
~Ansel Adams