MEDIA RELEASE

Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA) hopes the people of Labrador will speak out in favour of the proposed Mealy Mountains National Park. PAA has released a postcard asking the Premier to fully support the establishment of this park.

"It is startling to see a wilderness area of such size and importance that also has such a high level of public approval for its protection," says PAA's Executive Director Laura Jackson. "If the provincial government doesn't back down on its support for this conservation project, Newfoundland and Labrador will have one of the top five national parks in Canada."

Jackson is encouraging all Labradorians to participate in PAA's postcard campaign and send the Premier a clear message of support. PAA is mailing postcards to homes in Rigolet and Cartwright in the hopes that citizens will sign and mail them in to the Premier before the end of March. Paulette Pilgrim, PAA's Labrador Field Coordinator, will be distributing the postcards to community groups in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, North-West River and Mudlake.

Despite the support for this proposed national park from Labradorian community leaders and aboriginal governments, the provincial government has been stalling negotiations for the last two years. These meetings are set to resume in early April, so Jackson is hoping that people will make their concerns known immediately by postcard or letter in order that their comments are received by the Premier no later than April 3^rd.

The provincial government has been expressing concerns about the size of the proposed park, but an informal survey completed last summer by PAA in Labrador revealed virtually unanimous enthusiasm by Labradorians for the whole proposed national park.

Protected Areas Association wants the province to support the boundaries of the current study area plus the Upper Kenamu River Valley. Apparently there is interest in logging several major river valleys, and in damning the Eagle River and several others for hydro-electric power. Also, a Chinese company called Markland Resources has had four mining claims for seven years on the historic "Wunderstrand", Porcupine Strand-the largest beach in Atlantic Canada - which should be included in the national park.

PAA also wants to see the national park boundaries include the full current study area, headwaters of the Kenamu, the southern extent of the calving grounds of the Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd, and Table Bay, a nationally-significant waterfowl and shorebird staging area.

Postcards are available at PAA's office in the North Star Building, Happy Valley. Phone Paulette Pilgrim, PAA's Labrador Field Officer, at 896-0181.

-30-