|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 | ||
 |
|
 |
HRM moves to protect Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes hotspotJanuary 20, 2006The Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes hotspot is one step closer to being protected. That's because the latest version of HRM's new regional municipal planning strategy has recommended protecting nearly all of the publicly-owned Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes wilderness as a regional park. "This is a huge step in the right direction", says Chris Miller of the Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Society. "It's a magnificent place that must be protected now, before it's too late". The Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes wilderness is 1,750 hectares in size and contains many important features including 22 distinct lakes, over fifty different wetlands, several stands of old growth white pine forest, rare artic-alpine plants, and Metro's highest point of land. It also contains habitat for the endangered mainland moose and is home to over 150 different species of birds. HRM's new regional municipal planning strategy has been in the works for several years and has involved multiple rounds of public consultation. It sets out a 25-year vision for the city and considers issues related to the economy, development, transportation, settlement patterns, and the environment. HRM Regional Council still needs to approve the final version of the plan, something that could happen as early as this spring. The campaign to protect the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes is led by a coalition of concerned community groups, including the Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Society, Halifax Field Naturalists, Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia, Halifax North West Trails Association, and the Ecology Action Centre. Last year, the coalition interrupted a plan to quietly trade away a large chunk of Crown land from Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes in exchange for a small piece of waterfront property in Bedford. The hotspot continues to be threatened by the proposed Highway 113, a new 4-lane highway that could cut through the very heart of the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes wilderness. In Nova Scotia, new highways that are 10km or more in length are required to undergo full environmental assessments. Highway 113 was designed to be 9.9km in length.
Public Lands |
Endangered Spaces |
News |
Issues
© Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, Ecology Action Centre, 2006 |
 |
 |
|
 |
