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Government Commitments

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted or endorsed the protected area commitments listed below. Although some progress was made with the establishment of 31 Wilderness Areas in 1998, these commitments remain unfulfilled. The Government of Nova Scotia must act now to live up to these commitments to complete the Protected Areas Network.

Tri-Council Statement of Commitment (1992):

"Council members will make every effort to complete Canada's networks of protected areas representative of Canada's land based regions by the year 2000" signed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, the Canadian Parks Ministers' Council, and the Wildlife Ministers' Council of Canada on behalf of the federal and all 10 provincial governments.

Keeping the Wilderness Wild: Nova Scotia's Protected Areas Strategy (1997):

"The most important goal of the Protected Areas Strategy is to preserve relatively large undeveloped areas that are typical of one or more of the 77 [now 80] natural landscapes found in Nova Scotia"

Action Plan: Nova Scotia's Protected Areas Strategy (1997):

"Sites of ecological significance will be designated as nature reserves under the Special Places Protection Act. Specific targets will be established periodically."

National Forest Strategy (1998):

"We will work toward completing, by the year 2000, a network of protected areas representative of Canada's forest ecosystem classification categories, to provide ecological benchmarks, protect areas of unique biological value and manage for the continuation of old-growth forest landscapes as natural heritage."

The Green Plan - Towards a Sustainable Environment (2003):

"Continue to work towards a comprehensive system of protected areas."

Speech From The Throne (2003)

"My government also knows... that Nova Scotia's economic progress cannot come at any price and that we have a responsibility to future generations to protect more of Nova Scotia's most valuable lands, such as Eigg Mountain and Gully Lake. My government will proceed with the process of designating these two sites as new candidate Wilderness Areas."
-- Premier John Hamm, Speech From The Throne, September 2003

Whitehorse Mining Initiative (1994):

"To create and set aside from industrial development by the year 2000 those protected areas required to achieve representation of Canada's land-based natural regions"

Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (1995):

"Make every effort to complete Canada's networks of protected areas representative of land-based natural regions, by the year 2000"

A Proposed Systems Plan for Parks & Protected Areas in Nova Scotia (1994):

"A high priority will be assigned to the protection of significant old forest sites on Crown land."

Sustainable Development Strategy for Nova Scotia (1992):

"Complete a network of protected areas adequately representing each of the province's theme regions by the year 2000 we suggest a goal of 12 per cent of land and water for protection. All existing old growth forests will be included in this 12 per cent."

Report of the Pubic Review Committee for the Proposed Systems Plan for Parks and Protected Areas in Nova Scotia (1995):

"Crown-owned islands of significant natural value should be designated for protection."
- Recommendation accepted by government.

Report of the Pubic Review Committee for the Proposed Systems Plan for Parks and Protected Areas in Nova Scotia (1995):

"The Department of Natural Resources should identify significant natural areas on Crown land that may merit consideration as candidates for protection but that did not meet the size and selection criteria used in the initial planning exercise."
- Recommendation accepted by government.

Report of the Pubic Review Committee for the Proposed Systems Plan for Parks and Protected Areas in Nova Scotia (1995):

"New areas, both those recommended in this report and those that may be otherwise recommended and that are accepted as candidates for protection, should also be placed under moratorium until final decisions are made regarding their future status, and they are designated under legislation."
- Recommendation accepted by government.