NLIS 1
September 21, 2005
(Environment and Conservation)
Provincial parks and
reserves close for 2005 season
Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment
and Conservation, today announced the closure of provincial parks
and reserves for the 2005 camping season. The provincial parks
reservation line is also closed for the season.
�As another summer camping season comes to a close, I hope everyone
had an enjoyable camping and outdoor experience in our provincial
parks and reserves enjoying our spectacular natural environment, as
well the various interpretation and recreational activities that are
available to the public,� said Minister Osborne. �Even though our
parks are closed for camping, I still encourage residents and
visitors to continue to visit our parks and take advantage of other
activities such as hiking, or just experience our beautiful fall
weather and our special natural areas as the seasons change.�
Minister Osborne noted that the Cape St. Mary�s Ecological Reserve
Interpretation Centre remains open to the public until October 10.
Guided tours to see the gannet colony are available. Burnt Cape
Ecological Reserve is also open for interpretive tours until October
4. As well, people who wish to enter the Bay Du Nord and Avalon
Wilderness Reserves can do so at any time of the year with an access
permit.
The minister also added that the Nature�s Classroom school
educational program is now being offered at various provincial parks
and reserves in the province and runs until October 5. He said the
program has become very successful and he is pleased to see schools
and educators take advantage of the program which provides a great
learning experience for school children.
The province�s system of provincial parks and natural areas includes
14 camping parks, six natural scenic attraction parks, the
T�Rrailway and 11 park reserves, for a total of 32 provincial parks
and 19 wilderness and ecological reserves. Each of the parks and
reserves protects the significant features of the area in which they
are located and protects ecosystems, habitats and wildlife, while
also providing outstanding recreational opportunities, such as
camping, hiking and canoeing.
For more information on provincial parks or reserves, please contact
the Parks and Natural Areas Division at (709) 635-4520 or visit
their Web site at
www.gov.nl.ca/parks&reserves/
Media contact: Sonia Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575,
685-6612
2005 09 21
9:50 a.m. |