Public Meetings to be Held on Burin Peninsula to Discuss Establishment of Ecological Reserve

Environment and Conservation
September 14, 2010
Public Meetings to be Held on Burin Peninsula to
Discuss Establishment of Ecological Reserve

The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) will host public meetings in the Towns of Lamaline and St. Lawrence on September 15 and 16 respectively to discuss whether the current Lawn Islands Archipelago Provisional Ecological Reserve should be established as a full ecological reserve. Under the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act, a public hearing must be held by the council to consider submissions, representations and objections regarding the establishment of a reserve.

"In November of last year, staff from our Parks and Natural Areas Division held a public information session and discussed activities that would be permitted if a full ecological reserve were to be established at this site," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "From the meetings held in the area, it appears that there is general support for the establishment of a reserve, but we want to ensure that everyone interested has the opportunity to provide input, especially on the final reserve boundary and management direction. Protecting our ecologically sensitive areas is of the utmost importance for both residents of the area and our government."

Notices of these meetings were published by WERAC in the local newspapers back in July, and invitations were sent to targeted stakeholders.

In June of 2007, WERAC held a community meeting in Lord's Cove, on the south coast of the Burin Peninsula, to discuss with residents the possibility of establishing an ecological reserve on the Lawn Islands and to determine if there was enough public support to create a provisional ecological reserve. The council, in turn, recommended to the Minister of Environment and Conservation that a provisional ecological reserve be established to be called the Lawn Islands Archipelago Provisional Ecological Reserve, and it was granted provisional status in July of 2009.

The proposed Lawn Islands Ecological Reserve contains the only breeding colony of Manx shearwater, a migratory marine bird, in North America. In addition to Manx shearwater, the islands host breeding habitat for a provincially significant colony of Leach's storm petrels, as well other species such as the b lack guillemot, common murre, Arctic tern, black-legged kittiwake, great black-backed gull and herring gull.

"It is very important that this internationally significant seabird breeding habitat be protected for future generations," said the Honourable Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank. "I encourage the residents of the area to come out and learn more about the significance of such sustainability measures, and to provide the council with feedback on the proposed plan."

The Provincial Government passed the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (WER Act) in 1980 to guide the creation of a system of protected areas in the province that would preserve wilderness, unique ecosystems, species, or natural phenomena. Under the act, an 11-member committee was created called the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) to advise the Provincial Government on the creation and management of wilderness and ecological reserves. It is an independent group made up of citizens from a variety of backgrounds and all regions of the province, and members are appointed for three-year terms.

The public meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

GLADA Building, Lamaline, Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Golden Age Club, St. Lawrence, Thursday, September 16, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

In addition to the public meetings, interested groups and individuals can submit feedback or written submissions to erikapittman@gov.nl.ca, via fax to 709-635-4541, or via mail to:

     Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council
     c/o Executive Secretary
     33 Reid's Lane
     Deer Lake, NL
     A8A 2A3

Written submissions must be received by October 17, 2010 . A discussion document is available on the Department of Environment and Conservation's website at www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/wer/lawn_islands.html

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Media contacts:

Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca

Corey Parsons
Constituency Assistant to
Hon. Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank
709-832-2531
coreyparsons@gov.nl.ca

2010 09 14 10:20 a.m.

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