Executive Council
Environment and Conservation
September 21, 2015

Showcasing Our Natural Wonders

Province Prepares for Mistaken Point UNESCO Field Visit

Next week an official representing the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will arrive in the province to begin the Mistaken Point field visit - the next step in the site's quest to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"Achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status will be an amazing accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for the entire province, and in particular, for the community and all of those who worked so hard to achieve this goal. This includes the members of Mistaken Point Ambassadors Inc., staff of the Provincial Government, as well as the countless volunteers and supporters in Portugal Cove South and surrounding communities. No matter what the outcome is next year, I could not be more proud of the tremendous work that has gone into this initiative."
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

The upcoming onsite evaluation mission is only one step in a larger evaluation process that also includes reviews of the nomination from a distance by selected international experts.

"Should our bid be successful, the site will be the first in Newfoundland and Labrador managed by the Provincial Government. It will also be the first World Heritage Site on the east coast of the island and will play an important role in the geology tourism market on the Avalon Peninsula. Mistaken Point truly is a place of outstanding universal value and I'm confident that UNESCO will agree. I, along with my colleagues, look forward to receiving the UNESCO decision in July 2016."
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation

Joining the IUCN representative on the field mission team are individuals from Parks Canada Agency, as the federal agency responsible for implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the Department of Environment and Conservation, Parks and Natural Areas division and invited researcher Dr. Guy Narbonne, FRSC, Professor and Research Chair, Queen's University.

"I join all residents of Portugal Cove South and the southern Avalon in the anticipation of a successful UNESCO bid to identify Mistaken Point as a World Heritage Site. The efforts of the community in the protection and promotion of the fossil beds of Mistaken Point are a testament of their recognition of the importance of fossil preservation and also the opportunity for increased visitation to the region and the overall economic significance of this designation."
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs and MHA for Ferryland

On Wednesday, September 30, Mistaken Point Ambassadors Inc. will host a community celebration in Portugal Cove South to welcome the team and mark the field mission visit. Members of the media are welcome to attend. In addition, a guided tour of the fossils at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve will be offered to interested members of the media during the afternoon of September 30. Further details will be provided next week.

"This is a very exciting moment for the Community of Portugal Cove South, Mistaken Point Ambassadors Inc. and our partner organization Parks and Natural Areas Division. We are a step closer to our goal of having Mistaken Point inscribed as a UNESCO site. It has involved a great deal of work by staff and volunteers. We are all proud to be part of bringing such an important site to the world stage."
- Loretta Ryan, Chairperson, Mistaken Point Ambassadors Inc.

IUCN will make recommendations on World Heritage nominations to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee six weeks prior to the annual committee meeting, during which the final decision on the Mistaken Point nomination will be made. This meeting will be held July 10 -20, 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey.

QUICK FACTS

• On Monday, September 28, the province will welcome a representative of IUCN for a site field visit, which is the next step in the UNESCO World Heritage site inscription process.
• UNESCO designates World Heritage Sites that have 'cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value.' This designation is highly prestigious and relatively rare, with just 1,031 World Heritage Sites worldwide.
• There are three designated World Heritage Sites in Newfoundland and Labrador (Gros Morne National Park, L'Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site and Red Bay Basque Whaling Station). Should the bid be successful, Mistaken Point will be the first in World Heritage Site in Newfoundland and Labrador managed by the Provincial Government.
• Further information about Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve may be found at www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/wer/r_mpe/index.html

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Media contacts:

Heather MacLean Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca	Donna Ivey Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3551 donnivey@gov.nl.ca
Emily Timmins Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575 emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca	Darlene Dunne Executive Assistant to the Honourable Keith Hutchings MHA for Ferryland 709-729-1390 ddunne@gov.nl.ca
Loretta Ryan Chairperson Mistaken Point Ambassadors Inc. 709-689-8994

2015 09 21                              11:15 a.m.