NLIS 6 March 4, 2004 (Environment and Conservation) Information from user permits helps protect wilderness reserves The Minister of Environment and Conservation, Tom Osborne, said today that a total of 181 entry permits were issued in 2003 for the province's two wilderness reserves, compared with 173 permits in 2002. Of the 181 permits issued, 105 were for the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, while 76 were for the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve. Minister Osborne said collecting information on the level of human activity within our wilderness reserves through user permits is key to helping manage and protect the reserves. "By obtaining permits, the public provides the Parks and Natural Areas Division with important management information, and it also ensures that the public is aware of the reserve regulations. We recognize the need to protect our natural resources whether it's wildlife, parks or wilderness or ecological areas, and information from user permits is integral to ensuring this protection." Entry permits for the Avalon and Bay du Nord wilderness reserves are mandatory and free of charge. They can be obtained at a variety of locations around the province as listed below. Activities undertaken by the public in 2003 included bird watching, sightseeing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, nature photography and snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is prohibited within the Avalon Wilderness Reserve and only permitted in a portion of the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve outside the caribou winter range. Hunting, fishing, hiking and canoeing are permitted and encouraged in both reserves. The use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) is completely prohibited within wilderness reserves by the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (1980), even for game retrieval. Minister Osborne also reminded the public that winter patrols of the wilderness reserves are ongoing and users should have their entry permit on them at all times while in the reserves. The Parks and Natural Areas Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation is the managing agency responsible for the 19 wilderness and ecological reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador. For further information on activities permitted within reserves or on how to obtain a permit, please consult the Wilderness Reserve Users Guide, or call (709) 635-4520. Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575 List of locations to obtain wilderness reserve entry permits WESTERN REGION
CENTRAL REGION
Notre Dame Provincial Park
Department of Natural Resources EASTERN REGION
AVALON REGION
Butter Pot Provincial Park
LaManche Provincial Park Permits only available during camping season (usually late May to early September)
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Environment and Conservation
2004 03 04 4:15 p.m. |
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