Environment and Conservation
September 22, 2009
Port au Choix Commits to
Protection of Rare Plants
St Theresa�s Elementary
School and the Town of Port au Choix have entered into a
Municipal Stewardship Agreement which designates areas
of the Limestone Barrens habitat for conservation. On
behalf of the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of
Environment and Conservation, Wallace Young, MHA for St.
Barbe, signed the agreement which will help protect the
threatened Fernald�s Braya and other rare plant species
in the area. The agreement also commits the St.
Theresa�s students and local residents to actions which
will help ensure the sustainability of these unique
plants species which, in many cases, are not found
anywhere else in the world.
enviro
�Co-operation and dedication to protection of the nment
are key elements of agreements like this one,� said
Minister Johnson. �The spirit of stewardship is alive
and well in towns like Port au Choix, and this is a
wonderful example of residents, particularly our youth,
making a commitment to work together with government to
continue to find a balance between the natural
environment, economic growth and development and
sustainability. The agreement commits the municipality
to protect species at risk habitat and accept a
stewardship role in maintaining its integrity.�
The plant life of the limestone barrens contributes
greatly to the biodiversity of the province. The Strait
of Belle Isle Ecoregion on the Great Northern Peninsula
fosters a significant number of rare or unique species,
including Long�s Braya (designated endangered by the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada) and Fernald�s Braya (designated as threatened).
Of the 298 vascular plants considered rare on the island
of Newfoundland, 104 of them occur on the Limestone
Barrens. Twenty-two of these species are found only on
the Great Northern Peninsula.
�Together, we are contributing to the future protection
of this network of rare plants through the signing of
such an agreement,� said Wallace Young. �The
significance of this area and its plant life extends
well beyond our province, and I am delighted that the
town is working together to ensure these plants are
protected for many subsequent generations.�
The Limestone Barrens Habitat Stewardship Program on the
Great Northern Peninsula, an initiative funded in part
by the federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species
at Risk seeks to protect Limestone Barrens habitat and
associated species at risk populations through
stewardship agreements, restoration, enhancement and
education.
For more information on municipal stewardship
agreements, contact Jonathan Sharpe at 709-637-2013, or
jonathansharpe@gov.nl.ca
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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
|
Wallace Young, MHA
District of St. Barbe
709-729-1731
wallyyoung@gov.nl.ca
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Dulcie House
Limestone Barrens Habitat Stewardship Program
Manager
709-225-3126
lbhsp@nf.sympatico.ca
|
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2009 09 22
3:15 p.m. |