wilderness

CPAWS Urges NBers to Have Your Say on Protected Areas - Open Houses or Online
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Les groupes d'amis des parcs sont inquiets des dommages potentiels que pourrait causer le sentier de motoneige proposé au Mont Carleton
Communiqué de presse

le 10 septembre , 2015

Fredericton – Le plan d'élargissement d'un sentier pédestre qui remonte le plus haut sommet aux Maritimes et de l'ouvrir à l'usage par la motoneige au sein du seul parc sauvage désigné au Nouveau Brunswick : tout cela inquiète fortement la Société pour la nature et les parcs du Canada, section du Nouveau-Brunswick (SNAP NB) et les Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton.

« Ce n'est que récemment que nous avons appris ce projet de sentier pour le Mont Carleton, qui fait partie d'un plan d'augmenter les sentiers de motoneige dans le nord du Nouveau-Brunswick. Le gouvernement semble être prêt à accepter cette proposition sans une analyse environnementale ou sans consultation publique. On verrait donc un sentier pédestre remontant le Mont Carleton et dont la largeur serait doublée à 12 pieds et dont la voûte forestière au-dessus serait coupée à une hauteur de 12 pieds, » déclare Roberta Clowater, Directrice générale de la SNAP NB.

« Ce type de développement va fragmenter l'habitat de la faune sauvage, y compris celui de l'orignal, du polatouche (écureuil volant) et de la martre d'Amérique. Un accès continu aux motorisés sur ce sentier va probablement compacter le sol, causant un ruisellement pluvial accéléré et de l'érosion. Le surfaçage des sentiers va encourager un accès accru par les véhicules motorisés qui pourraient les mener à continuer à monter jusqu'au sommet fragile de cette montagne. Cela est complètement inapproprié dans un parc désigné à l'état naturel, » ajoute Clowater.

« Depuis plus de huit ans, les Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton Inc. ont travaillé avec diligence afin de promouvoir, préserver et protéger le milieu sauvage naturel et les écosystèmes du Parc. Nous avons travaillé pour développer ce que nous pensions être une bonne relation de travail avec le Ministère du Tourisme, du Patrimoine et de la Culture. L'annonce de l'infrastructure d'un carrefour pour la motoneige est arrivée sans avertissement, ni consultation avec notre groupe, » déclare Susan Mulherin, Présidente des Ami(e)s du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton Inc.

« Les Amis se sont engagés à travailler en collaboration avec le Ministère, tout en s'assurant que l'on maintienne l'intendance du parc, et que la protection de l'environnement, de l'habitat des animaux et le patrimoine soit reflétée dans toutes les politiques et programmes. Nous sommes préoccupés que dans ce cas-ci, cela ne se produit pas. Assurément, un compromis peut être réalisé qui respecte nos aires protégées et qui répond aux intérêts des motoneigistes, » ajoute Mulherin.

Aucune discussion publique à savoir si un sentier de motoneige est compatible avec les sections les plus sauvages d'un parc à l'état naturel

Le Parc du Mont Carleton est le seul « Parc provincial à l'état sauvage » qui a été classifié ainsi dans les révisions à la Loi sur les parcs en 2014. Ces mêmes révisions mandataient le Ministère du Tourisme, du Patrimoine et de la Culture à mettre au point des Plans de gestion des ressources pour les parcs provinciaux, faisant état des utilisations récréatives qui seraient compatibles avec la conservation des aires naturelles de ce parc.

« Nous sommes très préoccupés que le Ministère pourrait considérer de prendre une décision irréversible, telle que celle-ci, avant que le Plan de gestion des ressources et le zonage connexe soient discutés publiquement et approuvés. Le Ministère est donc prêt, par le fait même, à décider que les véhicules motorisés sont permis dans les aires de conservation dans un parc à l'état naturel, ce qui va créer un précédent duquel il sera difficile d'en revenir.

« Permettre des loisirs motorisés dans l'une des parties les plus sauvages d'un parc à l'état naturel n'est pas cohérent avec la gestion normale des zones sauvages dans ce type de parc à travers le Canada et les États-Unis. Si le sentier qui monte le Mont Carleton est surfacé pour utilisation par les motoneiges, cela va empêcher son utilisation par les gens qui veulent vivre une expérience de qualité en milieu sauvage en faisant de la raquette ou du ski de fond dans cette partie du parc, » affirme Clowater.

« Il est important pour les touristes, qui sont attirés par les zones sauvages, que le marketing du Parc provincial du Mont Carleton en tant que destination de nature sauvage soit appuyé par une gestion qui soit cohérente avec l'expérience de qualité en milieu sauvage, » ajoute Clowater.

« Il s'agit d'un des premiers tests de la Loi sur les parcs révisée, que notre organisation avait applaudit comme étant un pas dans la bonne direction pour la modernisation de l'approche du Nouveau-Brunswick envers la gestion des parcs. Si le sentier est approuvé sans processus d'engagement du public ou d'analyse environnementale, selon nous le gouvernement aura échoué ce premier test de notre nouvelle législation, » explique Clowater.

La SNAP recommande que le gouvernement provincial prenne le temps d'évaluer les impacts potentiels de ce projet, d'entamer des consultations avec le public et les parties prenantes, et ensuite déterminer si le Mont Carleton est un endroit approprié pour un tel développement.

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Pour plus d’information:

Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org; 506-452-9902

SNAP est la voix pour la vie sauvage et les parcs pour Nouveau-Brunswick. Pour plus d'information sur SNAP NB et notre travail de conservation, s'il vous plaît visitez : www.cpawsnb.org
Message from over 10,000 people to Premier Alward:Protect New Brunswick’s Restigouche Wilderness!

(Fredericton) – On February 16, CPAWS New Brunswick Chapter Executive Director, Roberta Clowater,
NB Need Bold Action for Protected Areas
July 17, 2018, Fredericton – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) released its annual Parks Report today, What’s Next: Parks and Protected Areas to 2020 and Beyond.The report recommends how governments in Canada – federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous – can work together to almost double our current protected areas to achieve our international commitment to protect at least 17% of our landscape by 2020, and to plan for the longer-term work needed to reverse the catastrophic and ongoing decline in nature. Canada has the biggest opportunity in a generation to protect nature – and this report provides a roadmap for action.

All jurisdictions in Canada have committed to work together to achieve the 2020 protected area target. Added to the $1.3 billion investment in conservation in the 2018 federal budget, we have an unprecedented opportunity for Canada to safeguard nature in the spirit of reconciliation between Indigenous governments and Crown governments, and between all peoples in Canada and nature.“In New Brunswick, our government does not have a target or action plan to add new protected areas, and our province is noticeably behind compared to all other parts of the country,” says Roberta Clowater, CPAWS New Brunswick Executive Director.

“With political will and a bold action plan, New Brunswick can step up and help Canada reach our goals. Immediate opportunities are to establish the Restigouche Wilderness Waterway, and protect our remaining old forest habitat, provincially significant wetlands, coastal mudflats, and natural areas in our drinking water watersheds.”

Diverse voices across the country are now calling for action on protected areas, and momentum is growing. With 2020 right around the corner, people are asking, “can Canada do this?” “Can our country almost double the protection of our lands and freshwaters in 2 years?” The answer is YES. In the report, CPAWS identifies places in each jurisdiction where a considerable amount of collaborative work has already been done on proposed protected areas. With the 2020 target fast approaching, CPAWS makes the following recommendations -- that federal, provincial, and territorial governments:
1. Demonstrate their commitment to almost double Canada’s protected areas by publicly announcing the areas they intend to protect by 2020 to contribute to meeting the target;
2. Develop a western science and Indigenous knowledge-based plan by 2020 for completing an effective network of interconnected protected areas that will act as a foundation for conserving nature in the face of climate change;
3. Make a clear commitment to adhere to recognized standards for the protection of nature, including those developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas;
4. Ensure conservation funding from federal Budget 2018 is allocated primarily to support the creation of new protected areas by federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and other partners; and
5. Support Indigenous governments’ work to create Indigenous protected areas.
The report includes recommendations for specific actions in New Brunswick, including developing relationships and partnering with indigenous communities for the Restigouche Wilderness Waterway, and engaging with local communities to support protection in Restigouche and in ecologically important forests, beaches and rivers on Crown land.CPAWS is ready to work with federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments on protecting our most iconic landscapes, the wildlife that call them home, and the habitat that supports us all.

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Read the full Report; read the Executive Summary
For interviews, contact: Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org ; phone: 506-452-9902
New Brunswick needs to step up and commit to new protected areas by 2020
July 24, 2017

Fredericton – In its latest annual report on the state of protected areas in Canada, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is calling upon New Brunswick to step up efforts to protect more land by 2020. CPAWS’ 2017 report “From Laggard to Leader? Canada's renewed focus on protecting nature could deliver results”calls Canada out for ranking last among G7 countries in the percentage of land and freshwater protected for conservation purposes, and encourages governments to conserve Canada’s natural heritage, starting by delivering on their international commitment. New Brunswick ranks 2^nd to last among the Canadian provinces and territories.

With only 10.6% of its landscape currently protected, Canada lags behind the global average of 15%, and also trails other large countries such as China, Brazil, and Australia. In 2010, as part of a worldwide effort to stem the tide of biodiversity loss, Canada committed under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to protecting at least 17% of land and inland waters by 2020 and improving the quality of their protected area systems to more effectively conserve nature.

The report recognizes that Canadian governments are finally starting to take this commitment seriously after years of inaction. In February 2017, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for parks and protected areas publicly announced their commitment to work together to achieve this target. A new Pathway to 2020 process was initiated, and the Indigenous Circle of Experts and National Advisory Panel appointed to advise Ministers on this work.

“In New Brunswick, there has been no progress on working towards the national protected areas targets,” says Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS New Brunswick. “There are steps that can be taken by the province immediately to help Canada reach our goals, including setting a target to increase protected areas, developing an action plan to 2020 and beyond, and protecting the Restigouche Wilderness Waterway.”

“With less than 3 years to fulfill our 2020 commitment, we need to get going now,” adds Hébert-Daly. “In the report we identify places across Canada where a considerable amount of work has already been done on proposed protected areas. By acting now to permanently protect these sites, while also planning for what’s needed to conserve nature in the long term, Canada has a chance to move from laggard to leader.”

Clowater adds, “The New Brunswick government could create a world-class wilderness tourism destination by establishing the Restigouche Wilderness Waterway – a wide protected corridor along the river, on Crown land. Currently, 97% of the New Brunswick portion of the Restigouche watershed is open to development, and industrial development is eating away at the region’s wild forests and rivers year by year. By conserving this area’s special nature, promising ecotourism businesses could reliably promote a quality wilderness destination to nature-seeking tourists around the world.”

Protected areas are important to conserve wildlife and wilderness, as well as provide clean air and water for all Canadians, store carbon, and play a major role in improving our health and well-being. They also make economic sense. Protected areas around the world generate US$600 billion per year in direct spending, while costing less than US$10 billion per year to manage.

For over 50 years, CPAWS has been working with all levels of government, and other partners across the country to protect more of Canada’s public lands. As the only nationwide charity dedicated to the protection of our public lands and water, we are uniquely positioned to help governments protect what nature really needs.

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Read the full report. http://cpaws.org/uploads/CPAWS-Parks-Report-2017.pdf

Read the Executive Summary with recommendations. http://cpaws.org/uploads/CPAWS-Parks-Report-Executive-Summary-2017.pdf

For interviews, contact: Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org; 506-452-9902
New Brunswickers Urged to have their Say about Potential New Protected Areas

October 16, 2012

(Fredericton) The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) is urging New Brunswickers to have their say on what New Brunswick’s protected areas future should look like. Government recently released a map of proposed protected natural areas and is seeking public input until November 15.

Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB, said, “New Brunswick citizens have a chance right now to show their support for permanent protection of wilderness areas that the New Brunswick government has identified for potential protection. While this is a good step towards a protected areas network, much more is needed to truly protect New Brunswick’s wilderness heritage.”

“Near Fredericton, candidates include natural areas in the Nashwaak River watershed, which has recently faced an increase in pressure for industrialization. Candidates in southeastern New Brunswick include forests that protect the Turtle Creek drinking water supply for Moncton. Natural areas along the Magaguadavic River and the Piskahegan Stream are the largest candidates in the southwest. In northern New Brunswick, large forested areas along the Dungarvon River, the Tabusintac River, the Portage River and the Restigouche River have been included in the list. The candidate protected areas are important old forests, headwaters of significant fish streams, or sensitive wildlife habitats.

“Unfortunately, not all of the proposed areas will make the actual protection list, so it is important that people who have on-the-ground knowledge of any of the candidate protected areas provide that information to government. Government will choose which areas will go forward for full protection as a result of these public consultations.”

Clowater said, “These potential protected areas will move us from having 3% of the province protected, to having about 4.7% protected. New Brunswick would still be 2nd to last in Canada in the proportion of our land that is permanently protected from development, with only half the proportion that is, on average, protected in the other provinces and territories. We’ll need to protect all of these areas, and many more, if we’re going to do our fair share to protect the wilderness and wildlife that is so important to our culture, tourism and regional economies.”

Five open houses are planned over the next two weeks, starting with one in Fredericton on Oct.16, 6:00 pm, Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre. CPAWS NB is providing links to the maps, background information, the schedule of open houses, and more at www.cpawsnb.org.
Opponents push alternative to Mount Carleton gas bar and snowmobile trail on mountain

Opponents push alternative to Mt. Carleton gas bar and snowmobile trail on mountain

Fredericton -A perfectly good alternative to developments being proposed for within Mt. Carleton Park exists outside the wilderness park, say people dead-set against an enlarged snowmobile circuit and gas bar being promoted by the Province.

Jean Louis Deveau is spokesman for a group of citizens concerned about the expanding presence of snow machines in the Park and their impact on wildlife. The group is advancing alternative locations to keep the park free of new infrastructure and what they view as incompatible use by motorized vehicles in New Brunswick’s only designated wilderness park.

Governor's Lodge at Popple Depot, located east of the park, is one such alternative and is at the centre of a proposed snowmobile ‘hub.’ “From my understanding, Governor’s Lodge has the space for sled gatherings and it also sells gas,” Deveau, a former manager at Mt. Carleton said Tuesday.

“Why build new infrastructure to enable sleds to gas up in a wilderness park when there are already private establishments in the area offering the services they want?” Deveau asks. Taxpayers would pay for the gas dispensary being proposed for the park, whereas the gas dispensary at Popple Depot was paid for by the private sector.

“By putting a new gas bar in the park, the Province may well disadvantage or even handicap Governor’s Lodge and other privately owned gas distributors in the area. Won’t that defeat the Province’s goals of trying to create new jobs with this project?” Deveau said.

Park advocates including Deveau have launched a legal challenge to force the government to abandon the scheme to infringe on the Park, and to follow its own legislation. A crowdfunding campaign on gofundme.com was launched in June to help cover legal fees. The court is scheduled to hear the case on September 2nd in Woodstock.

The Parks Act (2014) stipulates a management plan based on a zoning system must be completed prior to any development in Provincial Parks. Mt. Carleton has been zoned but doesn’t have a management plan.
Parks groups concerned about potential harm to Mount Carleton by proposed snowmobile trail
NEWS RELEASE

September 10, 2015

Parks groups concerned about potential harm to Mount Carleton by proposed snowmobile trail

Fredericton – A plan to widen a walking trail up the Maritimes’ highest peak and open it for snowmobile use within New Brunswick’s only designated Wilderness Park has the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) and the Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park deeply concerned.

“We’ve recently learned about this trail proposal for Mount Carleton, which is part of a plan for increasing snowmobile trails in northern New Brunswick. The government appears to be ready to agree to this proposal without an environmental analysis or any public consultation. It would see a walking trail up Mount Carleton cleared to double its width to 12 feet wide, and the canopy over it removed to a height of 12 feet,” says Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB.

“This type of development will fragment the habitat of wildlife species including moose, flying squirrels, and American marten. Sustained motorized access on this trail is also likely to compact the soil, causing fast rain runoff and erosion. Grooming the trail will encourage increased motorized vehicle access that could lead to them continuing up to the fragile mountain top. This is completely inappropriate within a designated wilderness park,” adds Clowater.

“For over eight years, the Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park Inc. has worked diligently to promote, preserve and protect the Park’s natural wilderness setting and its ecosystems. We have worked to develop, what we thought, was a good working relationship with the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. The snowmobile hub infrastructure announcement came without any forewarning or consultation with our group,” says Susan Mulherin, President of Friends of Mount Carleton Provincial Park Inc.

“The Friends are committed to working cooperatively with the Department, while also ensuring that stewardship of the Park is maintained, and the protection of the environment, animal habitat and heritage is reflected in all policies and programs. We are concerned that in this case, that is not happening. Surely a compromise can be found that respects our protected areas and meets snowmobilers interests,” adds Mulherin.

No Public Discussion Whether Snowmobile Trail is Compatible with Wildest Parts of Wilderness Park

Mount Carleton park is New Brunswick’s only “Wilderness Provincial Park”, having been classified as such in revisions to the Parks Act in 2014. Those same revisions mandated the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture to develop Resource Management Plans for the provincial parks, outlining the recreational uses that would be compatible with conservation of the park natural areas.

“We are very concerned that the Department would consider making an irreversible decision such as this before the Resource Management Plan and the associated zoning are discussed publicly and approved. The Department is poised to, by default, decide that motorized vehicles are allowed in conservation zones in a wilderness park, setting a precedent from which it will be hard to back away.

“Allowing motorized recreation in one of the wildest parts of a wilderness park is inconsistent with how wilderness zones are generally managed in this level of park across Canada and the US. If the trail that goes up Mount Carleton is groomed for use by snowmobiles, it will prevent its use by people who want a wilderness experience of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in that part of the park,” says Clowater.

“It’s important to tourists who are attracted to wilderness that the marketing of Mount Carleton Provincial Park as a wilderness destination be backed up with management that is consistent with a wilderness experience,” adds Clowater.

“This is one of the first tests of the revised Parks Act, which our organization has been applauding as a good step forward for the modernization of New Brunswick’s approach to parks management. If this trail is approved with no public engagement process or environmental analysis, in our view the government will have failed this first test of our new legislation,”adds Clowater.

CPAWS is recommending that the provincial government take the time to assess the potential impacts of this proposal, undertake public and stakeholder consultations, and then determine whether Mount Carleton is an appropriate location for such a development.

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For more information, contact: Roberta Clowater, rclowater@cpaws.org; phone: 506-452-9902

Founded in 1963, CPAWS is Canada’s only nationwide charity dedicated solely to protecting our public land and water, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect the nature within.Learn more at www.cpawsnb.org.
Plants and Animals Take New Brunswick Government To Court

Plants and Animals Take New Brunswick Government To Court

Fredericton - When push comes to shove, as it has in the case of pending developments in New Brunswick’s only wilderness park, it’s always good to have allies with deep pockets.

Such allies are being courted by concerned citizens who are taking the Province of New Brunswick to court over its management of Mount Carleton Wilderness Park near Nictau, N.B.

The proposal entails extending a network of snowmobile trails to the summit, park electrification and a gas bar, things the group opposing the project believes will damage the natural area and its wildlife.

“We’ve turned to Go Fund Me, a crowd-source fundraising website, to gather the $15,000 needed to stop this development in court,” said Jean Louis Deveau, former park manager at Mount Carleton.

“The plants and animals cannot speak for themselves,” Deveau said. “With everything around the Park being clear cut, we cannot stand by and let this sanctuary be destroyed. We've raised over $13,000 in the past week so this clearly resonates with people.”

Grand Chief Ron Tremblay of the Traditional Maliseet Government has reached out to media outlets to cover this story. In an interview on CBC radio this week he argued strenuously that snowmobiles should not be allowed to expand their range in the park.

“The commodification of this wild place through snowmobile tourism is not only incompatible with our values, tradition, and culture but will inevitably lead to conflicts between those who, like the Gallant Government, see the park as a place of business and those who, like us, see it as sacred,” said Tremblay.

A provincial court justice will hear arguments at the end of June in Moncton. Donors are urged to go to GoFundMe.com and search for ‘Plants & Animals Take on NB Gov’t’ to contribute towards the group's court expenses.

Plants & Animals take on N.B. Gov't
Public consultation on snowmobile development at Mount Carleton
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - New Brunswick Chapter (CPAWS NB) is encouraging New Brunswickers to get involved in a public consultation on the provincial government’s proposed construction of snowmobile trails and hub in Mount Carleton Provincial Park. The provincial Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture has released an environmental assessment report on the proposal, and has invited members of the public to submit comments before November 21.

“CPAWS NB is very concerned about the impact of this project on the wilderness and wildlife of our iconic and wildest provincial park,” says Roberta Clowater, CPAWS NB Executive Director. “Unfortunately, the environmental assessment report does not do a good job of identifying the potential environmental impacts of such a trail. We encourage all New Brunswickers to share their views on this proposed project with our provincial government.”

CPAWS New Brunswick has reviewed the Environmental Assessment report, and developed a summary of comments that it hopes will contribute to the public discussion around this proposed development at Mount Carleton Provincial Park.

Our review found that:
• The provincial government has apparently not done surveys to determine if there are habitats for species at risk, such as bald eagles, Canada lynx, or Gaspé shrews along the proposed development route, especially the new snowmobile trail up the side of Mount Carleton.
• The report dismisses the potential impacts of snowmobile noise and compaction of snow on wildlife, ignoring a significant body of research that indicates snowmobiling can negatively impact moose, bald eagles, hibernating bears and small mammals over the long term.
• The report also ignores evidence that snowmobiles and groomers can reduce winter survival for small mammals by compacting snow or collapsing the tunnels they use to search for food, which could affect food sources for owls, hawks, Canada lynx, foxes, and American marten – resulting in impacts up the food chain.

“Mount Carleton Provincial Park is one of our most treasured landscapes and the provincial government is supposed to protect it as a beautiful wild place for all New Brunswickers to enjoy, now and in the future. The significant gaps in the assessment report reinforce CPAWS NB’s belief that the proposed new snowmobile trail up the side of Mount Carleton should not move forward. It is difficult to see how the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture can undertake this part of the project in a way that avoids or mitigates the potential impacts on wildlife and trail erosion. We hope the environmental assessment process gives serious consideration to all of the missing information related to this project, especially given the public expectation for higher scrutiny of development proposals in a provincial park,” Clowater noted.

The public can submit comments on or before November 21 to: lynn.white@gnb.ca or mailed to Lynn White, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1.
SSNB (StopSprayingNB) Petition Submission/ Présentation de la pétition SSNB
SSNB needs your support us as we step forward to let our voices be heard. Join us at the Legislature for the submission of the SSNB petition signatories. Bring your loud voice and all the signs, noisemakers and conviction you can muster.
Still Time to Submit Comments - Snowmobile Trail Development up Mount Carleton
You can still send in your comments until end of day Nov 21 (Monday) on the environmental assessment report about the proposed snowmobile trail at Mount Carleton Provincial Park. If you're not sure what to say, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - NB Chapter has summarized some of our key messages here: http://cpawsnb.org/images/upload/key_messages_EIA.pdf

Please send comments or questions to: lynn.white@gnb.ca or mail to: Lynn White, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1.
The clock is ticking for New Brunswick's nature - Take Action Now

We've been waiting over a year since many hundreds of people who care about New Brunswick's wilderness submitted comments to the provincial government on a proposal for new protected natural areas. The candidate areas included old forests, sensitive wildlife habitats, and wild rivers located in all corners of New Brunswick. More than a year later, the province still hasn’t announced what will happen with those candidate areas and while we wait for them to decide, industrial development approvals are proceeding at a rapid pace.

We need your help to keep the pot boiling so these proposed protected areas don’t drop off the province’s agenda. Please take a moment right now to send a simple letter to the Minister of Natural Resources, asking about the status of these candidate protected areas.

Take Action Now - Go to this link to write a letter: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2463/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14746

Currently, only 3% of New Brunswick is under any form of permanent protection. With your help, we can change that.Take action today!