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Development of a Natural Resources Strategy Hike Nova Scotia Encourage

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Development of a Natural Resources Strategy Hike Nova Scotia Encourage Submitted by: Debra Ryan, President HIKE NOVA SCOTIA Re: Development of a Natural Resources Strategy Hike Nova Scotia encourages and promotes hiking, walking and snowshoeing throughout Nova Scotia. We want to ensure that Nova Scotians and visitors enjoy a broad network of places for hiking, walking and snowshoeing in a responsible manner and we intend to be a hiking voice within Nova Scotia through promotion, advocacy and leadership. Our membership and many residents in Nova Scotia would use the many provincial parks, trails and crown land holdings located throughout the province. What is our Vision for the process? That Nova Scotia become known as a province that has respect for biodiversity and that is willing to: protect its forests; expand its parks and trails; meet the parks and protected area 12 per cent commitment; and provide access and parks on coastal regions with integrity, good science, planning and innovation which is respected world-wide and allows for non-consumptive recreation activities that places value on promoting an active healthy future. Quality environments equate to quality recreation experiences as we walk, hike or enjoy our natural environments and those that live there. Only 30 per cent of Nova Scotia’s landmass is in public ownership; a large portion under some type of lease agreement to various companies that can and do restrict public access, its protection and its preservation in some manner or another. Biodiversity: As evidenced in your report and through the public process, Nova Scotians do care about their natural resources and natural environments. The protection and conservation of our land base and its ecological survival to sustain biodiversity should be key components (building blocks/pillars) of any decisions that we make today for our collective future. Industry has a loud voice. It is important to our economy, as is the protection and conservation of natural resources and wildlife. Please guard against old practices of leasing away or giving away our land for consumptive purpose. Look for new ways to develop a visionary sustainable future that we can all be proud of. We all need to learn and understand best practices to support biodiversity. We must address the threats to wildlife by creating or improving habitat and preventing the spread of invasive species. We should look at habit connectivity when creating development plans near towns and villages - animals need to move around safely too! Fines should be levied against people who play with big machines in bogs, swamps and other sensitive areas – more education is needed in this regard; however, enforcement will help to stop it. Partnerships need to be formed with new and existing volunteer organizations and individuals to promote and educate others about biodiversity. Our natural environment provides fresh air, clean water and productive soil giving us food, medicine and natural products, a balanced economy with sustainable forestry practices, and a connection to nature which fosters thoughtful stewardships and appreciation for nature. It is why we want to walk, hike in the woods, along streams and along our coastal and inland reaches. The natural environment of Nova Scotia boasts a diversity of landscape opportunities, valued by residents and linked to quality-of-life experiences. These are all good reasons to work toward the goal of 12 per cent protection. Forests: Excerpt from the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute: “There is an unmistakable sense of calm and wonder that you feel when you walk through an ancient forest, with giant trees and moss covered ground. Unfortunately less than 1 per cent of the old-growth forests that used to thrive here in Nova Scotia still remain.” If this is all that we have left, it is shameful! We need to do more: commit to new and sustainable forestry practices; create incentives for large and small wood lot owners that strive for high sustainability standards; re-think clear cutting practices and look for more creative ways to manage and protect our forests; re-think and plan for BIOMASS cutting; guard against forest degradation that leave nothing behind to regenerate; continue with guidelines and legislation that provides buffer zones around lakes and waterways (no cutting zones); re-think the Small Tree Act and its impact on the future of Nova Scotia forests; and support silvaculture practices where needed. Some large companies are ahead of the pack when it comes to reaching for sustainability practices and improved ways to harvest and sustain the forests. Recognition of those initiatives should be applauded. There is a concern that new land management companies are moving into Nova Scotia. There is a need for a better understanding of the number of companies and the impact they may have on future recreation opportunities and the future of our forests and their protection. If government is allowing incentives to new and existing companies to operate in Nova Scotia, they should negotiate for public access across those lands that provide connectivity for future long distance hiking trails. Government should provide incentives to private companies to allow for designated long distance hiking trails across their property and find ways to balance their concerns over liability and other issues. Minerals: Support the moratorium on no uranium mining in Nova Scotia. There are more scientists and medical experts that can justify this, but safe to say it is in the best interest of our collective communities and their future health. Parks and Crown Land Holdings: In Nova Scotia we have a physical inactivity crisis and getting people into the physical activity habit is never easy. Promoting a more active healthy lifestyle has benefits too numerous to mention. Continue to plan for and develop new park systems that will provide for a variety of recreation experiences for both residents and visitors. There are many parks and trails but they need to have budgets that will reflect their importance to our society. The Cape Chignecto Provincial Park is impressive in that provides for excellent hiking opportunities. The park features 29 kilometres (18 miles) of pristine coastline. Better promotion is needed. Create a world-class hiking destination on crown land at Cape Split in the Annapolis Valley that will focus attention on the Bay of Fundy coastal property. Allow staff time to plan long-range hiking opportunities that provide connectivity across the province thereby engaging more Nova Scotians. A strong walking/hiking community exists across Nova Scotia. We need a hiking vision and a province-wide trail network that will be an attraction to both residents and national and international visitors. Work with other departments to have a hiking strategy for Nova Scotia that can rival Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail, Ontario’s Bruce Trail and British Columbia’s West Coast Trail, to name only a few. Partnerships with both the public and private sector will be needed. Support volunteer organizations who are working to create the Cape to Cape Trail. Once complete, the trail will be the longest (approx 400 km long) in Nova Scotia. It will connect Cape Chignecto to Cape George and involve Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou and Antigonish Counties. If we truly want a long-distance hiking vision for Nova Scotia, then we must look at creative legislation, bylaws and other supporting methods to create these opportunities. Allow connectivity through crown land holdings to promote short and long distance hiking opportunities on crown land holdings, i.e. Cobequid Eco-Trails Society. Our national parks have outstanding hiking opportunities from Kejimkujik National Park and National Historical Site of Canada, Keji Seaside Adjunct to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. These, combined with our provincial parks and trails, municipal parks, and community trails can better position Nova Scotia as a hiking destination. Work in cooperation with existing volunteer organizations and other department/agencies to develop a best practice manual for creating long-distance hiking trails in Nova Scotia. Work in cooperation with existing trail groups and give them priority when they are planning for the development of new hiking trails on crown lands. Volunteers are good at what they do, but they need consistent guidelines and quicker approvals through the Department of Natural Resources. Provide leadership with other government agencies to find creative solutions for linear access across private lands for designated short and long distance hiking trails. Hike NS and the NS International Appalachian Trail Chapter (NSIAT) are working to create a hiking route through Nova Scotia linking New Brunswick and Newfoundland. We have the opportunity to position the NSIAT section though some of the best landscape in Nova Scotia as a long-term vision and we need support from all government levels to make this happen. Provide resources to support existing initiatives. Continue the Parks are for People program and expand programs that promote NS parks and trails. Ensure that resources aggregate extraction on public beaches is not tolerated. Continue to protect access to our coastal and inland waterways and create a coastal strategy that engages both municipal and provincial leadership and other supporting partners. Residents value and visitors come to Nova Scotia to use our beaches and to hike our coastlines. We are losing ground in the protection of these valuable regions. Partner with agencies/municipalities to protect canoe carries and portages that provide short hiking opportunities and safe passage between the many lakes and waterways. Support the development of land trusts and build on the successes that have been created and create opportunities where folks can develop hiking trails and linkage systems on those lands. Hike NS will continue its efforts to build partnerships engage more youth and residents of all ages to promote a healthy active future for walking, hiking and snowshoeing in the province. Thanks for the opportunity to give a perspective.
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