Wilderness Areas Protection Act Amendments Proposed

The Minister of Environment is introducing amendments to the Wilderness Areas Protection Act to clarify issues of access to provincial wilderness areas and improve the way they are managed.

"We are addressing some long-standing concerns by tightening up this act," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Environment. "These improvements will ensure that our wilderness areas are properly protected, and soundly managed."

Amendments for vehicle use in wilderness areas reflect recommendations by the Nova Scotia Off-highway Vehicle Ministerial Advisory Committee after years of public discussion and deliberation.

"I would like to sincerely thank the advisory committee for their thorough attention to all the issues and concerns," said Mr. Belliveau. "We are pleased to be able to move forward based on the committee's recommendations."

Vehicle use in Nova Scotia's protected wilderness areas is generally prohibited, except in specific circumstances. The proposed amendments would clarify the circumstances under which vehicle use can be permitted. Vehicles will be restricted to a limited number of managed trails in specific wilderness areas.

"We are pleased to see the province is acting to continue protecting our wilderness while carefully considering the very specific circumstances in some wilderness areas that needed addressing in legislation," said Laurie Cranton, chair of the Nova Scotia Off-Highway Vehicle Ministerial Advisory Committee.

The amendments would also clarify the provisions for vehicle access to leased campsites in wilderness areas. In those cases, vehicle access could be approved if needed for maintenance or repair of campsite structures, or to remove materials.

Leased campsites are small pieces of provincially owned land in protected wilderness areas leased by individuals who have cabins or other structures on them.

Provincial wilderness areas are places for people to enjoy non-motorized wilderness recreation such as canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting and hiking. The amendments will allow the minister to permit managed off-highway vehicle use on specific, major connector routes in three existing wilderness areas, and through new lands that may be added to existing wilderness areas. They will allow access by vehicle in a few specific areas and only where the Department of Environment has determined there will be minimal or no adverse effect.

Another amendment that deals with vehicle access would help maintain a safe and successful moose harvest in Polletts Cove-Aspy Fault Wilderness Area in northern Cape Breton. It will provide two more years for government to work with the Mi'kmaq, the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and other partners, so that hunters and guides can transition away from the use of off highway vehicles. The goal is to have a viable, non-motorized hunt in that wilderness area.

The amendments also clarify the provisions of the act to allow access to Hay Island, part of Scatarie Island Wilderness Area, for the purposes of the seal harvest. They give the minister the appropriate tools to allow the seal harvest on that island if it is authorized by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The minister would have the authority to set strict conditions to minimize potential effects of the licensed harvest on the environment. The minister's conditions could include restricting the use of vehicles by sealers, restricting the length of the access period and requiring that all waste and refuse from the harvest be removed from the island.

For more information about the amendments to the Wilderness Areas Protection Act, visit www.gov.ns.ca/nse/protectedareas .