Submitted by Andrew Robinson
Your Vision:
Retaining the natural resources for future generations; sustainable farming of resources; limit clear cutting; increase public access for all groups.
Strengths:
Biodiversity is critical to all life - remove one link in the chain and suddenly there can be catastrophic impact elsewhere.
Forests ARE Canada & Nova Scotia. This is what makes this province unique. Sustainable forestry means NOT clear cutting huge areas. Managed forestry in Europe creates natural beauty and a strong economy.
Mineral extraction is a valuable resource but carries high environmental prices. Those benefiting from the extraction should be the ones covering the environmental impact.
Parks and public access is vital to tourism, active health for residents and to ensure people can appreciate the natural beauty and campaign against some big business exploitation of natural resources.
Barriers and Issues:
Environmental factors are significant - especially with mineral extraction and clear cut forestry.
Parks and public access have to be managed and this carries a cost which has to be covered. Most likely way to cover this is through land usage charges.
Community's Priorities:
Planned development to preserve natural spaces and natural corridors for public use, wildlife and biodiversity, whilst accommodating the needs of a growing city.
Guiding the health and sustainability:
Properly managed access for all those who want to use the wilderness - whether on foot, on horseback or on motorised or non-motorised vehicles.
Environmental assessment as a critical planning activity for any wilderness development - residential, commercial, mining etc. Assessment to be independent of government and landowners.
Additional Comments:
My greatest concern is that the rights of access to Crown lands should remain in place for all, whether on foot or in motorised vehicles. There may need to be some form of registration or licencing to manage access effectively - registered clubs, off road licencing for vehicles etc. I am also very concerned about the need to preserve green space and wilderness whilst allowing economic growth and expansion.