Voluntary Planning

A New Natural Resources Strategy

The Department of Natural Resources has announced plans for a new natural resources strategy that will govern future directions for Nova Scotia's forests, minerals, parks and biodiversity. Nova Scotians will play an important role in shaping this strategy. The department has asked Voluntary Planning to lead a process to hear from citizens.

The Natural Resources Committee of Voluntary Planning (view bios) will engage citizens in discussions to reveal what is most valued about these four key natural resources components and how they relate to each other. The values expressed in these conversations will lay the foundation for later work in developing the strategy.

What are the steps in the development of the strategy?

The development of a long-term strategy that will address the four natural resource components of minerals, forests, parks and biodiversity will be divided into three phases:

• Phase I (2008): Voluntary Planning’s Natural Resources Committee will lead a citizen engagement process
• Phase II (2009): A panel of independent experts will conduct more detailed analysis
• Phase III (2010): The department will write the new strategy using inputs from the first two phases

How does this strategy relate to the province’s corporate plan A New Nova Scotia?

Through the New Nova Scotia: A Path to 2020, Nova Scotia aims to have one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by 2020. To help reach that goal, new strategies are being developed for water, natural resources, energy, climate change and coastal management.

What is the timeline for the citizen engagement phase and how can I get involved?

Nova Scotians were encouraged to particiapte in community meetings that were held from May 12 to June 12 across the province. Written submissions continue to be accepted until July 31, 2008.

Voluntary Planning’s Natural Resources Citizen Engagement Committee will analyze all information received during this first phase. By December 2008, findings will be presented to a panel(s) of experts to be established by the Department of Natural Resources and released in a public report. Any information pertinent to other government departments will be forwarded.

Phase II of the strategy development process will be led by the expert panel(s) that will conduct a more detailed analysis of the findings of Phase I.

Phase III involves Department of Natural Resources staff using the values, findings, report and recommendations from Phase I and Phase II to write the final strategy.

For further information, please contact:
Rita Fraser
Project Coordinator
Voluntary Planning
Phone: 902-424-8644/toll free 1-866-858-5850
E-mail: volplan@gov.ns.ca