The Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association is growing concerned about what it calls the provincial government’s delay in designating Wilderness Area status to Ship Harbour Long Lake.
The 14,000-hectare wilderness area in the eastern region of HRM is mostly without roads. By getting the Wilderness Area status, the site would be permanently protected from development and industrial activities such as logging and mining.
The group issued a press release yesterday noting that in December 2007, Premier Rodney MacDonald announced the government’s intention to protect the area with the Wilderness Area designation, with a completion date of last December. That deadline has passed, and association members are “puzzled” the process is overdue “with no firm designation in site.”
Bruce Nunn, a provincial spokesperson for the Department of Environment, said yesterday designating a site a Wildneress Area is a “very busy process.” He said the next step is a 60-day public consultation on the boundary areas. After that, it will need cabinet approval
