An urban-rural divide appears to have emerged as the result of public consultations into the province’s Protected Areas Plan for the Island of Newfoundland.

WERAC, or the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council, released its What We Heard document this week.

Last year’s public consultation process was altered due to the pandemic. More than 633 submissions were made, with the majority coming from within the province.

Just over half of those involved in the process—56 per cent—supported the plan to some extent. For those who did not support the plan—44 per cent—people were either generally against the proposed reserves or against specific proposed reserves or protecting a region.

Support for the plan was strong on the Avalon and in the Western/Southwestern part of the island but was lowest on the Great Northern Peninsula and Baie Verte region which largely reflects public response to the initial release of the report.

The most common reason given for those opposed to the plan was concern about the continuation of traditional activities in order to survive including hunting, fishing, and woodcutting for home heating.

A small number of respondents—eight per cent—expressed worry that protected areas could create increase economic risk especially in areas that have suffered a downturn in the local economy.

The top concern in the Avalon region surrounded the protection of wildlife, species, and habitats.

Meanwhile, the local chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is pleased with the release of WERAC’s What We Heard document yesterday.

C-PAWS says the report captures the comments, concerns, and recommendations brought forward from the public.

Executive Director Tanya Edwards says it’s evident that residents value the province’s natural areas and they urge the provincial government to provide support to WERAC and provincial staff to carry out transparent consultations with the public as they move into the next phase of implementing the “long overdue” Protected Areas Plan for the island.

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As per the report:
The Basics: The majority of respondents support the Plan to some extent. Many want more protected area than is currently proposed, while others think too much area is being proposed.

Some respondents said they believed that existing legal protection or local stewardship is enough to protect the land. Others see the Plan as a way to protect wildlife, or rare or endangered species, and their habitat. Support for the Plan and concerns vary by region.

Many people want to continue traditional activities in the proposed reserves and continue to use and maintain their cabins. The impact of reserves on the future rural economy is viewed as both a concern and an opportunity.

People want to move forward with local public consultations (Phase 2) and provide more education and improved communications in developing boundaries and how reserves are managed.

Regardless of support level for the Plan, respondents communicated a deep love of and respect for the land, and nature.

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