Photo: flickr.com/m.crosbie

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network has released a set of Environmental Policy Recommendations and a Questionnaire for consideration of all political parties in the upcoming fall provincial election.

The environmental policy recommendations address a number of issues in our province: protected area establishment, climate change, offshore oil pollution, forestry management, mining, and wildlife protection. The companion questionnaire brings together questions related to many of these issues. “We are aiming to engage the parties and the voting public in a dialogue about how we as a province can transition towards environmental sustainability,” stated Chris Hogan of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network.

The questionnaire and policy recommendations have been compiled through input of member organisations and partners of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network.

 “The decline in caribou numbers across our increasingly fragmented forest landscapes is but one sign that resource development as now practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador is unsustainable. Implementation of these policy recommendations, with emphasis on comprehensive planning and adequate protected areas, will place us on a solid foundation with respect to the management and protection of our natural heritage,” offered John Jacobs of Nature Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We need to rethink and re-evaluate how we view and use our renewable and non-renewable resources in this province. All too often they are used to achieve short-term political goals with little consideration for future generations,” stated Fred Winsor of Sierra Club of Canada (Atlantic Canada Chapter). “We see this policy document as focusing on long term healthy environmentally sound strategies for deep rooted future economic stability.”

The policy document and questionnaire are being sent to all political parties, and responses to the questionnaire will be shared with the public prior to the election at www.nlen.ca.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network is a provincial network of approximately 35 non-governmental, non-profit environmental groups, including Sierra Club of Canada – Atlantic Chapter and Nature Newfoundland and Labrador, among others.

FILES:
Environmental Policy Recommendations – August 29, 2011
Environmental Policy Questionnaire – August 29, 2011

For further information contact:

Chris Hogan, Executive Director
Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network
(709) 753-7898 / nlen.ed@gmail.com / www.nlen.ca  

John Jacobs, President
Nature Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 738-3147 / jjacobs@nl.rogers.com / http://naturenl.ca 

Fred Winsor, Conservation Chair
Sierra Club of Canada – Atlantic Chapter
(709) 738-3781/ winsorf@nl.rogers.com  / www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic/