When: Saturday, April 9, 2011
Where: The Lantern, St. John’s

Registration fee:
Full day (NLEN member rate) – Free
Full day (Non member rate) – $10
Conference only – Free!

– Limited transportation subsidies are available to NLEN members who register before the deadline.

March 22nd is UN-designated World Water Day, an occasion to mark the need to protect and conserve freshwater resources for the health of all communities around the world.

One of the most alarming developments in Canadian freshwater management in recent years is the introduction of a loophole in the federal Fisheries Act (Schedule 2 of the act’s Metal Mining Effluent Regulation), which allows mining companies to dump toxic mine waste into natural water bodies. The Fisheries Act prohibits the release of “deleterious substances” into fish-bearing waters and the alteration or destruction of fish habitat. But once a pond or lake is listed under Schedule 2, it becomes re-classed as a “tailings impoundment area”, and Fisheries Act protection no longer applies.

Newfoundland’s Duck Pond Mine (30 km south a Buchans) was the precedent setting first mine in Canada to be granted legal permission (under the above-noted Schedule 2) to dump its mine tailings into two ponds.  The mine began production in 2007 and is anticipated to have a 7.5 year mine life. Following approval of this development a number of other proposals to use freshwater bodies as dumping sites emerged (see http://www.miningwatch.ca/en/MMER_coalition_formed).

Amongst the list of natural water bodies under threat of conversion into a toxic waste site is Sandy Pond, Newfoundland, the proposed “tailings impoundment area” for Vale’s nickel processing plant to be located in Long Harbour, Placentia Bay.

In response to this proposal a group of concerned citizens has come together under the banner of the Sandy Pond Alliance to Protect Canadian Waters to fight for the protection of this pond, as well as all freshwater bodies put under threat by Schedule 2 of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulation. In March 2010 the group launched a legal challenge to declare Schedule 2 in violation of the Fisheries Act, as it contradicts the main purpose of the Fisheries Act, which is the conservation of fish and aquatic ecosystems.

Find out more about the Sandy Pond issue:
Sandy Pond Alliance to Protect Canadian Waters
Of Lakes and Mines: A Sandy Pond Chronicle

As a response to the decision of the Torbay Council to rezone the very sensitive rural lands adjacent to the Gosses Pond wetland (January issue of NAT), I have decided to mount a campaign to save this area from development, to make the public aware of the discretionary power of Council to amend its Municipal Plan, and to seek the public’s assistance in helping to protect the rural character of Torbay. 

I have deep roots in the Gosses Pond area and feel a tremendous responsibility to protect this vulnerable habitat so that all future residents and visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of this wetlands area.  There are many compelling reasons why all residents should care about what happens to this unique and pristine wetland.  Gosses Pond is a rich, productive Horse Tail Marsh containing a massive food source for fish and wildlife. Its tributaries provide rich, but highly competitive, spawning grounds for the Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout. The fish in this system eke out a very fragile existence and any change in the habitat could have a devastating impact on their population.  There is an unusually large population of Canada Yew growing in the Gosses Pond area, possibly the largest grouping of these shrubs on the Avalon Peninsula.  

Gosses Pond is a waterfowl hot spot and has been declared a critical wetland under the Municipal Wetland Stewardship Agreement signed by Torbay in 1997.   Under this agreement and its accompanying Habitat Management Plan, Council is responsible for ensuring the wise use of this wetland and its associated uplands and for preventing the negative impact of development on this vulnerable habitat.   The towns new Open Space Management Plan, which will soon be presented to Council, calls for all rural lands to be protected including the rural lands around Gosses Pond.  Gosses Pond is a community gem!

Since 2001, Torbay has been losing its rural lands at an unprecedented rate, mostly through amendments to our approved Municipal Plan.  Even our agricultural lands are threatened, with 170 acres being identified for rezoning by the provincial government in the recent review of the St. Johns Urban Region Agriculture Development Area.  Urban sprawl is rapidly destroying the valuable green lands and forests surrounding the developed core of Torbay, threatening our rural way of life.  Gosses Pond is just the latest in a long and growing list of ponds and pristine lands already developed or being sought after by developers: Western Island Pond, Jones Pond, Island Pond Brook, Whittys Ridge, Watts Pond, Gallows Cove Pond, the highlands north of Indian Meal Line, South Pond, and so on. 

The past few weeks have opened my eyes to what is happening in Torbay and around the Northeast Avalon.  Everywhere you look, natural green spaces and wetlands are shrinking or put at risk.  I have talked to many people affected by development issues and spent time doing research on municipal governance.  I sat at a Council meeting where five councillors admitted they had not visited the Gosses Pond area as part of their comprehensive review of the rezoning proposal.  As of today, not one of them has accepted my invitation to tour the area. I have sent letters to Council and created a web site: http://www.conservetorbay.info. 

My hope is to form a network of individuals dedicated to protecting the green spaces of Torbay like Gosses Pond. I am new at this and need the help and support of all Torbay residents. I also welcome advice from residents of other communities in the Northeast Avalon and elsewhere in the province who have been affected by the destruction of our rural areas. The public consultation process on the Gosses Pond rezoning has not yet begun, however, when it happens, the public only has a twelve-day window to send in their comments.  We have been told that we would need upwards of 20-50 letters for Council to pay attention.  I will keep the public updated on what is happening with the Gosses Pond proposal and what you can do through my web site.

Please join me in my efforts to protect Gosses Pond and other precious green spaces from development so that we can leave a healthy, rich and diverse environment for future generations to enjoy.  If we dont protect what we have now, more backcountry will be destroyed and opportunities to experience the outdoors will continue to shrink in Torbay.

By Lee Harvey (leeharvey@nl.rogers.com)

This Letter to the Editor was originally submitted to the Northeast Avalon Times (March 2011 edition) and is republished on this site at the request of the author.

WWF-Canada is thrilled to invite you to participate in Earth Hour again this year!

This event engages Canadians in a fun and celebratory way while raising awareness about action on climate change including how our own behaviours can influence real change.

Turn off your lights on Saturday March 26, between 8:30 – 9:30 pm for WWFs Earth Hour. Last year over a billion people around the world united to support solutions on climate change. And this year promises to be even bigger! Let your voice be heard and join this symbolic demonstration by switching off for an hour. 

How can you help?

Spread the word with POSTERS, LOGOS & TOOLKITS! Communicate Earth Hour to friends, family, co-workers, and your community. Free downloads are available at www.EarthHourCanada.org.  You can also post your event!

The message of this event is simple – – solutions are within our grasp and by working together we can solve it. Wed love to have your support.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Stephanie Nicholl, email: snicholl@wwfcanada.org or call (709) 722-9453.

It’s David Suzuki’s 75th birthday and Ashelin, winner of David Suzuki’s “Playlist For The Planet” will host a birthday party for him!

——————————————————————————-

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 

7:00 PM 

St. John’s, Newfoundland

Robert G. Reid III Theatre @ The Arts and Administration Building (Memorial University)

 
To make a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation fund click here 

Check out the event page on facebook or visit us @ ashelin.com

Interested in learning more about the fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources? 

More specifically, we are talking about access to genetic resources and Indigenous knowledge and the sharing of benefits derived from their use. People are interested in accessing Genetic Resources and Indigenous knowledge for a variety of industrial and intellectual applications.  Genetic Resources are being used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical innovations, and in food manufacturing and processing worth between 150 and 300 Billion $US annually. Resolving the issue of access and the fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources (ABS) is the third objective of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.  In October 2010 the parties to the Convention decided on a legally binding Nagoya Protocol that has the potential to forever change how we access genetic resources and ultimately protect Indigenous People’s rights and biodiversity. 

If you are interested in learning more about this please join the Educational Webinar taking place TOMORROW Tuesday March 22, 1:00-4:00 PM ET. 

To join the webinar please follow the link below. Please log in 10 minutes early to complete the set up wizard.

http://gcclive.wimba.com/launcher.cgi?room=RCEN

The ABS online training webinar is divided into 3 parts,

1)      Identifying the issue “what is ABS?” Presented by Peigi Wilson CPAWS

2)      The history of ABS negotiations – Laying the groundwork for Nagoya Protocol Presented by Alexander Kenny, CISDL

3)      Explanation and interpretation of the ABS Nagoya protocol Presented by Frederic Perron-Welch, CISDL

Please circulate this invitation widely.

If you have any questions, please contact Jessie Sadler, Biodiversity Caucus Coordinator, at 613-728-9810 ext. 224 or jessie@cen-rce.org

To learn more about ABS visit the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Nagoya Protocol Website

The Canadian Avalanche Foundation is sponsoring a talk by skier Andrew Stokes titled “Ski Touring in Western Newfoundland” on Wednesday March 23 at 7:30 pm in Room 315 at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. It is also a chance to see some of the newest avalanche maps for snowmobilers and skiers and find out what avalanche awareness activities have occurred this past winter. There will also be a chance to bid on some fine gear and local trips at the Silent Auction. All our welcome and the event is free.

For more information contact Keith Nicol at 639-1770.