Meeting the Provincial Goal to Protect 12% of Nova Scotia by 2015

The Mineral Resources Perspective

12 % is coming !… 12 % is coming !!!

12% Chicken Little

Why Protected Areas?

• Conserve biodiversity• Deliver ecosystem services• Act as benchmarks for science and research• Provide for spiritual and physical renewal• Provide experiences with nature• Support healthy recreation• Embody cultural values• Contribute to local and regional economies• Leave a legacy

The world's protected areas are the greatest legacy we can leave to future generations - to ensure that our descendants have

access to nature and all the material and spiritual wealth that it represents.

IUCN – World Commission on Protected Areas

Economy RiverWilderness Area

Why Protected Areas?

• So that some areas look like this.

Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act

2007

(1) The long-term environmental and economic objective of the Province is to fully integrate environmental sustainability and economic prosperity and to this end to:

(a) demonstrate international leadership by having one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by the year 2020; and

(b) provide certainty to all sectors of the economy through the Government's economic development strategy entitled Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and establish clear environmental goals while improving the Province's economic performance to a level that is equal to or above the Canadian average by the year 2020.

(2) To achieve the long-term objectives set forth in subsection (1), the Province's environmental and economic goals are to ensure:

(a) twelve per cent of the total land mass of the Province will be legally protected by the year 2015;

Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act

“legally protected” includes designated and protected under the Wilderness Areas Protection Act, under the Special Places Protection Act, as a national park under the National Parks Act (Canada), under the Conservation Easements Act or under the Canada Wildlife Act (Canada), primarily dedicated to the protection of biodiversity and natural processes under the Provincial Parks Act or held by non-government charitable land trusts.

• Consistent with international standards (IUCN Class I-III)

• Primarily dedicated to the protection of nature and biodiversity

• Permanence

• Aligns with existing protected areas system

What Counts Toward 12%

The Challenge in Nova Scotia

• Limited land base– >70% in private ownership

• Long history of settlement and use– Many roads & disturbances

• Competition for limited Crown land–Mineral and Forest Resource

use– Protection

Environment Department

12 % by 2015 But Where?

Protected Areas

Other Provincial LandTOTAL 91.5% (5,057,110 hectares)

Legally Protected Land

in Nova ScotiaTOTAL – ~ 8.5% (470,890 hectares)

- wilderness areas (314,680 ha)

- nature reserves (4,915 ha)

- larger provincial parks (10,544 ha)

- national parks (134,978 ha)

- national wildlife areas (2,397 ha)

- land trust lands (3,376 ha)

- current Candidate Areas (40,000ha)To meet 12% target (663 360 ha)

Current 12% study areas (220,000 ha) Additional Needed ~ (150,000 ha)

Total Land Base of Nova Scotia

5,528,000 hectares

But what 150,000 ha out of the 220,000 should we Protect?

Industry Input Needed Here !!!!

223,336 ha

152,597 ha Progress

(ha); Gap; 107,157

Progress (ha); Pur-

chased; 45,440

Progress (ha); In Process; 36,504

Progress (ha); Pro-tected; 474,399

GapPurchased

663,500

8.58%

0.66%0.82 %

1.94 %

12%

January 2013

Progress in 2012 on 12 % Lands Review

• 12% Process Information• Land Information

– Maps• 444 patches of “12% review lands” (about

220,000 ha)note: about 150,000 ha is needed to reach 12%

– Geological Services Review Patch by Patch

– Collected information Mining and Prospector workshops• One-on-one meetings• Individual written submissions

BobBob

Mining Industry Environmental NGO’s

Sometimes it feels that both sides are out to get you…. But a compromise is possible if we work together ….

Government Government

Not what is meant by a 12% Target

12 %12 %

Sometimes we need to look at issues from the other’s point of view

$$

No Thanks

Before

After

An Environmentalist’s View of Mining

$$

Thanks

Before

After

A geologist’s View of Mining

Mitigation of Impacts on Mineral Industry

• Current “12% review lands”– more than what is needed to reach 12%– boundaries are being adjusted

• Geological Services Division has prepared a tool for this process using the mineral potential mapping which provides detailed information for the evaluation process

• Updated 2012 Information from mineral interests are needed to help evaluate lands under review --- No later than Nov. 2012

• We Need Your Input !!!

Geological Services Division has provided a tool to assist you in the

consultation process

Go to DNR then Minerals then digital data and to 12% Lands for Review

DNR IMS 12% Lands for Review

Geological Services Division has conducted a patch by patch review

(polygon by polygon)

DNR Internal Review Tool

Geological Services Division Internal Review Tool allows us to extract information claim

by claim

Get Involved

• Look at the 12% review lands maps & information– online patch maps and descriptions– DNR Minerals IMS Mineral Potential

mapping

• Tell us what is important to you and why– 2012 Exploration updates on 12% Patches– written comments now!!!

• Participate in the consultation of the Draft Plan (2013) Boundary changes still possible

If you have information please share it with us

Main Box 442, 5151 Terminal Road, Halifax, NS B3J 2P8

Tel; (902) 424-2117

Mineral Resources: contact Bob Ryan (rjryan@gov.ns.ca)

Tel; (902) 424-8148

Protected Areas & Wetlands BranchNova Scotia Environment

www.gov.ns.ca/nse/protectedareasEmail; protectedareas@gov.ns.ca

& Natural Resources