FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OCTOBER 18, 2021
FREDERICTON, NB

In May of 2021 and the following months, hundreds of New Brunswickers came together to call on the provincial government for more robust wetland protection because of the tragic wetland draining at the Ferris Street Forest and Wetland Nature Preserve in Fredericton.  Thanks to the quick actions of those who witnessed the draining, and supporters who signed petitions, shared posts on social media, called their MLAs, wrote letters, called into radio shows, and brought attention to this critical matter, the provincial government halted the work and pumped water back into the wetland from nearby Regiment Creek.

Nature Trust of New Brunswick (Nature Trust) has been notified that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) has returned to the culvert under Route 105 to install an inlet control structure as per the conditions of their Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permit granted by the Department of Environment and Local Government.

The Nature Trust is aware of the work set to begin this week and ending by October 30. Our stewardship staff was on-site to discuss the work plan with DTI on Tuesday, October 11th, 2021. 

The protection of the wetland during infrastructure upgrades and the installation of the inlet control structure is a start. The Nature Trust appreciates this approach, the more site-specific evaluation to protect unique wildlife and habitats, and better communication by both departments of its intentions and plans that impact Ferris Street Forest and Wetland Nature Preserve. 

The Nature Trust stewards and staff will continue to monitor the Ferris Street Forest and Wetland Nature Preserve as our priority is to ensure that the sensitive habitat on our preserves remain intact for the flora and fauna that reside there.  This cannot happen again. Engineering and infrastructure-focused staff need proper training before completing this work in ecologically sensitive areas. Furthermore, proposal review staff need the human resources and tools to make decisions and set conditions that reflect the site-specific wetland.

In the case of the Ferris Street Forest and Wetland Nature Preserve, the public’s voice was heard loud and clear. We hope that care and appreciation of wetlands is being taken seriously by all members of the provincial government, from field staff to decision-makers, and that lessons will be applied to the proper protection of wetlands and watercourses across the province.

If a devastating event like this can happen to a highly visible urban protected nature preserve, we need renewed public confidence that our wetland protection laws ensure rural and out-of-sight wetlands, do not experience the same treatment. 

The Nature Trust looks forward to working with our provincial government agencies, partners and supporters to build stronger protection of New Brunswick’s wetlands.

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ABOUT THE NATURE TRUST OF NEW BRUNSWICK: 

Established in 1987, the Nature Trust of New Brunswick is a charitable land conservation organization dedicated to preserving the province’s ecologically significant landscapes. To date, the Nature Trust has conserved over 10,000 acres in more than 60 beautiful and diverse nature preserves in New Brunswick. Our mission is to conserve areas in New Brunswick that are ecologically significant, to establish nature preserves that remain protected forever, to steward the preserves through a network of volunteers and supporters, and to engage with the public on the importance of land conservation, New Brunswick’s natural heritage, biodiversity, and species at risk. 


MEDIA CONTACT:

Eugénie Gaujacq
Communications Coordinator
Email: eugenie.gaujacq@ntnb.org
Telephone: (506) 457-2398