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     Too much 
     
    
   
   
    
     '-.— 
     
    
   
   
    
     ¢¢+ ‘ u ? 
     
     ouchlng .  
     
     It seems odd that in 
     
     this year of Touch Nature we 
     
     should be worrying about the 
     
     provincial government's posi— 
     
     tion on natural areas. Two 
     
     proposed developments — at 
     
     Greenwich and Boughton Island 
     
     both would need government . 
     
     action and approval to go t; 
     
     ahead. will they get it? \. . ,2 t ‘ . 
     
     They are two very different areas, but both are beautiful, sensitive 
     
     and represent some of the best natural areas left on P.E.I. And the same 
     
     developers are involved with both properties. The Island Nature Trust 1 
     
     is leading the fight against development at Greenwich and has suggested ‘ 
     
     a land trade for nearby, less—sensitive land. The Land Use Commission 
     
     would have to 'de-identify' the 740-acre parcel of land if the 385 
     
     condominium complex were to go ahead. According to Update, the Trust's 
     
     newsletter, "it is one of the finest sand dune systems in the province 
     
     and there are rare species and even endangered species such as the 
     
     Piping Plover in the area. Additionally, for archaeological and histor- 
     
     ical reasons the property is important in the context of north eastern 
     
     North America." It goes on to say that "if an important area like the . 
     
     Greenwich dunes can't be saved, then there is little hope for any other 
     
     area." 
     
     Land Use Commission hearings began on April 25 in West Royalty 
     
     and hearings will also be held in St. Peters. 
     
     .The Natural History Society sent a letter to Honourable Gilbert 
     
     Clements, Minister of the Department, voicing concern over the proposed 
     
     development on Boughton Island. The 47-cottage subdivision and link to 
     
     one our last undeveloped natural areas would adversely effect wildlife, 
     
     including a Great Blue Heron rookery. Geoff Hogan, NHS director and 
     
     well-known authority on birds, says "P.E.I. has only a few offshore 
     
     islands left where herons still nest and each is critical to the sur- 
     
     vival of the herons on the Island." 
     
     The loss of habitat for Common Terns, Ospreys, cormorants and other 
     
     birds, and the potential negative effects of any link on the marine life 
     
     only compound the problem. 
     
     The Society is also concerned that any swap of provincially—owned 
     
     land on Boughton Island — land that was purchased for conservation 
     
     purposes - would give developers a clear signal that development is 
     
     more important than conservation. This would set an unacceptable pre- 
     
     cedent. 
     
     If you are concerned about these issues, your presence at the 
     
     hearings would let politicians know where you stand. Letters to local 
     
     newspapers and to politicians can also make a difference. You can bet 
     
     that the developers are lobbying extensively on their own behalf. 
     
    
   
   
    
     - Gary Schneider .