Nova Scotians are encouraged to provide feedback on a new conceptual plan for more than 1.5-million acres of Crown land in the western region of the province.

“Nova Scotians told us they want to be involved in managing their land to ensure sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits for communities,” said Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker.

“They recognize that different land uses need to be balanced, and we think that the conceptual plan provides that balance.”

The plan provides a strategic vision of how management of the diverse Crown land in western Nova Scotia could proceed.

It includes a map that divides the western region into 19 areas and five planning units. Almost 700 people attended public open houses and more than 200 people submitted written comments during extensive consultations, earlier this year on the best ways to use land, including those purchased from Bowater Mersey Ltd.

The deadline for comments is Sept. 9. Comments will be considered before the final plan is released in early fall.

The conceptual plan is available at http://novascotia.ca/natr/land/western-land/.

Source: Release