Stephenville Mayor Tom Rose is a big supporter of land conservation who plans to make a donation to the Nature Conservancy of Canada on its newest project in the Barachois area.
Fittingly, he plans on making the donation on #GivingTuesday (Nov. 28), an international event organized by charities as an alternative to the consumerism of Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday online shopping.
The donation will go toward supporting a project that will protect 195 acres of boreal forest bordering on Barachois Pond Provincial Park. The tract of land extends from the park boundary down a section of Barachois Brook toward the Route 490 turnoff on the Trans-Canada Highway, but is set back a distance from the highway.
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Rose said many people already have lots of “stuff” and instead of putting more money toward things that might end up unused in a closet or storage room, why not make a donation to help protect an ecosystem that supports vegetation and wildlife.
The area provides habitat for salmon, bald eagles, bats, fox, caribou, bear, snowshoe hare and pine marten, and Rose said he’s sure there’s moose there.
He said wildlife can’t speak on their own behalf, so giving to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for projects like this helps protect these animals and conserve local land.
During a meeting with Nature Conservancy of Canada representatives in September, he learned of the plans for this property.
“I immediately agreed with the project, since I’ve always been a supporter of protecting the environment and ecosystems for future generations,” he said. “I liked the other projects — The Grassy Place and Sandy Point properties that they have taken on.”
Rose, who is president of the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce, said he hopes to have a Nature Conservancy of Canada representative come in and address the chamber in the near future.
He says projects done by the conservancy are something that businesses should support.
Donations in support of the Nature Conservancy of Canada can be made online at www.natureconservancy.ca.
