Government of New Brunswick

Provincial Parks Planning

parkmanagementplans-category

As per the Parks Act, management plans must be prepared for all New Brunswick provincial parks on a 10-year cycle. The goal is to ensure management of the land is consistent with our legal mandate - protection, outdoor recreation, heritage appreciation and tourism.

A management plan or statement is a document that outlines the vision for each park and guides park management decisions over the long term. It includes an overview of the services and amenities at each park, a zoning map identifying uses of land permitted in various locations (particularly public use) and protected areas which will not be accessible to the public.  

Public consultation is an important component of the planning process.  These plans are developed through discussions with local communities, First Nations, local governments, and other interest groups.

Projects

   

New River Beach

Situated along the Bay of Fundy in Charlotte County.

  

Management Planning Process

  

A management statement is an interim, document that addresses a limited number of non-complex issues for limited capital infrastructure or resource management projects. A management statement provides management direction for one or more provincial parks.

A management plan is a more substantial undertaking and deals with complex issues and proposals for substantial capital infrastructure or resource management projects for one or more provincial parks.

Park management plans will:

  • Situate the provincial parks within a landscape context, both geographically and as a part of the New Brunswick parks system.
  • Describe the key features and values of the protected area (such as natural, cultural and recreation values).
  • Identify current and future appropriate management activities.
  • Determine the appropriate levels of use and development.
  • Establish the long-term vision and management objectives to be met.
  • Respond to current and predicted future threats to meeting the vision and values of the provincial park.

Management
Statement
(non-complex)

Management Plan
(moderately complex and
very complex)

  

1. Limited Resource Management

  • Highlights potential negative impact on sensitive natural or cultural values
  • Highlights human or natural threats.
  • Status quo or custodial management.

  

1. Substantial Resource Management

  • Assesses potential negative impact on sensitive natural or cultural values.
  • Assesses human or natural threats.
  • Assesses maintenance of natural or cultural values.

2. Issues or Proposals

  • New decisions, if required, are few and non-complex
  • Low potential impact on adjacent landowners.
  • Status quo zoning scheme.

2. Issues or Proposals

  • Contemplates multiple and complex decision on issues/proposals.
  • Moderate to high potential impact on adjacent landowners.
  • Assesses future zoning schemes and adaptive management techniques.

3. Capital Infrastructure

  • Maintains existing infrastructure and/or formalize existing road(s) to manage uses, but no new roads. Minimum essential new infrastructure to support existing use and management (e.g., parking, privies).
  • Routine maintenance; limited change in capacity, except for safety.
  • Allows for low-impact trail development.

3. Substantial New Capital Infrastructure

  • Presents framework for future, major changes in existing infrastructure footprint.
  • Defines maintenance of infrastructure beyond minimal essential      infrastructure and how to adapt to increased capacity requirements.
  • Envisions future trail network(s) and highlights potential for impacts.

4. Boundaries and Resources

  • Delineates existing boundaries.

4. Boundaries and Resources

  • Identifies boundary amendments, consolidations and reclassification if required.

5. Resources

  • Defines current fiscal and staffing resources.

5. Resources

  • Recommends effective and efficient allocation and prioritization of fiscal and staff resources.

A management statement will become a management plan after engagement with First Nations and the Public Planning Advisory Committee has produced agreement on implementation objectives and actions for the long-term resource management of a given park.

First Nations Advisory Committee

  

First Nations have expressed interest in and have shared knowledge of the park and surrounding area. First Nations communities have used the area for hunting, trapping, fishing, gathering and travel. These uses may continue, subject to public safety, conservation and other considerations.

Public Planning Advisory Committee

  

The Resource Management Planning Advisory Committee assists in guiding the management planning process for the creation of Resource Management Plans for Provincial Parks. Committee members will represent a range of stakeholders including conservation groups, recreation organizations and tourism operators.