Qalipu, conservation group sign agreement to protect Gander Lake area

The Qalipu First Nation is partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect ahistorically significant area of Gander Lake in central Newfoundland.

The 11,000-hectare area between the southwest and northwest rivers flowing into Gander Lake, known as Charlie's Place, holdsignificant biodiversity and cultural ties, according to the Qalipu Nation.

That includestwo at-risk bird species and 177 species of lichen including some species new to Canada and an abundance of the rare blue felt lichen.

The groups signed a memorandum of understanding to protectthe area this week.

"Charlie's Place is a very significant area. A lot of families from here have hunted and fished and, you know, used this land in very traditional ways for years and years, thousands of years," Qalipu Nation Interim Chief Jenny Brake said Tuesday.

"I just went up the river and looked at ... Charlie's Place. And my hope is that my grandchildren and great grandchildren will have the opportunity to do the same and see it in the same way I saw today."

Piers Evans, the Newfoundland and Labrador program director forthe Nature Conservancy of Canada, said this week's agreement is three years in the making. He credits Qalipuland monitor Justin Hodge for leading a community movement and working to see the project realized.

WATCH | Qalipu and NCC sign the agreement to protect Charlie's Place:

Charlie's Place is significant to the Mi'kmaq, and a new agreement will protect it

5 months ago

Duration 3:13

Qalipu First Nation is partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect 11,000 hectares of land between the southwest and northwest rivers flowing into Gander Lake, which officials hope can ensure its safety for generations to come. The CBC's Troy Turner reports.

"We have something to be proud of here, and something to protect for our future generations," Hodge told CBC News. "I think we really have a good chance of setting something aside for, for our children."

The area of Charlie's Place is in commercial demand, particularly in the fields of gold exploration and wood harvesting.

Evans said the ambition of the MOU is to ensure that land is protected, and that conversations are already underway to ensure pressures on using the land will be addressed.

There's been "several open and frank discussions between NCC and Newfound Gold and Qalipu First Nation, about the intentions that Qalipu First Nation has for this area to protect it. And, you know, they've been initially pretty receptive to that and ... willing to keep the dialogue going and seek a solution," he said.

"We're working with industry partners to make sure that development happens in a safe and responsible way," Brake added. "We're not there to oppose economic growth, but we're there to advocate for our lands and protect mother Earth."

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