Agreement protects trail sections

A new agreement will mean that trees in an area between Doyles and Mollichignick won't end up at the paper mill in Corner Brook.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited and the International Appalachian Trail (Newfoundland and Labrador) have signed an agreement to protect five areas of western Newfoundland where the trail network plans to expand.

Those expansion plans include redeveloping and extending the Starlight Trail.

One of those special management areas is on the east side of the Trans-Canada Highway in the Long Range Mountains roughly between Doyles and Mollichignick. The other areas, which range up the west coast to the Northern Peninsula, include Serpentine, Chimney Cove, Brian's Inner Pond and Western Blue Inner Pond valleys.

The paper company holds the timber rights in the areas, but has agreed to an indefinite moratorium on operations and development. That means no harvesting or road construction in these areas, which cover more than 300 square kilometres, while this agreement is in effect.

Fishing, hunting and snowmobiling in the areas will not be affected.

"The five areas in question are geographically dispersed and include an abundance of biological and geological diversity," said Stephen Balsom, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's planning and development superintendent.

"The majority is merchantable timber, with the most being old-growth forest."

The agreement makes the areas more marketable, according to Paul Wylezol, the trail network's president. He said the designation as "special management areas" will help attract visitors.

The trail group also hopes the provincial government will expand the protection and enlarge the footprint of the management areas to include adjacent Crown land. Some of the land the group would like to see covered includes more of the Long Range Mountains east of the Codroy Valley.

Future plans

Mr. Wylezol said the hope is to extend the trail through the mountains north of the Starlight Trail in the coming years.

The dream is to create a "hut-to-hut" network for hikers and other trail users. That means a series of cabins would be created along the trail within hiking distance of each other so outdoor enthusiasts could spend several days on the trail.

Mr. Wylezol said such a model could significantly expand the outdoor adventure industry and lengthen the outfitting season by creating work for guides for many more weeks than current hunting and fishing activities.

The local trail president also sees other employment opportunities, including transportation and camp staff. He said businesses in local communities could see increased business as trail users stop for food and lodging before they start their adventure and after returning from the trail.

He sees the infrastructure being put in place by a mixture of public and private interests. Mr. Wylezol said the International Appalachian Trail committee would want to see a workable long-term plan combining the two interests before moving forward.

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