Nova Scotia will maintain protection for wildlife areas, game sanctuaries

Nova Scotia is going to maintain protection for 26 wildlife areas and game sanctuaries, and will set up nine protected coastal areas.

The provincial minister of natural resources released a review on the sanctuaries on Wednesday, saying the public is indicating it wants to keep development out of the areas.

Richard Hurlburt also says there is broad public support for the creation of nine new wildlife management areas, and regulations will be developed and approved to establish them.

Hurlburt says the province will also review "improved habitat protection for current sanctuaries."

However, the minister has stopped short of meeting environmentalists' requests that clear cutting be banned on the outskirts of the protected areas.

Environmentalists have also called for prohibitions on intensive logging and mining in the sanctuaries.