Funding woes leave Sable Island future in doubt    

CTV.ca News Staff September 24, 2004

Nova Scotia's famed Sable Island is known for having no trees, lots of sand, wild horses -- and, maybe, one more thing, as well: No people.

After 200 years of human habitation, the current residents there may quickly become the last.

In 1998, the Sable Island Preservation Trust took over management of the Island from government.

Sable Island is about 300 kilometers southeast of Halifax.

But the Trust has discovered that management of the island is more difficult and costly than expected, says Rick Grant, a reporter with CTV affiliate, ATV, in Halifax.

"The Trust has been at times overwhelmed by the responsibility for the health and safety of the lives of staff," April Hennigar, President of the Sable Island Trust told Grant.

Hennigar says her group wants to scrap the six-year-old deal. It wants to continue its conservation work on the island, but give back management to the government.

"Everyone wants a human presence on the island," says Hennigar.

Zoe Lucas agrees. She's a biologist who has spent most her life since the mid 1970s on Sable Island.

"Its a very important facility for atmospheric research. It contributes to our understanding of global warming and pollution," says Lucas.

It costs $1 million a year to keep the Sable station open, but the group that runs it has only half that amount.

Hennigar said money problems have only gotten worse, recently, despite some positive moves.

A funding drive this past summer fell far short of what it was hoping to achieve.

And she said, while the Nova Scotia Government recently kicked in $100,000 but the oil industry, several big oil companies -- Exxon, Mobil and Encana -- pulled out almost $150,000.

"This year's funding runs out at the end of March 2005," said Grant. "There's no commitment from anyone after that."