Bishop Park Research Station: Difference between revisions

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===Establishment===
===Establishment===
After the destruction of the previous research station, the Canadian Government was hesitant to pour more funding into the area. The previous station had reportedly drained its entire research budget before going up in flames and the government was not immediately interested in rebuilding. However another economic effect of the loss of the station was on the local residents and businesses which had relied on the staff of the installation to stimulate their local economy. In 1980 the population of Hantspire was around 2000 with hundreds more commuting from nearby villages and towns, but by 1994 the population was just under 500. Long-time residents of the area petitioned the government to rebuild the facility and continue their research in order to revitalise the town. The petition gained traction when an environmental protections advocacy group picked up the petition as a way to protect the local ecosystem which they believed to be at risk without the governments intervention. The group used the parks reputation for housing unique species and rich biodiversity as reasons it should be protected and studied.
After the destruction of the previous research station, the '''Canadian Government''' was hesitant to pour more funding into the area. The previous station had reportedly drained its entire research budget before going up in flames and the government was not immediately interested in rebuilding. However another economic effect of the loss of the station was on the local residents and businesses which had relied on the staff of the installation to stimulate their local economy. In 1980 the population of '''Hantspire''' was around 2000 with hundreds more commuting from nearby villages and towns, but by 1994 the population was just under 500. Long-time residents of the area petitioned the government to rebuild the facility and continue their research in order to revitalise the town. The petition gained traction when an '''environmental protections advocacy group''' picked up the petition as a way to protect the local ecosystem which they believed to be at risk without the governments intervention. The group used the parks reputation for housing unique species and rich biodiversity as reasons it should be protected and studied.

Revision as of 01:04, 28 April 2020

The Hantspire Environmental Research Station - also known as "The HERS Station" by locals - is a biological research laboratory located on the outskirts of Bishop Park in the namesake Hantspire, Nova Scotia. The research station was built in 1994 with funding from the Provincial Government and was designed as an upgrade and replacement for the previous station, the Bishop Park Research Centre that burned down in 1980. Funding for the station was cut in February of 2019 and the station is set to close by September of 2020. Currently there are approximately 17 researchers and staff employed by the station.

History

Previous Stations

Samuel Bishop Outpost

Bishop Park was established in 1902 by conservationist Samuel Bishop. Bishop was sanctioned by King Edward VII to begin extensive research of the area due to its rich soil and biodiversity. Around 20 scientists were assigned to help Bishop with his research and a small outpost was established in the heart of the park to allow them to stay for weeks at a time during studies. Before this, Bishop often worked alone, riding horseback into the middle of the forest to study unique plants and animals not found elsewhere on mainland Nova Scotia. Between 1902 and 1919 there is significant advancement in the cataloguing and study of the native species. This would abruptly end in December of 1919 when Bishop passed away and the outpost was shuttered.

Bishop Park Research Centre

Following the Second World War and Newfoundland joining the confederation, the newly invigorated Canadian Government took a new interest in the rich ecosystem of the park and established the Bishop Park Research Centre. The research centre was operational from November 4th 1946 until it burned down due to a gas leak explosion on September 17th 1980. Not much is known about the research that the centre was responsible for as many of its projects were never made public. One notable study from this time period resulted in the development of a new photovoltaic power generation system based on the photosynthesis processes of local flora.

Establishment

After the destruction of the previous research station, the Canadian Government was hesitant to pour more funding into the area. The previous station had reportedly drained its entire research budget before going up in flames and the government was not immediately interested in rebuilding. However another economic effect of the loss of the station was on the local residents and businesses which had relied on the staff of the installation to stimulate their local economy. In 1980 the population of Hantspire was around 2000 with hundreds more commuting from nearby villages and towns, but by 1994 the population was just under 500. Long-time residents of the area petitioned the government to rebuild the facility and continue their research in order to revitalise the town. The petition gained traction when an environmental protections advocacy group picked up the petition as a way to protect the local ecosystem which they believed to be at risk without the governments intervention. The group used the parks reputation for housing unique species and rich biodiversity as reasons it should be protected and studied.

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