2009 Approved Projects

Hants West Wildlife Association - Akins Marsh habitat restoration/enhancement with youth involvement
Amount awarded: $ 2,600.00
To rejuvenate an area of diverse marsh/woodland area to provide optimal habitat for birds and mammals while providing an area of marsh/woodland that is accessible to the public to view and enjoy the local flora and fauna. Also, to have youth participate in this project in order for them to have positive outdoor experiences that will encourage them to continue to have an interest in the outdoors.

Acadia University - An Individual Based Model of the American Marten (Martes Americana) in Cape Breton, N.S.
Amount Awarded: $3,000.00
To compliment the efforts of the Nova Scotia Marten Recovery Team (NSMRT) and the NSDNR towards achieving a viable self-sustaining marten population in Cape Breton Island. We aim to accomplish this by recommending augmentation and management strategies based on the results of simulated empirical testing within the framework of an individual based model (IBM) and by providing insight concerning habitat usage of tracked individuals in the telemetry portion of the research.

Ecology Action Centre - Coastlines Natural History Column
Amount Awarded: $3,725.00
For the general public to increase their understanding and appreciation of bird & bird habitat conservation issues, biodiversity and natural history in order to encourage their participation in protecting, managing and conserving wildlife habitat.

Trappers’ Association of Nova Scotia - Determining the size and extent of the marten (Martes Americana) population in western NS extension-
Amount Awarded:$6,000.00
The information on the extent and habitat needs of marten in SW NS gathered by the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia (TANS ) through this project will allow NS DNR to better understand the habitat needs of marten in mainland NS. This information will improve the existing marten habitat model, and enable NS DNR to provide better information to landowners and the forest industry to ensure that marten habitat can be identified (and protected if deemed necessary), allowing the population to grow and expand on the mainland. By expanding the survey beyond the Yarmouth/Weymouth area TANS will be able to provide to NS DNR a better understanding of the habitat types marten use in western NS, thereby increasing the validity of a marten habitat model.

Cape Sable Important Bird Area Committee - Environmental Education Through Awareness
Amount awarded: $ 5,000.00
To increase the awareness of the uniqueness of the Cape Sable Island area and habitats in terms of its importance to a wide variety of animal and plant including many rare or endangered species.

Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas- Bird Studies Canada - Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas: Increased volunteer support and coordination in 2009
Amount Awarded: $10,300.00
To collect the information needed to map breeding bird distribution and abundance for NS.

Nova Scotia Nature Trust - Medway Harbour Islands Project
Amount Awarded: $30,000.00
To contribute to the urgent need to conserve ecologically intact coastline in Nova Scotia by permanently protecting 350 acres of the diverse and significant coastal habitats.

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute - Monitoring flying squirrel survivorship and fecundity
Amount Awarded: $5,000.00
To determine survivorship of flying squirrels. To determine fecundity (ability to produce young) of flying squirrels. To develop population viability models tied to models of forest harvesting to understand long-term connectivity requirements for flying squirrels in southwestern Nova Scotia.

Bird Studies Canada - Piping Plover Poster Contest
Amount Awarded: $3,000.00
To improve beach habitat quality for Endangered Piping Plovers and other beach dependent plant and wildlife in southern NS.

Ducks Unlimited - Project Webfoot Wetland Education Program 2009/2010
Amount Awarded: $10,000.00
To increase youth awareness about the importance of wetlands and engage community environmental organizations to be involved in wetland conservation and education.

Saint Mary’s University - Structure and movements of bat populations among hibernacula in Atlantic Canada
Amount Awarded: $7,000.00
To gain insight into the demographics, fall and winter movement dynamics, winter distribution and population genetic structuring of bats in Atlantic Canada. Specifically, we will PIT tag and subsequently track hundreds of bats to assess survivorship, within- and among year individual movements between summering and wintering sites as well as among wintering sites as well as collect tissues samples for genetic analysis. More proximally, we see this project as having the strong potential to provide information directly related to two emerging threats to our bat populations: wind turbine farms and white-nose syndrome.

Young Naturalists Club - Young Naturalists Club of Nova Scotia
Amount Awarded: $10,000.00
To provide positive experiences and learning opportunities related to natural history, primarily of Nova Scotia. Positive experiences in nature, and excitement regarding natural history knowledge, lead to the development of an environmental and conservation ethic in children.

Total Projects Approved: 12
Total Amount Approved: $ 95,625.00