News release

Land Added to Protected Wilderness Areas

Environment and Labour (Oct. 2000 - March 2008)

Nova Scotians have an additional 652 hectares of protected land where they can enjoy the province's natural environment.

Nine new parcels of land have been added to six of the province's wilderness areas. The lands are either within or adjacent to these wilderness areas. They feature old forest, wetlands, lakes, rare plants and a waterfall.

"Nova Scotia is a beautiful province and by protecting these areas, we're giving our residents and visitors the chance to enjoy this natural beauty," said Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash. "We've done well to protect as many areas as we have considering how much land in the province is privately owned, and we're working at protecting more."

The province currently has 31 wilderness areas. They are protected lands that Nova Scotians and visitors can use for research and recreation activities such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking, sportfishing and hunting.

The department worked with landowners to acquire the additional lands for protection. The Nature Conservancy of Canada helped acquire two parcels from Bowater Mersey Paper Co. Ltd. which were added to Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

"We were delighted to work in partnership with the provincial government and Bowater Mersey to ensure the protection of these pristine areas of Nova Scotia wilderness for generations to come," said Linda Stephenson, Atlantic regional director of the conservancy.

The additions have been made to Economy River, Lake Rossignal, North River, Terence Bay, Tobeatic and White Like wilderness areas. They bring the total amount of protected wilderness land to 286,302 hectares.

Early in 2004, Nova Scotians were invited to comment on the proposed addition of the lands to wilderness areas. Comments were all supportive.

Government is currently in the process of designating two new wilderness areas -- Gully Lake in Pictou and Colchester counties and Eigg Mountain-James River in Antigonish and Pictou counties. Five new nature reserves are also in the process of being established.

About 8.2 per cent of land in Nova Scotia is protected through provincial protection efforts, national parks, national wildlife areas and organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada.