News release

Partnerships Result in New Protected Areas

Environment and Labour (Oct. 2000 - March 2008)

Nova Scotia's old-growth forests, wood turtles, and several species of rare plants are being protected by the designation of four new nature reserves, the expansion of a fifth, and an addition to a wilderness area.

"We're continuing to use our effective land protection legislation and to work with our partners to meet green plan commitments to conserve our natural environment," Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent said today, July 21. "As a result, we now have nearly 300,000 hectares of Nova Scotia's natural environment protected forever."

Close to 12,000 hectares of wilderness area and nature reserve lands have been designated since October 2004. These latest nature reserve designations total 900 hectares -- about double the size of McNab's Island, in Halifax harbour.

Amendments made to the Special Places Protection Act last spring helped make new land available for designation. The amendments reduced red tape and made it more attractive for private landowners to offer their land for protection.

"These amendments are working," said Mr. Parent. "Our partnerships with land trusts, companies, private land owners and the Department of Natural Resources are achieving conservation goals that no single organization could achieve on its own."

"Protecting our forests and wildlife in this way is sound ecological planning," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "The commercial and private partners who worked with us are to be congratulated for their contributions which will help preserve these precious natural resources."

Private citizens Henry Fuller and James O'Brien offered 67 hectares for the new Washabuck River Nature Reserve in Victoria Co. and Jubilee Minerals Ltd. voluntarily gave up its mineral exploration rights to land in this reserve. The property features a large natural forest and 2.6 kilometres of undisturbed coastline on the Bras d'Or Lakes.

DDV Gold Limited also gave up its mineral exploration rights in the new reserve at Abraham Lake in Halifax Regional Municipality. The 400-hectare reserve is on land donated by Neenah Paper Ltd., formerly Scott Paper Inc., to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The new reserve features an old-growth forest largely of red spruce.

Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury Ltd. owns 360 hectares being designated as the new River Inhabitants Nature Reserve in Inverness Co. This reserve is home to wood turtles, a vulnerable species in the province, and to rare plants. It was already designated under the company's forest management plan as a protected area and was therefore reserved from any harvesting activity.

The new 57-hectare nature reserve at Roman Valley in Guysborough Co. is on Crown land. This property features an old-growth forest which, according to department records, has never been logged.

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust purchased 16 hectares of land at Gillfillan Lake to add to the existing Tusket River Nature Reserve in Yarmouth Co. The addition features several types of rare and endangered coastal plain plants.

The Nature Trust also provided another 80 hectares of land at Wilson Hill to add to Cloud Lake Wilderness Area in Annapolis Co. The land had been privately owned and is located inside the wilderness area boundaries.

The Department of Environment and Labour is continuing to work with partners on the green plan commitment to establish a comprehensive system of protected areas in the province.