Historic Opportunity for Biodiversity in Nova Scotia
The Opportunity
In response to a growing biodiversity crisis, the Government of Canada committed to protecting 17% of our landmass for biodiversity by 2020. To meet this ambitious target, the Government made the largest investment in biodiversity in Canadian history – $1.3 billion. To launch their new conservation initiative, the Government chose a few key conservation leaders across the country to deliver quick wins for Canada—significant, immediate biodiversity conservation gains.
The Nature Trust was one of the leaders selected. Through this extraordinary “Nature Fund Quick Start” federal investment we had an unprecedented opportunity to advance the pace and scale of biodiversity conservation in Nova Scotia.
Thanks to an incredible outpouring of public support, the historic Lasting Landscapes campaign surpassed its targets.
In all, we were able to leverage over $5 million to protect 3,200 acres of high priority lands, advancing our signature conservation projects all across the province in less than 6 months. Donations to the campaign were matched at a rate of 4:1 by the Government of Canada, Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, and other foundations.
Thank you to our supporters, donors, landowners and friends who helped save over 3,200 acres of land, over 17 conservation sites, within just a few months!
You’re the Key
Piping plover chick. Photo Jason Dain
You can help to protect these conservation lands forever. The Nature Trust commits to stewarding all our lands in perpetuity to keep them forever wild.
Your support will ensure the long term care and stewardship of these 17 newly protected wild places, along with all of our conservation lands.
You can also donate your time by joining our Property Guardian program and participating in the stewardship of these lands.
The Lasting Landscapes you are helping to protect
17 Properties. 3,200 acres.
Frederick Lake
This 100 acre near-urban wildland is surrounded by the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, a vast, wild landscape of rugged, rocky barrens, unique forests and lakes, home to Endangered Mainland Moose and rare plants, birds and lichens.
Photo: David Patriquin
Mabou Highlands
A major land assemblage (ultimately up to 11 contiguous properties) will preserve a spectacular coastal wilderness-hardwood forests, brooks and ravines, rugged seashore and world-class hiking trails. Together with the adjacent Wilderness Area, we can protect up to 5800 acres of Cape Breton wildlands.
Photo: Len Wagg
St. Mary's River
Four new properties will add to a growing wild corridor we’ve protected on the iconic St. Mary’s. This beautiful “ribbon of green” shelters towering old growth forests, rare floodplains, endangered turtles, birds and Atlantic Salmon.
Photo: Scott Leslie
Cobequid Hills
Help protect a vast forest and freshwater wilderness, home to endangered mainland moose, turtles and birds. Rare old growth
forests, ravines, wetlands, bogs, and headwaters of one of the province’s healthiest rivers. The new site builds on existing protected lands, together preserving up to 5000 contiguous acres of wild!
100 Wild Islands
One of North America’s last great ecologically rich and wild coastal island archipelagos, the islands support every coastal habitat in the province, from pristine sand beaches and dunes to vast barrens, bogs, wetlands and coastal rainforests. A new conservation site will bring even more of the wild islands—a natural treasure and wilderness recreation mecca—under protection.
Photo: Bob Guscott
Seal Island
The renowned Seal Island on the outermost extreme of Southwest Nova Scotia, a critical stopover for countless migratory birds and year round home for many others. With bird populations in alarming decline, protecting 600 acres of Seal Island will provide much-needed habitat and hope for bird conservation and recovery.
Photo: Simon d’Entremont
Barren Meadow Turtle Sanctuary
An ‘inholding’ of private land within a 4500 acre Nature Reserve (designation pending) will provide critical freshwater habitat for endangered Blanding’s Turtle and Eastern Ribbonsnake. The new lands ensure a wildlife corridor connecting nesting, overwintering, feeding and basking habitat for some of Canada’s rarest reptiles.
Photo: Megan Crowley
Baddeck River Wilderness
Securing an “inholding” of private land in the Baddeck River Wilderness Area removes a major biodiversity threat and creates a critical landscape link, ensuring the future of a 6200 acre Cape Breton wilderness of old growth forests and river habitats, home to endangered Lynx and Pine Marten.
Photo: Scott Leslie
Forever Wild
It was an ambitious plan, in response to an extraordinary, one-time opportunity. But we have succeeded in taking advantage of this historic opportunity to save biodiversity in Nova Scotia thanks to your support!
Thank you to our major funders, the Government of Canada and the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust. Our gratitude to everyone who has generously and enthusiastically supported the Lasting Landscapes campaign to date. Special thanks to our land donors, Irene and the late Ernest Forbes, David and Abby Rumsey, Paul and Marsha Sobey, David Wilson, and Gregor Wilson.
