Nova Scotia Nature Trust | Nova Scotians Protecting Nova Scotia

Nature Trust Conservation Awards 2006

Mark Pulsifer

Recipient, Nova Scotia Nature Trust, Nature Conservation Award 2006

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is thrilled to announce that Mark Pulsifer, Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, has received the Nature Trust’s Nature 2006 Conservation Award.

The Nature Trust presents the Award annually to an individual, organization, or business that has demonstrated a dedication to private land conservation in Nova Scotia.

In addition to his position at the Department of Natural Resources, Mark Pulsifer is an Adjunct Professor in the biology department at St. Francis Xavier University. He is also involved with several organizations on a voluntary basis, including being a founding member of the Eastern Mainland Field Naturalists and serving as the organization’s first president. Mr. Pulsifer is currently the Vice-President of the St. Mary’s River Association. The St. Mary’s River Association is an important partner on the Nature Trust’s St. Mary’s River Conservation Legacy Project. The organizations have complementary roles in working to care for and protect the spectacular St. Mary’s River.

Mr. Pulsifer’s vision and perseverance led to the creation of the St. Mary’s Watershed Wood Turtle Project, which has had a considerable impact on Wood turtle conservation in the watershed. Wood turtles are a species-at-risk in Canada. The project has engaged many organizations and individuals in conservation efforts, including the St. Mary’s River Association, local community members, and local landowners. The Turtle Project and Mr. Pulsifer’s “Turtle Crew” have actively involved local landowners in habitat conservation and private land stewardship through an extensive outreach campaign. The project has also introduced local school children and local residents to the Wood turtle, the threats that this imperilled species face and ways people can take action to help protect the turtles. Several of the “Turtle Crew” are university students who are supervised by Mr. Pulsifer in conducting Honours and Masters degree research, helping further knowledge and understanding of Wood turtles within the scientific community. The Turtle project has provided a unique and powerful hands-on conservation experience for university students from across Nova Scotia and abroad. His efforts in Wood turtle conservation have been an important complement to the Nature Trust’s campaign to preserve outstanding conservation lands along the St. Mary’s River.

The Nature Conservation Award was presented to Mr. Pulsifer at the Nova Scotia Nature Trust’s Annual Dinner with Justin Trudeau on October 14, 2006 in Halifax.