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Plants on the Edge
Protecting Nova Scotia's Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora
Project Overview
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust's Plants on the Edge Campaign is a results oriented initiative designed to protect nationally and provincially imperilled Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora and their habitats on privately owned land throughout Nova Scotia. The project addresses and reduces threats to Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora species and their habitats by formally securing critical Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora habitats and conducting an educational outreach program with landowners of significant coastal plain habitats.
The Nature Trust also recruits and trains local residents and conservation enthusiasts to participate in its volunteer monitoring program. Plant monitors collect important inventory data that is used by the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora Recovery Team to develop conservation plans and recommendations for the protection of critical coastal plain habitat. Volunteer monitors also help provide a communication bridge between the Nature Trust and local communities, thus strengthening local support for, and commitment to, the conservation of coastal plain species and habitats.
The Nature Trust facilitates a number of different land protection options for landowners of critical coastal plain sites from voluntary Stewardship Agreements to formal protection through placement of permanent conservation agreements on their property or donation of significant land to the Trust.
2003-2004 Project Update
The Project made a critical contribution to the overall protection of Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora and their habitats in Nova Scotia. The 2003-2004 project year once again was a great success in reaching new audiences and raising awareness on the importance of Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora species and habitat protection.
In 2003, the Coastal Plain landowner contact program remained focused on the Tusket River Watershed in southwest Nova Scotia for the following lakes: Travis, Sloan's Kempt Snare, Fanning, Agard, and Kegeshook Lakes in Yarmouth County, and Molega Lake in Queen's County. As part of our outreach and education initiative, the project team met with numerous landowners on these priority coastal plain lakes, as well as local residents, conservation minded individuals, and recreationists, to discuss the conservation of Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora species, the anthropogenic threats that affect their habitats, and ways in which individual actions can help mitigate threats to Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora species and habitats.
During the summer and fall of 2003, the Nature Trust was also busy working with different stakeholder groups including the Nova Scotia based Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora Recovery Team, volunteer plant monitoring teams, community and conservation groups, Stewardship Agreement candidates, and the general public whom we met at the three co-hosted Guided Walks in August. Despite the poor weather and high water levels, the walk enthusiasts "jumped in" and enjoyed themselves while learning about coastal plain wetland sites and the identification of ACPF species. The summer 2003 walks were a great success.
2004-2005 Project Update
The primary focus of the 2004-2005 project year has been the formal securement of critical ACPF habitats. Although the 2003-2004 project year established the groundwork for formal securement, full implementation begin in the 2004 field season. The geographic scope for land securement activities focused on nine lakes: Wilson's, Bennett's, Third, Salmon and Gillfillan Lakes (in Yarmouth County); Cameron, Ponhook and Molega Lakes (Queen's County); and Fancy Lake (Lunenburg County). Priority sites were selected based on the combined characteristics of:
- presence of high total numbers of threatened or endangered ACPF species
- species diversity
- length of shoreline
- lands with a high conservation value ranking
During 2004, a total of 53 priority sites were profiled and 20 site inspections completed at nine different lakes. The land securement coordinator met with numerous landowners in 2004 to initiate negotiations towards formal land securement. The process is however, lengthy and follow-up negotiations continued throughout the summer and will continue into 2005 with a smaller list of interested landowners. Nature Trust staff are very optimistic that negotiations will be finalized on our first ACPF priority site by end 2004. Watch our web site for further details!
During the current project year Trust staff also continued our other regular ACPF activities including: co-hosting three Guided Walks, the landowner contact program, outreach and education, working with the ACPF Recovery Team, and volunteer plant monitoring of ACPF populations in southwest Nova Scotia.
2005-2006 Update
The main focus of the Plants on the Edge Project in 2005-2006 has been the permanent protection of high priority habitat for species of Atlantic coastal plain flora, and the continuation of public outreach and landowner contact activities. The educational component provides the long-term sustenance for the project, and enables future habitat protection by building awareness for community stewardship.
The 2005-2006 year has been extremely successful for the Project. Negotiations with landowners continued, and outreach and educational initiatives included correspondence with the public through multiple presentations throughout the region. The Nature Trust also produced and distributed various materials, including a new Coastal Plain brochure and the Field Guide to the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora of Nova Scotia.
High water levels on some lakes in the 2005-2006 season meant that ACPF growth and reproduction were negatively affected in many locations. Despite the poor flowering and lack of abundant growth, over 24 sites were monitoring for plant growth and habitat characteristics through the volunteer Plant Monitoring program. Thank-you to all those who participated!
Two properties with high priority habitat for Atlantic coastal plain flora were permanently secured! Once of these properties is located on Molega Lake, and one is located on Gillfillan Lake. These properties include over 77acres (31 ha) and over 4000 m of shoreline! The properties protect habitat for COSEWIC-listed species at risk, including Redroot and Plymouth Gentian.
Keep an eye on our website for exciting updates!
Looking for Volunteer Plant Monitors
If you have an interest in coastal plain plants, botany, or simply like to take a walk on the wet side in southwest Nova Scotia — think about becoming a volunteer plant monitor! Please send our Volunteer Coordinator an email at volunteer@nsnt.ca.
We wish to thank the sponsors of this project for their generous support and vision: Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Program, the Endangered Species Recovery Fund (supported by World Wildlife Fund and Environment Canada), and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Fund.
The Nature Trust has compiled a Guide to the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora of Nova Scotia, an invaluable resource for our plant monitors.2006 Project Sponsors
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| World Wildlife Fund | Environment Canada | Donner Canadian Foundation |
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| Habitat Stewardship Program | Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund |