Thanks to help from a generous anonymous donor, we have successfully protected a large undeveloped parcel on Molega Lake, which is within the biodiversity hotspot known as Kespukwitk, one of the seven traditional districts of Mi’kma’ki. While it’s a very popular location for cottages (for people), Molega Lake is also designated as a high priority lake for Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora, a unique group of unrelated plants that grow along low-nutrient ice-scoured freshwater shorelines. The new 100-acre property holds 3.5 kilometers of such shoreline, providing habitat for an incredible 33 species of conservation concern as well as many others. 

In addition to the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora it harbours, the property also holds Critical Habitat for Eastern Ribbonsnake and is home to mature forests. Several at-risk birds have been recorded on the property, including Barn Swallow, Bobolink, Canada Warbler, and Wood Thrush, all of which are federally listed as Threatened. 

The property falls within the Nature Trust’s Molega Lake focus area and builds connectivity within this priority area, which also includes nine islands and two mainland properties protected by the Nature Trust less than 2.5 kilometers away. The broader network of protected land includes lands protected by the Province, like the Pu’tlaqne’katik Wilderness Area (which covers 2,500 hectares). Adding to established assemblages of protected areas helps to create continuous habitats for the wildlife and plants to be able to be buffered and to safely move between lands. 

We are so grateful to our anonymous donor, for whom Molega Lake has special meaning and who stepped up to cover almost the entire cost of this project. The Waltons Trust provided the rest of the funds. 

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change’s Priority Places for Species at Risk Program.

The protection of Molega Lake was made possible through the generous support of all of our Nature Trust donors.

Learn more about our work on Molega Lake.