Since 2018, Canada’s largest investment in nature ever has been transformational for the pace and scale of biodiversity conservation progress across Canada, including record conservation gains in Nova Scotia.

To advance global biodiversity targets and its commitment to protect 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030, the federal government launched the Canada Nature Fund in 2018 followed by the Enhanced Nature Legacy program in 2021 for a total investment of almost $4 billion. These funds have enabled land trusts and other conservation organizations across the country, all levels of government, and Indigenous partners to step up in unprecedented ways, making important strides in protecting Canada’s natural legacy.

Looking back on what Canada’s nature funding has made possible for the Nature Trust’s conservation achievements here in Nova Scotia is truly inspiring.

Emboldened by Canada’s ambitious targets and historic funding opportunities, we set the aspirational goal of protecting Twice the Wild, which meant doubling the land conservation achievements of our first 25 years, in just five years. Through generous community donations, corporate, foundation, municipal and provincial support, we succeeded in leveraging Canada’s nature funds, securing almost $30 million dollars since 2018 for nature in Nova Scotia. Together, we achieved Twice the Wild for Nova Scotia!

In all, Canada’s nature funding has helped us to protect 130 new conservation lands across Nova Scotia.

These protected areas include special places that Nova Scotians treasure, from the St. Mary’s River, Mabou Highlands and Bras d’Or Lakes to the 100 Wild Islands, Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes, and Cape La Have Island.

They encompass over 24,000 acres of the most ecologically important, rare and endangered natural areas across the province, protected forever.

The Nature Fund and Enhanced Nature Legacy helped to build the capacity of Nova Scotia’s conservation organizations and supported unprecedented collaboration between all levels of government, land trusts, Mi’kmaw and other conservation partners in Nova Scotia, working together in new and exciting ways to maximize our collective impact on nature conservation.

Such collaborations included the Kespukwitk Conservation Collaborative Priority Place in southwest Nova Scotia, the province-wide conservation collaboration through the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement, and coastal islands prioritization and collaborative stewardship work in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

The Quick Start and Challenge Funds, Priority Places for Species-at-Risk, Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement, and Natural Heritage Conservation Program-Land Trusts Conservation Fund were all tremendously successful in accelerating nature conservation across Canada, and especially here in Nova Scotia.

Canada answered the global call for urgent, accelerated action for nature with its 30×30 commitment and significant nature investments. Canada inspired, empowered, and ignited community and Indigenous-led conservation, innovation and action never seen before, and set an example other nations strive to follow.

The Enhanced Nature Legacy program concluded Tuesday (March 31), bringing this incredible era of federally-powered, accelerated nature conservation and collaboration in Nova Scotia to an end. We are so grateful for all that Canada’s nature funding has made possible and are delighted to share and celebrate those achievements.

Looking forward, Prime Minister Carney just announced a new conservation strategy and $3.8 billion investment to advance 30×30. It is not yet clear what this new initiative might mean for land conservation and our work in Nova Scotia, but we are encouraged by this clear signal that protecting nature remains a national priority.

With or without new federal funding, our path is clear. The biodiversity and climate crises continue to grow, as do the threats to Nova Scotia’s most rare, endangered and ecologically important natural areas. We are grateful that Nova Scotians stand with us, passionate, committed and ready to act. Because it’s in our nature to care. And it’s in our nature to step up for the wild places we love.