In celebration of Earth Day, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust announced new conservation lands on Hog Lake in Queen’s County, Nova Scotia. The property was generously donated to the Nature Trust to protect important freshwater habitats and associated wildlife, including three species on Canada’s endangered species list.

The 64 acre Hog Lake property sits about half way between Kejimkujik National Park and Bridgewater. The land includes shoreline habitat on Hog lake, extensive wetlands covering about 40% of the property and patches of old forest.

The property has potential habitat for the nationally endangered Blanding’s Turtle and Eastern Ribbonsnake.   Hog Lake also provides important habitat for rare plants including Long’s Bulrush, Common Buttonbush, Virginia Meadow Beauty, Goldencrest, and Redroot.

Halifax resident Peter Freeman grew up enjoying the wilds of Hog Lake and the surrounding forests and wetlands from his nearby family cottage.  He was delighted to entrust this special place to the Nature Trust, knowing they would be good stewards of the land.

He noted, “Recreational properties and development continue to place more and more demands on nature, sensitive lands and species. If we can’t manage this properly we will see species extinction and an irreversible change for future generations.  As private landowners we felt we had to give nature a better chance, so we decided to donate now to support the efforts of the Nature Trust. Now, the land will always be there for nature and future generations to come, and we can still gently visit it ourselves.”

The Hog Lake Conservation Lands contribute to a larger assemblage of protected areas in the region. Protecting corridors of interconnected habitat is critical for the long-term survival of wildlife and the health of the overall ecosystem.

A financial planner by profession, Mr. Freeman noted the financial case for protecting land.

“A gift of land can eliminate capital taxes for heirs, eliminate property taxes, and also provide special income tax incentives for donors under the Federal Ecological Gifts program.  There is no reason not to donate land today!” he said.

The Nature Trust ensures the conservation values of the property are maintained and protected in perpetuity through its ongoing land stewardship program.

If you would like to help care for this site, or any of the Nature Trust’s network of conservation lands across the province, contact our Volunteer Coordinator Ryan, or call (902) 425-5263.

You can also support the long-term stewardship of the new protected area with a financial gift.

The Nature Trust’s Endangered Species and Freshwater Legacy programs are supported by:

• Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust
• Marguerite Hubbard Charitable Foundation
• Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund
• Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction program
• Sage Environmental Program
• Bend Beauty
• Nature’s Way Canada
• together with many generous individual donors