A newly conserved property along the St. Mary’s River extends the protected habitat for endangered Wood Turtles and other species who rely on the fragile riverside ecosystems along the iconic “ribbon of green.”

The 45-acre property holds 450 meters of shoreline, bringing the total to more than 57 kilometers of shoreline along the river protected collectively by the Nature Trust and the Province.

Why is it important to protect shoreline? For one thing, it literally shores up the boundary between the water and the land, protecting the river and its inhabitants. These include the endangered Atlantic Salmon, and other aquatic species of conservation concern such as Gaspereau, American Eel, and Brook Trout.

For another, the land that surrounds a river system like the St. Mary’s holds a variety of freshwater habitats that are critically important for species like the Wood Turtle as well as for their benefits to humans. For example, the floodplain forests like those found on the property are part-time wetlands that help improve water quality, reduce erosion, and stabilize water levels to reduce flooding.

The property also hosts a mix of other forest types further from the shore, including Wabanaki-Acadian mixedwood and coniferous stands. These forests include mature trees and a varied range of ages, creating diverse structural habitats for a wide range of species including Black Bears and other smaller mammals.

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The Nova Scotia Nature Agreement is a project of the Province of Nova Scotia. Working with conservation partners, the goal is to increase the amount of protected and conserved areas and advance an integrated approach to the protection, conservation and recovery of biodiversity, including habitat, species at risk and migratory birds, in the Province. The Nova Scotia Nature Agreement is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, through the Canada Nature Fund.

Our thanks as well for generous support from the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, a critical source of land securement funding for Nova Scotia’s land trusts.