Three more outstanding conservation gems are poised for protection on the beautiful St. Mary’s River; lands that are home to spectacular old growth forests, rare Acadian floodplains and endangered wildlife and adds more than 500 acres to a growing corridor of protected areas along this much-loved river.

These pending new conservation lands encompass rich wetlands, a prominent old growth hemlock forest and extensive provincially-rare and ecologically important Acadian floodplain forests. With less than 1% of Nova Scotia’s old growth forests remaining, and over 90% of floodplain forests lost to clearing, these are significant conservation wins, both for biodiversity and for resilience against climate change impacts. They provide critical habitat for several species at risk of extinction in Canada, including Wood Turtles, Canada Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rusty Blackbird, Common Nighthawk and Barn Swallow.

As the river has a long history as a treasured recreational resource, securement of public access opportunities will be welcome news for anglers, paddlers and other nature-lovers. They include canoe access points, a walking trail through the forest at Crows Nest and a provincially designated Barrier-Free Fishing Site (wheelchair-accessible) at McKeen Brook pool.

We’ve secured a deal to purchase the three properties – part of a generous community donation by the Oland family and collaboration with the Historic Sherbrooke Village Development Society. The transfer to the Nature Trust is anticipated to finalize soon.

Recognized as home to some of the province’s last intact Acadian floodplain forests, best remaining stands of old growth hemlock, and a hotspot for biodiversity and endangered species, the St. Mary’s River has been a focus for conservation for decades. With much of the shoreline privately owned and habitats facing increasing risk, our unique work in private land conservation is a critical complement to long-standing salmon, turtle and watershed conservation efforts on the river.

We launched the St. Mary’s River Conservation Legacy Campaign in 2006 to protect private lands identified as top provincial conservation priorities. The long-term vision was to connect these biodiversity hotspots by preserving a contiguous corridor of intact riparian habitat, essential to the long-term health of the river.

Beginning with a generous land donation by the late A.M. Sandy and Shirley Cameron, followed by other land donations and generous support from partners, government, and many friends of the river including the David and Faye Sobey Foundation, Paul and Marsha Sobey, Hardy and Barbara Eshbaugh, and the Donner Canadian Foundation, the “ribbon of green” now encompasses a remarkable 9,500 acres and 52 kilometres of wild St. Mary’s Shoreline, including Nature Trust lands and provincial parks and protected areas.

This assemblage of intact riparian ecosystems not only protects irreplaceable biodiversity but provides critical ecological functions, controlling water flow, sedimentation and erosion, helping to keep the river cool, clear and fast-flowing which is critical for the health of the river and the species that depend on it for their survival. The large areas of mature forest and wetlands also provide an effective carbon sink, an important nature-based solution to climate change mitigation and resilience.

The upcoming conservation wins are welcome news to the local community and many others who cherish the river and view it as an irreplaceable part of their history, culture, way of life and future. A healthy, intact St. Mary’s River is recognized and greatly valued as a recreational, economic, ecotourism and educational asset for the community.

This win is also welcome news to Nova Scotians increasingly concerned about the growing environmental crises and their impacts, from unprecedented flooding and hurricanes to loss of wildlife and treasured natural areas.

Protecting habitat is key to saving biodiversity and building resilience against devastating climate change impacts, and there are positive, tangible ways every Nova Scotian can step up for nature: owners of ecologically important land can explore conservation options, volunteers can help care for special wild places across the province, and if you can – donate to save more wild places like the St. Mary’s River.

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

Our thanks as well for the generous support from the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust.