The Nova Scotia Nature Fund has achieved its goal of doubling the amount of protected areas in the province.
In 2020, the non-profit announced its most ambitious goal to date, to protect an additional 6,000 hectares in Nova Scotia in five years or less.
The target has just been reached with the protection of a 300 hectare plot of land on the island Barrenoff Marie Joseph, in the county of Guysborough.
According to Bonnie Sutherlandexecutive director of the Nova Scotia Nature Fund, increasing the surface area of protected areas is one of the most concrete ways to preserve the province’s biodiversity.
These new protected lands are unique landscapes and ecosystems, which preserve crucial wildlife habitat
she declared at a press conference.
The alarm sounded. Nature has launched a call across the planet for urgent and immediate action to protect more land, faster, before it is too late
she said.
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In Cape Breton, the Plaister Cliffs are located in the Bras D’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve, having received an official UNESCO designation in 2011.
Photo: Courtesy of Adam Hill
It took the organization 25 years to protect the first 6,000 hectares. With the campaign Twice the Wild”,”text”:”Twice the Wild”}}”>Twice the Wild
an equivalent area was protected in just four years.
In Nova Scotia, 65% of land is privately owned. The Nature Fund enters into legal agreements with landowners called conservation easements, or solicits permanent donations.
The acquisition of 80 new protected areas since the launch of the campaign Twice the Wild”,”text”:”Twice the Wild”}}”>Twice the Wild
in 2020 made it possible to reach the number of 190 protected areas in total.
A new campaign on the horizon
Bonnie Sutherland explained that the Fund received $23 million in financial assistance from different levels of government, and $5 million in donations from the public.
The Nova Scotia Minister of the Environment, Tim Halmanstressed that the gains made during this campaign help the government move towards its goal of protecting 20% of the province’s lands by 2030.
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Lowland Cove, Cape Breton, is an area protected by the Nova Scotia Wildlife Trust.
Photo: Courtesy: Ashley MacDonald
The federal government has set itself the objective of conserving 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.
The Nature Fund says that with regular monitoring and proper environmental stewardship, it will be able to protect the 12,000 hectares acquired so far in perpetuity.
The general director Bonnie Sutherland says the organization will soon announce a new campaign.
According to the report ofAly Thomson, CBC
