Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The province announced Wednesday that it is creating a new nature reserve, as well as expanding two existing nature reserves and seven wilderness areas.
The new 24-hectare reserve will be Toy Makers Marsh Nature Reserve, located in Digby County.
Two existing reserves, Diligent River Nature Reserve in Cumberland County and Quinns Meadow Nature Reserve in Shelburne County, will also be expanded by 27 and 157 hectares accordingly.
The wilderness areas that will be expanded are:
Bonnett Lake Barrens Wilderness Area, Guysborough County, 53 hectaresCanso Coastal Barrens Wilderness Area, Guysborough County, 59 hectaresEigg Mountain – James River Wilderness Area, Antigonish County, 149 hectaresFive Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality, seven hectaresFourchu Coast Wilderness Area, Richmond and Cape Breton counties, 234 hectaresRoseway River Wilderness Area, Shelburne County, 85 hectaresToadfish Lakes Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality, 41 hectares
In a news release, the province said that combined, the areas protect 836 hectares of Nova Scotia’s land and water, and 5.2 kilometres of its coastline.
According to the province’s website, a wilderness area allows for recreational hunting and sport fishing, while nature reserves are mainly used for education.
The province also announced it is opening consultations on 13 proposed new or expanded wilderness areas and nature reserves. This includes:
Johnson Lake Nature Reserve, Cape Breton Regional Municipality (addition, 33 hectares)Roseburn Nature Reserve, Inverness County (new, 47 hectares)Mount Pleasant Nature Reserve, Lunenburg County (new, 59 hectares)Lake Torment Nature Reserve, Kings County (new, 12 hectares)Lambs Lake Nature Reserve, Annapolis County (addition, one hectare)Humes River Wilderness Area, Inverness County (addition, 10 hectares)Herring Cove Backlands Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality (new, 505 hectares)Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality (addition, 144 hectares)Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality (addition, 82 hectares)Sackville River Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality (addition, 47 hectares)Sandy Point Wilderness Area, Shelburne County (new, 880 hectares)Carleton River Wilderness Area, Yarmouth County (addition, 50 hectares)Cloud Lake Wilderness Area, Annapolis and Kings County (addition, 76 hectares)
The province is asking residents to share their thoughts on the proposed areas until July 28, 2026.
The release adds that four of the sites open for consultation were purchased by the Department using federal funding under the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement.
Not far enough, says environmental group
A Nova Scotian environmental group says the announcement is welcomed, but doesn’t go far enough.
“Citizen groups from across the province have nominated a number of areas to the government’s collaborative protected area strategy and and none of them seem to be here in this list,” said Raymond Plourde, senior wilderness coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.
“So although this is a positive step forward, it is a miniscule step forward.”
Plourde added that the provincial government needs to “pick up the pace” if it wants to meet its goal of 20 per cent protected lands and waters by 2030.
MORE TOP STORIES: