**** ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE Change Release
New Funding to Protect More Land
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The Province, conservation organizations and other partners will receive an additional $1.5 million to protect more natural areas in Nova Scotia, through the federal government’s Canada Nature Fund Target 1 Challenge fund.
The Province will distribute the funding to the following organizations for land protection projects:
— Nova Scotia Nature Trust
— Nature Conservancy of Canada
— Ducks Unlimited
— Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources
— The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
— Sespite’tmnej Kmitkinu Conservancy
— Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission, and
— Municipality of the County of Cumberland.
“Through the Challenge Fund partnership, conservation organizations, the Mi’kmaq and governments are working together to protect more of the land and waters that Nova Scotians depend on and want protected,” said Tim Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “Our government has committed to protecting 20 per cent of our land and water by 2030. I want to thank our partners for their leadership and vision in helping to achieve this goal through their conservation work – work that is improving quality of life for Nova Scotians, helping to protect species at risk and fight climate change, and contributing to a healthy and sustainable environment.”
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, which has a mandate to protect Nova Scotia’s outstanding natural legacy through conservation of privately owned land, has used previous funding from this program to buy 40 hectares of land at Plaister Cliffs in the UNESCO Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve. It connects two parcels of land in the provincially protected MacAulay’s Hill Nature Reserve and is home to a rare and fragile karst landscape that includes rock formations and drainage systems considered threatened in Nova Scotia, and rare in North America and globally.
The Province can also use the federal funding to buy land to be protected. Nova Scotia received $14.3 million in January 2020 from the Target 1 Challenge fund and used about $1.2 million to buy about 526 hectares (1,300 acres) of land, which will eventually become parts of nature reserves, wilderness areas, provincial parks or other protected areas. These include:
— 119 hectares (295 acres), Truemanville, Cumberland County
— 100 hectares (248 acres), Forchu, Richmond County
— 99 hectares (245 acres), Bear River, Digby County
— 60 hectares (148 acres), Marshy Hope, Antigonish County
— 40 hectares (100 acres), Rawdon Gold Mines, Hants County
— 40 hectares (100 acres), Carrigan Lake, Queens County
— 40 hectares (100 acres), Glen Bard, Antigonish County
— 23 hectares (58 acres), Mulcuish Lake, Richmond County.
Quotes:
“This top-up of federal funding for Nova Scotia through the Canada Nature Fund will help protect even more of our beloved natural spaces and species at risk. It is through collaboration that we continue to make progress toward our goal of conserving 25 per cent of the land and oceans in Canada by 2025, building a healthy future and strong economy for generations to come.”
– Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada
“Land conservation is critical in ensuring that the nature available to us today is there for future generations. The Challenge Fund partnership demonstrates not only the Province’s commitment to continue advancing nature conservation but also is a truly ground-breaking collaboration between all levels of government, communities, Mi’kmaw organizations and land trusts. Nature needs us all to move faster, and we’re honoured to be part of this initiative making that possible.”
– Bonnie Sutherland, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Nature Trust.
Quick Facts:
— the Government of Canada has committed to conserve 25 per cent of the lands and oceans in Canada by 2025, and to work toward 30 per cent by 2030
— as part of the Canada Nature Fund, the Target 1 Challenge will help establish new protected and conserved areas across Canada, supporting the conservation of Canada’s ecosystems, landscapes and biodiversity, including species at risk
— the additional funding announced today, January 20, must be spent by March 31, 2023
Additional Resources:
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
