Province Renews Partnership with Land Protection Organizations

The province is renewing its partnership with two organizations to protect thousands of hectares of Nova Scotia land.

Minister of Environment Sterling Belliveau and Minister of Natural Resources Charlie Parker are announcing an investment of up to $1.5-million over three years to help protect important lands in Nova Scotia. The announcement today, Saturday, April 21, is in advance of Earth Day on Sunday. Through the partnerships with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, up to $3-million worth of land will be protected.

"Government is pleased to provide funding to these important organizations to help them protect natural spaces in Nova Scotia," said Mr. Belliveau. "These groups are a valued partner in reaching our goal of legally protecting 12 per cent of the province's lands by 2015."

"The Department of Natural Resources is pleased to work closely with the Department of Environment to map land areas for protection, including areas acquired by these partners in land protection," said Mr. Parker. "By helping to protect land, these groups are also helping to preserve wildlife habitat and we salute their efforts."

As of Jan. 1, Nova Scotia had protected 8.8 per cent of its land. The province intends to release a proposed protected areas plan for further public review late this year.

"Nova Scotians have a tremendous connection to the land and sea, and are eager to see treasured natural areas protected," said Bonnie Sutherland, executive director, Nova Scotia Nature Trust. "We are pleased the Nova Scotia government recognizes and supports the critical and complementary role of the nature trust and other land trusts in protecting such special places. With today's announcement, we celebrate a renewed commitment to work together to protect Nova Scotia's unique and irreplaceable natural legacy."

"The government is quite forward thinking and proactive in the field of public and private land conservation and, as a result, we are pleased to partner with them," said Linda Stephenson, Atlantic Regional vice-president, Nature Conservancy of Canada. "The conservancy has a rich history of protecting habitat in this province, conserving over 24,500 acres across Nova Scotia since 1971, and we feel this agreement will help us build on our efforts."

For more information on Nova Scotia's 12 per cent goal, visit www.gov.ns.ca/nse/12percent/ .

For more information on Nova Scotia Nature Trust, visit www.nsnt.ca/ . For information of the and Nature Conservancy of Canada, visit www.natureconservancy.ca/en/ .