Habitat Conservation Fund Helps 18 Projects

NOTE: A list of projects selected by the Habitat Conservation Fund follows the release.

The Habitat Conservation Fund will secure and enhance the living conditions of Nova Scotia wildlife and help increase the population of mainland animals such as moose, marten and wood turtles.

The fund is generated through the required purchase of a $3 wildlife-habitat stamp on all hunting licences sold in Nova Scotia. Eighteen projects have been approved because of $146,300 collected in the Habitat Conservation fund this year.

"The money is used entirely for habitat conservation," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "The fund is a great way for hunters and trappers in Nova Scotia to help sustain our wildlife and wildlife habitat."

The primary goal of the fund is to assist with projects that protect and enhance wildlife habitats. Projects are funded up to 75 per cent on a cost-shared basis, to a maximum of $25,000 ($50,000 for land acquisition). To be considered, a project must fall into one of four categories: purchase of land for the benefit of wildlife, habitat improvement, wildlife habitat research and related education programs.

About $850,000 has been invested in wildlife conservation since the fund was established in 2001. Project applications are reviewed and recommendations are made by an independent board of directors with members from hunting, naturalist and academic associations.

Applications for the 2008 Habitat Conservation Fund can be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, between Dec. 1, 2007 and Jan. 31, 2008. Submission guidelines and application forms can be obtained from any Natural Resources office or from the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/habfund/ .

Information on 2007 projects, as well as past projects, is also available on the website.

Successful projects and recipients of funding for 2007 are:

• Adaptive habitat model for the Cape Breton American marten (Martes Americana) augmentation project, Rebecca Jeppesen
• Amphibians as indicators of road disturbance in forests, Saint Mary's University
• Beaver pond management in northern Nova Scotia, Ducks Unlimited
• Best conservation and stewardship practices strategy for high-elevation forest habitat on Nova Scotia, Bird Studies Canada
• Characterization of critical habitat for moose on mainland Nova Scotia, Saint Mary's University
• Coastlines natural history column, Ecology Action Centre
• Determining appropriate amounts of deadwood as habitat for wildlife for sustainable Fforestry in the Acadian forest region, Acadia University
• Effects of agriculture and forestry on the distribution, movements and survival of wood turtles in an intensively managed landscape, Acadia University
• Examining the size and extent of the marten (Martes Americana) population in western Nova Scotia (Year 2), Trappers' Association of Nova Scotia
• Land acquisition at Port Joli harbour, Nature Conservancy Canada
• Engaging and training volunteers for bird conservation, Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
• Medway River conservation lands project, Nova Scotia Nature Trust
• Project webfoot wetland education program, Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Roost use and social behaviour of northern long-eared bats (Myotis Septentrionalis), Dalhousie University
• St. Mary's River conservation legacy project, Nova Scotia Nature Trust
• Woodcock habitat rejuvenation and enhancement, Woodcock Conservation Society
• Wood duck nesting boxes for Shelburne County, Shelburne County Fish and Game Association
• Young Naturalists Club of Nova Scotia, Young Naturalists Club