Consultation Set for Wilderness Area Additions

The province continues to protect unique areas throughout Nova Scotia with the proposed addition of 23 new parcels of land.

Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to provide comment on the proposed additions during a consultation that runs until June 24.

Once approved, the lands will add 5,000 hectares to existing wilderness areas in Guysborough, Halifax, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby and Annapolis counties.

"Nova Scotians value wilderness areas for their natural beauty, recreation opportunities and wildlife protection," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Environment. "By adding to these areas we will guarantee even more land for Nova Scotians to enjoy now, and in the future."

The proposed lands were acquired by the province over the past four years for conservation purposes from landowners, forestry companies and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

"We're thankful that our partnership with the government of Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program and the government of Nova Scotia has contributed to long-term protection of wilderness areas in the province," said Samantha Hines-Clark, Nova Scotia program manager with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Eight-point-six per cent of the Nova Scotia land has been protected. These proposed additions will bring the amount of legally protected land to 8.7 per cent.

The Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act commits the province to protecting 12 per cent of Nova Scotia land by 2015. In March 2010, government invested $75 million to purchase more than 56,000 hectares. Much of that land, and future purchases and designations, will ensure the province reaches its land-protection goal.

Five Bridge Lakes Candidate Wilderness Area is in the final stages of designation, and consultation on proposed wilderness area boundaries around the Chignecto Game Sanctuary is expected to begin shortly. Once designated, these two areas could bring the amount of land protected to about 9.3 per cent.

Information and maps for the 23 proposed wilderness area additions are available at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/protectedareas or by calling 902-424-2117.