On 20 December 2023, the Minister of Environment announced new and expanded protected areas and released the Collaborative Protected Areas Strategy.
Parks and protected areas play an important role in conserving and protecting the diversity and complexity of life (biodiversity). This includes wildlife, along with natural features and processes. Our protected lands lessen the effects of climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They maintain clean air and water, including drinking-water supply watersheds.
Identifying and protecting the best and most suitable lands now will help ensure that Nova Scotia's parks and protected areas become even more relevant in coming years.
Collaborative Protected Areas Strategy (PDF)
Collaborative Protected Areas Strategy: French (PDF)
Sites proposed for protection: public input
The Government of Nova Scotia is seeking public input on several sites proposed for protection. Under the Target 1 Challenge Fund Project, the Province in partnership with other land conservation organizations has been working with willing landowners to acquire land for the purpose of conservation. All lands that are part of this consultation were purchased through this federal conservation fund.
We are asking Nova Scotians for comments on the following proposed additions to existing wilderness areas, proposed nature reserve additions as well as new proposed nature reserve:
- Antigonish Nature Reserve, Antigonish County
- Beaver River Nature Reserve, Digby County
- Bonnet Lake Barrens Wilderness Area (addition), Guysborough County
- Canso Coastal Barrens Wilderness Area (addition), Guysborough County
- Caribou River Nature Reserve (addition), Pictou County
- Chignecto Isthmus Wilderness Area (addition), Cumberland County
- Diligent River Nature Reserve (addition), Cumberland County
- Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area (addition), Antigonish County
- Five Bridge Lake Wilderness Area (addition), Halifax Regional Municipality
- Fourchu Coast Wilderness Area (addition), Richmond County and Cape Breton
- Middle River Wilderness Area (addition), Inverness County
- Quinn Meadows Nature Reserve (addition), Shelburne County
- Roseway River Wilderness Area (addition), Shelburne County
- Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area (addition), Halifax Regional Municipality
- Toadfish Lakes Wilderness Area (addition), Halifax Regional Municipality
- Toy Makers Marsh Nature Reserve, Digby County
Learn more about these areas:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5a8478fbf0264566912016b69a5d1940
Provide any comments by 20 September 2024. Comments can be submitted through the online form. If you wish to submit documents (like letters, maps, or photos), submit these by email to protectedareas@novascotia.ca or by mail to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change, Protected Areas and Ecosystems - PO Box 442, Halifax, NS, B3J 2P8.