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.