Little Beaver Lakes Nature Reserve protects upland forest on the plateau and upper slopes of North Mountain ridge, overlooking Bras d’Or Lake.
The slopes and ravines contain mature to old forest of sugar maple, yellow birch and eastern hemlock in both pure and mixed stands. Black spruce and fir forests are common on the plateau.
Protection of this site contributes to representation of Bras d’Or North Mountain Ridge natural landscape in the provincial protected areas system.
Part of the nature reserve borders the “MacKenzie Cove Conservation Lands,” owned by the American Friends of Land Trusts.