Nova Scotia land purchases welcome news

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government has just acquired a number of very significant properties important for conservation.  These include a large property west of Panuke Lake containing old-growth hemlock forest, a coastal property near Apple Head on the Bay of Fundy containing significant tidal salt marsh and mudflat habitat, a lakeshore property in southwestern Nova Scotia on the upper Tusket River system, and properties along the Eastern Shore adjacent the Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area.

"These are important land purchases for a province that has very little public land," said Chris Miller, National Conservation Biologist for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.  "They contain old-growth forest, important lakeshores, coastal frontage, and a site adjacent to an existing protected area.  It's a smart investment for Nova Scotia's wilderness".

CPAWS has been encouraging the Nova Scotia government to invest more resources in acquiring ecologically-significant private lands.  Since 2007, the Nova Scotia government has committed over $125 million for this purpose, acquiring over 65,000 hectares of high conservation value lands and setting up the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust which helps leverage private investment for conservation.

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