NS Gov: $6.5 M Help Purchase Land for Protection

The Nova Scotia Government has earmarked $6.5 million dollars to purchase land so it can be protected. Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse made the announcement in Chester this morning and says the funds will be available in the new fiscal year. It's only the second time in Nova Scotia's history that government is releasing some details of its capital plan in advance of the spring budget. Peterson-Rafuse talked to reporters about the significance of that move.  "This is about communities identifying the areas they want to preserve, it's not about what the government wants. In order to be able to do a good job in anything that you do in life - you have to have a plan and that's what we're trying to do,".  The province has a legislated goal to legally protect 12 percent of its land by 2015. Consultations on what land to protect is already underway and the public is invited to comment until February 12. The land that will be selected for protection is based on ecological and environmental importance.  For more information on the province's goal and protected areas in Nova Scotia, visit http://gov.ns.ca/nse/12percent/