Coastal Habitat Protection

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is thrilled to announce the protection of pristine coastal habitat at Port Joli in southwest Nova. Still unspoiled by development, the Port Joli area is a vital home for a number of migratory bird species, including Canada geese and Harlequin ducks. The area contains sandy beaches, eel grass flats, inter-tidal mudflats and coastal forests and was designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1941. Gerald Keddy South Shore/St. Margaret's MP says the Federal Government's Natural Areas Conservation Program is an important on-the-ground initiative that takes real action to preserve Canada's environment and conserve its precious natural heritage for present and future generations. While NCC already owned 136 acres (55 hectares) at Port Joli, the additional 341 acres (138 hectares) will ensure this unspoiled habitat remains in its natural state.

Beach Protection

2009-05-08 06:29:13

The dunes of Cherry Hill Beach are being protected .  Effective today, (Friday, May 8th,) vehicle traffic along the dunes and the beach is banned.Beach access for traditional uses such as clam digging, waterfowl hunting and swimming  will continue to be permitted. There will be a designated area for parking.  Cherry Hill Beach is  an important nesting habitat for the endangered piping plover and a vital feeding and resting area for many thousands of migrating shorebirds." The ban will be enforced by Department of Natural Resources officers and, when appropriate, RCMP. Operators who ignore the ban can be charged under the Crown Lands Act and/or the Motor Vehicle Act.

River Recognized

2009-05-04 06:19:20

An historic south shore river used by Mi'kmaq travelers for centuries, is now protected by a designated wilderness area.     Shelburne River Wilderness Area in Queens County, is close to six thousand acres. Environment Minister David Morse says the province is living up to its commitment to protect lands purchased from Bowater Paper Company in 2007.            The wilderness area protects the old canoe route celebrated by the popular Tent Dwellers festival last year. The new wilderness area will protect most of the lower Shelburne River, about 40 kilometres of river frontage. Upper parts of the river are within the Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

SPCA Funding

2009-04-27 06:11:08

The province has announced 100,000  dollars in funding to the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Minister of Agriculture Mark Parent, says the funding will support the S-P-C-A's work implementing the new Animal Protection Act, which will be proclaimed in the  coming months.  The new act shifts responsibility for farm animals from the SPCA to the Department of Agriculture. It will allow the SPCA to focus on the protection of non-farm animals.     The funding will allow the SPCA to focus on improving  investigations by providing operational funding and additional training.

Foreign Fear

2009-04-22 06:10:02

The Region of Queen's isn't buying into the Buy Back Nova Scotia coalitions' concern over the Irving's private sale of 170 thousand acres.  The lands are located in Annapolis, Digby and Yarmouth counties.  Mayor John Leefe says the paranoia associated with possible foreign ownership is unfounded. He calls it a typically Canadian condition. And Mayor Leefe says what better way to extract a  high price than to create a public demand for the government to belly up to the bar and buy the lands. Leefe says it was only around 15 years ago that the Irvings purchased most of the land now for sale, from Bowater/Mersey for 34 million dollars.