Brier Island, c/o Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The province of Nova Scotia is seeking feedback from residents on 18 new or expanded wilderness areas and nature reserves.
The plans for the new sites align with the provincial target of protecting 20 per cent of the province’s land and water by 2030.
The online survey allows respondents to share their feedback about all 18 sites or particular ones if preferred. It has already opened, and submissions will be accepted until September 20.
The 18 sites being proposed represent 1,820 hectares of land.
Currently it is estimated that 13.6 percent of Nova Scotian land and water is currently under the protection of some type of environmental protection.
The sites being proposed as wilderness areas and nature reserves include:
- Antigonish Nature Reserve (new, 48 hectares), Antigonish County.
- Beaver River Nature Reserve (new, 97 hectares), Digby County.
- Bonnet Lake Barrens Wilderness Area (addition, 53 hectares), Guysborough County.
- Canso Coastal Barrens Wilderness Area (addition, 59 hectares), Guysborough County.
- Caribou Rivers Nature Reserve (addition, 40 hectares), Pictou County.
- Chignecto Isthmus Wilderness Area (addition, 434 hectares), Cumberland County.
- Diligent River Nature Reserve (addition, 31 hectares), Cumberland County.
- Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area (addition, 345 hectares), Antigonish County.
- Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area (addition, seven hectares), Halifax Regional Municipality.
- Fourchu Coast Wilderness Area (addition, 255 hectares), Richmond and Cape Breton counties.
- Middle River Wilderness Area (addition, 22 hectares), Inverness County.
- Quinns Meadow Nature Reserve (addition, 151 hectares), Shelburne County.
- Roseway River Wilderness Area (addition, 150 hectares), Shelburne County.
- Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area (addition, 66 hectares), Halifax Regional Municipality.
- Toadfish Lakes Wilderness Area (addition, 41 hectares), Halifax Regional Municipality.
- Toy Makers Marsh Nature Reserve (new, 24 hectares), Digby County.
