ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CHANGE/NATURAL RESOURCES/RENEWABLES–Province Seeks Input on Protected Areas Strategy
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Nova Scotians are invited to help shape the approach for protecting 20 per cent of the province’s land and water by 2030.
An online public consultation started today, August 23. Click on this link to join the conversation: Collaborative Protected Areas Strategy Engagement
The input will be used to develop the Nova Scotia Collaborative Protected Areas Strategy, which will outline how the Province will achieve its 2030 land and water conservation goal and identify next steps.
“Protecting more land and water will benefit every single Nova Scotian today as well as future generations – conserving more of these precious resources will help fight climate change, keep drinking water clean and have so many more benefits,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “As we take the next steps to achieve this conservation goal, we want to hear directly from Nova Scotians – to get their innovative ideas, suggestions and solutions – and work together to create sustainable prosperity.”
The deadline for public comments is October 6. The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act requires the strategy to be developed by the end of 2023.
Quotes:
“Parks and protected areas strengthen biodiversity, provide habitats for our wildlife and give us natural spaces for outdoor recreation to support our physical and mental health. That’s why we’ve made biodiversity and conservation a priority on Crown land. And we want to do more. I look forward to hearing from Nova Scotians about how we can reach our goal.”
– Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables
Quick Facts:
— the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act has a goal to protect 20 per cent of Nova Scotia’s land and water by 2030, including working with the Mi’kmaq to create Indigenous protected and conserved areas in the province
— the Province’s climate change plan, Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, has five actions to protect and restore natural areas and ecosystems so they can help minimize climate impacts
— about 13.2 per cent of Nova Scotia’s land is protected; protection of the remaining lands in the 2013 parks and protected areas plan will increase this to 14 per cent
— Nova Scotia’s protected areas conserve the province’s biodiversity, unique habitats, coastlines, and natural landscapes and features, while providing places for people to connect with nature, and play an essential role in fighting climate change
Additional Resources:
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act
Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth
Parks and protected areas plan
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Media Contact: Mikaela Etchegary
Cell: 902-229-5671
Email: Mikaela.Etchegary@novascotia.ca
Description: This seminar takes place at the Eagle Hill Institute in Stueben, Maine. It will focus on the family and genus level taxonomy of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera and is offered for anyone involved in aquatic biomonitoring or natural history survey programs. Intensive laboratory study of each group combined with field work in diverse aquatic habitats will refine taxonomic skills to improve participants reliability of family and genus level determinations as well as sampling proficiency. Reference specimens will be provided for study, but participants are strongly encouraged to bring specimens from their own region for study. Field trips to sample for nymphs/larvae and adults will be structured to provide an introduction to a variety of important macro and microhabitats. Information on the biology and ecology of families and genera of EPT taxa relevant to biomonitoring programs will also be presented. A practical exam will be available at the end of the seminar for those who want an assessment of their skills.
Field Trip starts at the Yellow Birch Trailhead 9:00AM May 27. We will follow Sandy Cope trail (solid red line) then the trail to Meguma Falls (dotted line). The Sandy Cope Trail is easy and the Meguma Falls Trail is moderate. Some may wish to only do the easier part of the trail.
Trip is now confirmed. Meet at the Carpool Parking lot near exit 4 at St Croix at 10:o0hrs. : Take exit 4 at St Croix go to the Evangeline Trail, turn left (marked exit to Halifax), drive about ½ km to the carpool site, gravel road near Hwy 101, exit to Halifax is on the opposite side of the 101. Do not drive under the highway as you will have gone too far. The carpool site is off the gravel road adjacent to the 101 on the St Croix side of the 101. We will meet there.
Nova Scotia is fortunate to be the home of a large, disjunct population of Atlantic Coastal Plains plant species. For most of these species, specialized habitats in South-West Nova Scotia are the only places in Canada where they can be found. The next nearest occurances can be in Massacheusetts, New Jersey or even the Carolinas. This field trip is a chance to learn about and see many of these rare plants when they are in bloom.
