The Nova Scotia government has added a wilderness area near St. Margarets Bay to the list of proposed protected areas slated for consultation.
The 5,000-hectare Ingram River area is three times larger than peninsular Halifax. It includes Island Lake and is near an existing nature reserve.
The list of proposed protected areas now includes 62 wilderness areas, nature reserves and provincial parks. Consultation on eight of the areas will begin the week of July 12.
“This site adds to our efforts to protect biodiversity and preserve the natural beauty of Nova Scotia,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Keith Irving. “The plan developed for this area is representative of our approach to ecological forestry, biodiversity conservation and land protection. We are committed to protecting Crown land of high ecological value for the benefit and enjoyment of Nova Scotians today and for future generations.”
There is a new land management model proposed for protecting the Ingram River area under both the Wilderness Areas Protection Act and Crown Lands Acts. The approach will deliver recreation, conservation and economic benefits to the community and province, and will include a biodiversity assessment and public survey on area values.
“We are delighted to see the proposed Ingram River wilderness area finally advancing to public consultations for an eventual designation of a significant large wilderness area in the St. Margarets Bay district,” said Raymond Plourde, senior wilderness coordinator, Ecology Action Centre. “This district has traditionally been underrepresented in Nova Scotia’s Parks and Protected Areas Network, so this will bring the area up to par with other districts in the province. The area has tremendous recreation and conservation values, including pockets of old growth forests, which are provincially rare and in need of protection.” said Plourde.
The St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association and forestry operator WestFor Management played an important role in conveying the strong connections people have to these lands and highlighted many conservation opportunities.
Government’s proposed plan will:
— support the protection and restoration of forest stands and wildlife habitat associated with Island Lake and lands adjacent to the existing Old Annapolis Road Nature Reserve
— protect intact natural forest areas and improve biodiversity connections to existing protected areas in the region
— create a special management zone with no forest harvesting to conserve areas of biodiversity and enhance ecological connectivity in a corridor that surrounds and follows the Ingram River
— conserve additional areas of old forest through the Department of Lands and Forestry’s Old Forest Policy
— ensure ecological forestry approaches to resource management
— support a wide range of outdoor recreation activities for Nova Scotians and visitors
