Nova Scotia Spends $20M Protecting Land

The Nova Scotia government has allocated more than $20 million from the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement, signed in 2023, towards land protection and biodiversity initiatives. An additional $3.5 million was directly provided to the Mi'kmaq. As of the current date, approximately $20.3 million has been expended, with final numbers still being calculated. This spending has facilitated the acquisition of almost 8,000 hectares of land through the combined efforts of provincial departments and land trusts. These acquisitions include recent additions to existing protected areas like Lambs Lake Nature Reserve and Carleton River Wilderness Area. The province's Natural Resources Department also utilized $3.5 million for species at risk and migratory bird conservation. These conservation efforts have brought Nova Scotia to 14.6% of its land and water mass being protected, moving it closer to its legislated target of 15% by the end of 2026 and 20% by 2030. The agreement also supports complex conservation projects, such as biodiversity offsets for industrial developments like the Touquoy gold mine. The process for protecting certain lands can be lengthy, with some parcels undergoing years of consultation and verification before final protection status is achieved.