Part of the Margaree River watershed is included in the proposed new Masons Mountain Wilderness Area in Inverness County. Photo by PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA /CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentPublic consultation opened Friday on protecting 5,100 more hectares of Nova Scotia’s land and water including three new wilderness areas, additions to seven existing wilderness areas, and an addition to one existing nature reserve.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe proposed areas to be protected are:Article contentArticle contentNew wilderness areas:Article contentHerring Cove Backlands Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality, 2,910 hectaresMusquodoboit Harbour Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality, 308 hectaresMasons Mountain Wilderness Area, Inverness County, 154 hectaresArticle contentArticle contentAdditions to existing wilderness areas:Article contentCanso Coastal Barrens Wilderness Area, Guysborough County, 529 hectaresTobeatic Wilderness Area, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Digby and Queens counties, 498 hectaresShip Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area, Halifax Regional Municipality, 475 hectaresGuysborough Headlands Wilderness Area, Guysborough County, 69 hectaresMedway Lakes Wilderness Area, Annapolis County, 61 hectaresOgden Round Lake Wilderness Area, Guysborough County, 34 hectaresPolletts Cove-Aspy Fault Wilderness Area, Victoria County, 23 hectaresArticle contentAdditions to existing nature reserves:Article contentChimney Corner Nature Reserve, Inverness County, 107 hectaresArticle content“Nova Scotia is home to an incredible abundance of protected natural areas with an area about one and a half times the size of Prince Edward Island now protected, and we continue to protect more of our land and water,” said Nolan Young, acting minister of Environment and Climate Change, in a press release.Article contentArticle content“With our small land mass, Nova Scotia is punching well above our weight in land protection and setting the pace for how provinces can both safeguard nature and responsibly develop land for housing, jobs and economic opportunities. These new proposed sites build on that momentum and reflect our commitment to protecting the landscapes that make Nova Scotia so special.”Article contentNova Scotia has protected about 14.56 per cent of its land and water, covering about 800,000 hectares. If designated, these new proposed areas will represent an additional 0.09 per cent towards the province’s goal of 15 per cent by Dec. 31.Article contentNova Scotians can provide input until Oct. 20 at novascotia.ca/nse/protectedareas/.Article content
Cape Breton lands part of public consultation on new protected areas
