Conservation groups say Nova Scotia falling short of 2030 goal to protect land

More than 50 Nova Scotia groups are calling for the government to increase land protections.

More than 50 conservation and community groups say Nova Scotia is falling short of its goal to protect 20 per cent of the province by 2030.

The Ecology Action Centre claims the government, at its current rate, won’t reach its legislated land protection commitment until 2041. The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act set goals to protect at least 20 per cent of the province’s lands and water by 2030.

“The legislated 20 per cent by 2030 commitment is both important and achievable. But the Province needs to seriously pick up the pace,” says Raymond Plourde, the Ecology Action Centre’s senior wilderness coordinator, in a news release. “The Province can’t keep dragging its feet on protecting these sites of outstanding conservation value, and certainly can’t go backward by jeopardizing existing parks and protected areas.”

More than 50 conservation, community, recreation, health, faith and seniors groups held a meeting on Wednesday to call on the provincial government to collaborate with the public and Mi’kmaq rights holders.

The Ecology Action Centre and the Health Forest Coalition unveiled an online map highlighting more than 30 sites in the province with high conservation value that are on public land. Combined, the sites would protect roughly 124,864 hectares and add 2.3 per cent to the 20 per cent goal.

“We’re very concerned over public comments that the Premier and his government have made about being open to development proposals for any of our provincial parks and protected areas,” says Margaret MacDonell with Save West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. “We’re here today to say that undermining years of protected areas work is simply unacceptable.

“Our existing parks and protected areas are special places that are meant to be protected in perpetuity, and development is precisely what they are supposed to be protected from.”

The Ecology Action Centre recently commissioned a poll from Narrative Research that found 67 per cent of Nova Scotians want the government to protect more wilderness areas.

Justice Minister Scott Armstrong said the province is on course to meet the legislated goal of 20 per cent land protection target by 2030. He adds the government is striking a careful balance between conservation and environmental protection while trying to grow the resource sector to spur job and economic growth opportunities.

“Many of these groups that were speaking today are solely focused on environmental outcomes and environmental initiatives,” said Armstrong. “We have the responsibility to not only protect the environment, but also to make sure that we have an economy that lets our young people stay here and get employment.”

Since 2023, the province increased its protected lands from 13 per cent to around 14 per cent. In order to meet the 20 per cent protection target, the government needs to protect more than 300,000 hectares of land to meet its regulatory requirements.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas

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