Derek Montague
Huddle
June 24, 2022
Originally published here
A recent land deal has assured that more precious land along the Musquodoboit River Valley will belong to the species who live there, and not become land for future development. The protected area contains an important ecosystem, including rare tree types and threatened bird species like the olive-sided flycatcher and the Canada warbler. As the name Turtle Lake suggests, the area is also key to the survival of the snapping turtle.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada bought 126 acres of land in the area to keep it intact. The large swath of land was privately owned by the Webber family, who showed interest in keeping the land protected through a sale. The NCC has now protected 783 acres in the valley.
… Protecting precious ecosystems is an issue top of mind for many Nova Scotians. There was public outrage when it came to light that the Liberal government, in 2019, signed a backroom deal to turn Owls Head into a golf course.
This decision came after lobbying from Lighthouse Links and despite Owls Head being previously recognized as a “globally rare ecosystem.”
In November of 2021, Lighthouse Links said they were “reluctantly” withdrawing their application, as it was clear the new PC government didn’t support the project.
Earlier this month the government announced Owls Head would, finally, become a protected provincial park. Owls Head has long been referred to as a provincial park, even though it never officially had that designation.
So it’s clear, especially with the population of Nova Scotia growing, that protecting sensitive ecosystems through land deals is of utmost importance.
