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Black Duck Island from Scanlan Point

Calls for land protection continue, as Nova Scotia nearly reaches 13% target

Indigenous activists and conservation groups say Nova Scotia needs to set a higher target for land protection as it comes close to reaching its 13 per cent goal


Katie Hartai
Halifax Today
October 20, 2020

Full article here>

“In the beginning the 13 per cent was a great goal, but the more I learn and share, the more I realize that’s not where we should stop,” she says. “We definitely need to increase that number to allow for more Indigenous-led conservation but also to create more protected spaces for all of Nova Scotia and the people here.”

Melissa Labrador, Mi’kmaw Activist

Chris Miller [executive director of CPAWS NS] says the province needs to make more space for Indigenous-led conservation in the spirit of reconciliation, but also to sustain the health of the planet for everyone.

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By Save Owls Head, ago

RICHARD BELL: Most HRM Council Candidates Want to Save Owls Head Provincial Park

Richard Bell
The Eastern Shore Cooperator
October 15, 2020

Read the full article here>

Opponents of the secret sale last year of Owls Head Provincial Park by the Department of Lands and Forestry took advantage of the upcoming election to ask every candidate for HRM Council, “If the matter is before Council, would you support upholding the Regional Park designation, in order to protect Owls Head Provincial Park Reserve?”

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By Save Owls Head, ago

Letter: Unfinished Homework by Lindsay Lee

Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin teased that he’d be making an “exciting announcement” on Monday. Here are some truly exciting announcements that he could (and should) have made before declaring his intention to run for premier: 

  • That Owls Head Provincial Park Reserve would be rightfully reinstated to Our Parks and Protected Areas Plan. 
  • That Nova Scotia would protect all of the properties in Our Parks and Protected Areas Plan.
  • That Lands and Forestry would adopt ecological forestry by reducing clearcutting, protecting old-growth forests, introducing a silent season to protect nesting birds, and finally, implementing the recommendations of the Lahey report. 
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By Lindsay Lee, ago
Owls Head from the air
Beach Meadow

JIM VIBERT: Mother Nature’s on the run in Nova Scotia

Jim Vibert
The Chronicle Herald
October 2, 2020

Full Article Here >

As galling as the government’s bluster and bluff about protecting nature can be, more galling yet is the fact that much of the heavy lifting was done before they arrived in office. All they had to do was take credit for the work of previous governments, but when it comes to protecting nature they can’t, or won’t, even do that.

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By Save Owls Head, ago

Eelgrass Exploration

Recently, CPAWS NS and a team of volunteers completed numerous underwater transects to document the eelgrass beds at Owls Head Provincial Park. CPAWS NS has been undertaking scientific surveys at Owls Head all summer. Thank you to CPAWS NS for your work to protect this special marine ecosystem. Thank you also to Dr. Kristina Boerder and Simon Ryder-Burbidge for sharing their photos with us.

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By Save Owls Head, ago