New legislation creates higher protected areas target for Nova Scotia

K’JIPUKTUK / HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-NS) welcomes new environmental legislation introduced by the Nova Scotia government at Province House today. 

The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act (EGCCRA) establishes a number of environmental targets and timelines that the provincial government must achieve, including greenhouse gas reductions and a higher protected areas target, among others. 

“We are pleased that the protected areas target has been put back into legislation and increased to at least 20% of the province,” says Chris Miller, Executive Director of CPAWS-NS. “This is an important step for addressing the biodiversity crisis and we look forward to working collaboratively with the Nova Scotia government toward achieving this target.” 

At the moment, only about 13% of the Nova Scotia landmass is legally-protected. The Nova Scotia government has already committed to fully implementing the Nova Scotia Our Parks and Protected Areas Plan, which will result in about 150 new protected areas and increase the amount of protection to about 14% of the provincial landmass. 

EGCCRA establishes a higher protected areas target for Nova Scotia and requires the provincial government to develop a “collaborative protected areas strategy” by the end of 2023. This strategy will provide the roadmap for Nova Scotia to go from 14% land protection to the new target of at least 20% by 2030. 

“The new legislation is welcome news,” says Caitlin Grady, Conservation Campaigner for CPAWS-NS. “There is an urgent need to establish new protected areas and to conserve important ecosystems and habitat for species-at-risk”. 

“Industry already has a very heavy footprint in this province, through rampant clearcutting and extensive mineral exploration,” adds Grady. “Nova Scotians need access to nature, now more than ever. Increasing the amount of protected areas is an important initiative that we support.” 

CPAWS-NS will be assessing Bill 57 in the coming days and will provide a detailed review of the legislation. 

Read Bill 57 here 

https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/64th_1st/1st_read/b057.htm 

An interactive map of Nova Scotia’s protected areas can be found here 

https://nse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=3204485ba06f4cb4a3204e4599966fad 

Contact: 

Chris Miller 

cmiller@cpaws.org