Close to 100 hectares of intact forest conserved in Halifax Regional Municipality
Nature Conservancy of Canada receives generous donation of forest with freshwater streams
Thanks to the generosity of two nature enthusiasts, 97 hectares of intact forest in the Halifax Regional Municipality is now protected. This ecologically significant piece of nature has been donated by Ann and Maurice Doucet to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), who will conserve the land for generations to come.
The new conservation area, NCC’s Porters Lake Nature Reserve, is located on hillside terrain north of Porters Lake and flanked by the West and East Brooks. The new nature reserve abuts the proposed addition to the provincial Waverly - Salmon River Long Lake Wilderness Area, and to the north is the Clattenburgh Brook Wilderness Area. Several other protected wilderness areas can also be found nearby. As urban development increases, it becomes more important to maintain large natural areas for wildlife to roam and flourish.
The dense forest is filled with a series of cascading waterways that weave through the roots of the property’s many trees, emptying into Porters Lake and eventually the Atlantic Ocean.
The healthy Wabanaki (Acadian) forest and freshwater sources provide habitat for a diverse array of unique species. The forest consists mainly of red spruce and features pockets of black spruce, red maple, sugar maple and many large eastern hemlock trees. Groundcover plants, such as Canada mayflower and blueberry, are common, as well as Schreber’s moss and other old forest mosses. The forest also provides a perfect habitat for various birds listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, such as chimney swift (threatened), common nighthawk (special concern), barn swallow (special concern) and Canada warbler (special concern), which may breed on the property.
The conservation project was made possible thanks to the generosity of individuals, private donors and funding from the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust and the Government of Canada's Target 1 Challenge Fund administered by the Government of Nova Scotia. A portion of this project was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land for conservation.
This project showcases how NCC is accelerating the pace of conservation in Canada. Over the next few years, the organization will double its impact by mobilizing Canadians and delivering permanent, large-scale conservation.
In the face of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change, nature is our ally. There is no solution to either without nature conservation. When nature thrives, we all thrive.
Quotes
“When we take care of nature, we take care of ourselves.” – Maurice and Ann Doucet, land donors
“Protecting and conserving natural areas near communities and watershed areas is increasingly important for the benefit of citizens and wildlife. I am grateful to the Doucet family for their generous donation of this ecologically significant landscape, now protected in perpetuity. The Porters Lake Nature Reserve is a special wilderness area where wildlife will continue to thrive.” – Doug van Hemessen, NCC stewardship manager in Nova Scotia
“This is a great day for Porters Lake, securing an additional protected area for this beautiful region just a short drive north of Halifax. I want to extend my deep appreciation to the Doucet family for their generous contribution and the work of the Nature Conservancy of Canada for leading this work. Protecting this land is forever — for our kids, grandkids, and all future generations.” – Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia
“This is an ecological jewel, so close to a major city like Halifax. This is made possible thanks to Nature Conservancy of Canada and generous landowners like Ann and Maurice Doucet, who are helping to protect the natural environment in Nova Scotia and across the country. This land protects vital habitat for a number of species at risk, like the Canada warbler and common nighthawk. Only by engaging in a whole-of-society approach can we meet our goal of conserving 30 per cent of lands and waters in Canada by 2030.” – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Facts
- The nature reserve is located within the Porters Lake watershed area. The forest acts as a natural water filtration system and plays a crucial role in water cycling while creating a natural barrier against flooding and erosion.
- Of ecological significance, Porters Lake Nature Reserve contains very few non-native species. Up to one third of all plants in Nova Scotia are non-native species that have been introduced by humans, so this natural forest is a great asset. The property’s wilderness setting is particularly incredible given its proximity to Halifax.
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares.
Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides a way for Canadians with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations. Made possible by the terms of the Income Tax Act of Canada and the Quebec Taxation Act, it offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land to a qualified recipient. Recipients ensure that the land’s biodiversity and environmental heritage are conserved in perpetuity.
In Nova Scotia, the Government of Canada’s Target 1 Challenge funding flows through the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change to conservation organizations and other partners to protect natural areas in the province. The partners include the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, Sespite'tmnej Kmitkinu Conservancy, Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission, Town of Amherst and the Municipality of the County of Cumberland. The province can also use this federal funding for its land protection work.
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