Mature forest on Bay of Fundy protected for conservation
233 hectares of coastal woodlands dedicated in memory of local resident
A mature Wabanaki (Acadian) forest in southern New Brunswick is now protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The breathtaking 233-hectare seaside forest was a partial land donation by the family of Ruby Brown of St. Martins. NCC announced today that the Fundy Bay View Nature Reserve is dedicated in memory of the family’s patriarch, Austin Brown. The natural area will continue to provide carbon storage and essential habitat for countless native species.
This is NCC’s first conservation project in the St. Martins area. The conservation lands are located near the St. Martins Sea Caves and adjacent to an existing provincial conservation area. The complementary conservation lands form a connected and protected 570-hectare area where large wildlife, such as bear, bobcat and moose can continue to roam and flourish undisturbed.
The new nature reserve is situated within the Quaco Bay Important Bird Area (IBA), a crucial location for migratory shorebirds to stop, feed and rest during their travels north and south. A small, forested wetland provides additional carbon sequestration and aids with the natural process of water purification as two freshwater brooks cascade towards the Bay of Fundy. Over half (57%) of the forest is mature, coastal red spruce, with a mixture of balsam fir, red maple and white spruce.
The mixed forest has a high capacity to store carbon and provide habitat for various migratory birds including those listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, such as chimney swift (threatened), olive-sided flycatcher (special concern), Canada warbler (special concern) and barn swallow (special concern).
The project was made possible in part thanks to the generosity of Ruby Brown, and through donations from individuals, private donors, businesses and foundations. It was also supported by funding from the Government of Canada, through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund.
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
“We are pleased to have partnered with NCC to conserve this essential habitat where wildlife will continue to thrive. The Fundy Bay View Nature Reserve is dedicated in memory of Austin Brown, a wonderful husband and father who cherished this special landscape.” – Ruby Brown and family
“This is a beautiful property with old red spruce forests and deep gorges along the creeks. It is a testament to the stewardship of Mr. Brown that the forests are in such excellent condition for wildlife. We are honoured that the Brown family have entrusted the Nature Conservancy of Canada with caring for this land into the future.” – Paula Noel, NCC program director in New Brunswick
“By working with partners like the Nature Conservancy of Canada and generous donors like the family of Ruby Brown, we are helping to protect the natural environment in New Brunswick and across the country. Conserving threatened lands plays a vital role in halting and reversing biodiversity loss, protecting carbon stores, and mitigating climate change, and it contributes to the recovery of species at risk. Through programs like the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the Government of Canada is making progress toward its 2030 and 2050 climate change mitigation objectives as well as conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.” – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada
Facts
- Mature forests can support a more diverse array of species than younger forests. Their canopies and understories host more native species. Older trees produce fruits and nuts that attract considerable wildlife, and dying trees provide cavities and openings where small animals can hide.
- Only five per cent of New Brunswick’s Wabanaki (Acadian) forests are estimated to exist in a pre-colonial condition. Extensive tree harvesting over the decades has led to a decline in species making it increasingly vital to conserve carbon-rich forests and natural carbon sequestration processes which would be altered if it weren’t for projects like this one.
- NCC’s Fundy Bay View Nature Reserve is located within the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Region, one of only 19 such reserves in Canada.
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.
Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) is a $1.4 billion, ten-year fund (2021–2031) administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada to help conserve, restore, and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands, in order to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The NSCSF will focus on three main objectives: (1) conserving carbon-rich ecosystems at high risk of conversion to other uses that would release their stored carbon; (2) improving land management practices to reduce their greenhouse gas emission-causing impacts on Canada’s ecosystems; and (3) restoring degraded ecosystems. Overall, these projects will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration, while also providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being.
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