Nature Conservancy of Canada announces exciting opportunity to more than double size of Salmonier Nature Reserve
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has an opportunity to more than double the size of its Salmonier Nature Reserve. NCC successfully participated in a sealed bidding process to purchase the land and now aims to protect an additional 230-hectares at the mouth of the Salmonier River.
The Salmonier Nature Reserve is 177 hectares of pure wilderness. This new opportunity would be the third and largest addition to the reserve. The expansion opportunity borders on the mouth of a salmon river and is a neighbour to the Avalon Wilderness Reserve, which provides protection for woodland caribou — an iconic species. The reserve’s undulating rugged landscape features an upland forest composed of balsam fir, black spruce, and the easternmost population of yellow birch in North America, along with lowland bog and fen habitat. Exposed heathlands blanket the highest elevations.
A variety of wildlife can be found at the Salmonier Nature Reserve, including peregrine falcon, short-eared owl and red fox, and species at risk, like red crossbill and olive-sided flycatcher.
NCC was able to participate in the sealed bid to purchase the land thanks to donations made to the Keep The Rock Rugged campaign, but the not-for-profit conservation organization still needs to raise $300,000 to protect and care for the property for the long term. Donations made to the campaign that supports conservation efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador can help unlock dollar for dollar matching from the federal government.
“We’re excited by the opportunity to double the size of the Salmonier Nature Reserve. This is our third and largest addition to NCC’s Salmonier Nature Reserve to date and is a great win for the protection of the many species that live here, including rare lichen, bat, and bird species," says Piers Evans, Newfoundland and Labrador program director, Nature Conservancy of Canada. "This expansion is part of a long-term plan to ensure habitat connectivity for wildlife and to maintain traditional use of this special place for the long term.”
People can learn more and make a donation by visiting natureconservancy.ca/keeptherockrugged.
Facts
- The forest found at the Salmonier Nature Reserve is special because its underlying geology and moist climate creates habitat for a high diversity of lichens. Lichens are a critical species and have many uses, such as food and nesting materials for wildlife, as indicators of air quality and for use in some medicines.
- Some lichens found at the reserve are almost found nowhere else in the world. Lichen studies on NCC’s Salmonier Nature Reserve confirmed the presence of boreal felt lichen and blue felt lichen, both of which are species at risk.
- The Salmonier River Nature Reserve can be accessed from a small road off Hwy 90, in Mount Carmel-Mitchells Brook-St. Catherines, approximately an hour’s drive south of St. John’s.
- In 2014, NCC conserved its first parcel of land at Salmon River, creating the Salmonier Nature Reserve.
- Keep The Rock Rugged is an ambitious campaign launched in 2021 to raise $3 million to support conservation work in Newfoundland and Labrador. The campaign will leverage up to $1 million from the Government of Canada. Some goals of the campaign are to expand the Salmonier Nature Reserve and the Grand Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve, double the number of interns, provide more Conservation Volunteers events, and conduct research to advance conservation.
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 people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. In the Atlantic provinces, NCC has protected 35,970 hectares. Since 1996, NCC has protected 5,600 hectares in Newfoundland and Labrador and has been protecting natural areas in the heart of the Avalon Peninsula since 2015.
Learn More
Follow us on on X (formerly Twitter): x.com/NCC_CNC | x.com/NCC_CNCMedia
Find us on Facebook
- 30 -
