The government’s partnership with the nature conservancy of Canada continues to help conserve Canada’s natural legacy for generations to come

August 12, 2009

PORT JOLI, N.S. – Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice, today announced the successful conservation of important lands in Port Joli, Nova Scotia. The purchase marks another achievement under the Government of Canada's $225-million Natural Areas Conservation Program.

“The Government of Canada is proud of the results achieved through the Natural Areas Conservation Program since its inception two years ago, which greatly benefit our country’s biodiversity,” said Minister Prentice. “Prime Minister Harper announced the creation of our Program in partnership with non-government conservation organizations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and today we celebrate yet another important conservation project that will continue to provide a vital home for a number of migratory bird species, including Canada geese and Harlequin ducks.”

Designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1941, the Port Joli area of south-western Nova Scotia has been an important staging and wintering area for Canada geese for hundreds of years, supporting some 30 percent of the roughly 10,000 overwintering Canada geese in the Atlantic Provinces. It also provides home to Harlequin and American black ducks as well as a number of other waterfowl and shorebird species. During the winter, Port Joli normally remains ice-free and its extensive mudflats and small salt marshes provide waterfowl with an abundant food source of eelgrass. This new parcel of land adds another 138 hectares to the existing 335 hectares of federally protected lands in the area. 

“The Government's Natural Areas Conservation Program is an important on-the-ground initiative that takes real action to preserve Canada’s environment and conserve its precious natural heritage for present and future generations”, said Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s.

As of March 2009, under the Natural Areas Conservation Program, over 336 properties totaling more than 103,660 hectares had been conserved, protecting habitat for over 74 species at risk.