In a small province where people have had, and continue to have, a significant influence on all natural ecosystems, areas with unique or rare ecological attributes are often at risk from development. “In 1988, the Province enacted the Natural Areas Protection Act, to allow for the protection of special natural landscapes,” stated Minister Webster. “Since then, areas that have high ecological value such as the Townsend Woodlot near Souris, Boughton Island, Basin Head Sand Dunes and MacKinnon’s Bog have been designated and protected under the Act.”

The four properties designated today are located in Coleman, Bangor, St. Peters Lake and Holm Cove. Each one represents unique and special values which are now protected from development. The designation of these four properties brings the Island’s total under NAPA to more than 6400 hectares.

A 4.25 hectares (10.5 acres) parcel of land located next to the Trout River in Coleman has been designated under NAPA. It will be managed jointly with an adjacent Island Nature Trust property to conserve the health and productivity of the river and its populations of trout and salmon. “These few acres of land will extend the protected riparian zone on Trout River and allow for conservation measures to be taken with a very long-term vision in mind,” said Ben Hoteling, President, Island Nature Trust.

The Barbara P. Parsons’ property, located next to the Morell River, is a 39 hectares (96 acres) area of forest and fields in Bangor. This property includes a mixed-wood stand along this important river and a number of old fields that are reverting to forest cover by natural renewal and planting of selected tree species. The site is designated under the riparian zone category. Together with two other parcels of woodland – a second parcel already protected by the same owners and a third provincially owned parcel – a block over 100 hectares in size is now permanently protected.

The St. Peters Lake Run was purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to conserve the sand flats, sand dunes and salt marsh. This 24 hectares (60 acres) site also includes cobble nesting areas and feeding habitat for the endangered Piping Plover and migrating shorebirds. This site is designated under the Savage Harbour Sand Dune category.

The Holm Cove Natural Area, located in Point Prim, covers some 16.78 hectares (41.47 acres). It is designated under the Exceptional and Diversified Scenery category. Management will ensure conservation and maintenance of some 3.5 kilometres of undisturbed shoreline and salt marsh along the Northumberland Strait.

The Minister also noted that the province will no longer collect property taxes on the designated private lands. “In addition to protecting these lands, we are easing the owners’ tax load too,” he said. “This will result in an annual savings of some $3,700 which the Island Nature Trust, the Nature Conservancy and the other private land owners can use for the ongoing conservation and management of these special areas.”