Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, approximately 0.46 million hectares (8.4% of the province as of 2010) are designated as protected. Environment Canada maintains 14 protected areas in Nova Scotia, including 6 National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and 8 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs), comprising over 7 thousand hectares of the province's protected lands and waters.

Map of Environment Canada's Protected Areas in Nova Scotia

List of Protected Areas in Nova Scotia

The tables below contain information about the NWAs and MBSs shown on the map above. In addition to the name, year of establishment, and size of each protected area, the tables indicate how these sites fit into national and international networks of conservation areas. The following entities may be noted:

Ramsar: Wetland of International Importance
IBA: Important Bird Area
WHSRN: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
MAB: Biosphere reserve of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme

National Wildlife Areas

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Boot Island NWA	1979	107	part of Southern Bight-Minas Basin Ramsar Site part of Southern Bight, Minas Basin IBA part of Bay of Fundy WHSRN
2	John Lusby Marsh NWA	1982	432	overlaps with Amherst Point MBS part of Chignecto Ramsar Site part of Upper Cumberland Basin IBA
3	Chignecto NWA	1978	552	part of Chignecto Ramsar Site
4	Sand Pond NWA	1977	531
5	Sea Wolf Island NWA	1982	76	part of Margaree Island IBA
6	Wallace Bay NWA	1980	698
Total:			2,396

 

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries

No.	Name	Year established	Size in hectares	Notes
1	Amherst Point MBS	1947	432	overlaps with Chignecto NWA part of Chignecto Ramsar Site part of Upper Cumberland Basin IBA
2	Big Glace Bay Lake MBS	1939	393	part of  Big Glace Bay Lake IBA
3	Port Hebert MBS	1980	95	part of South Shore (Port Joli sector) IBA
4	Kentville MBS	1939	506
5	Port Joli MBS	1941	346	part of South Shore (Port Joli sector) IBA
6	Sable River MBS	1941	397	part of South Shore (Port Joli sector) IBA
7	Sable Island MBS	1977	3,100	part of Sable Island, Nova Scotia IBA
8	Haley Lake MBS	1941	313	part of South Shore (Port Joli sector) IBA
Total:			5,582

 

Access and Permitting

Although access to NWAs is not restricted, the primary purpose of these areas is to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitats, and therefore most NWAs are not equipped with facilities to accommodate public visitation. Unless otherwise posted, all recreational activities are prohibited within NWAs.

Although access to most MBSs is not restricted either, the primary intent of these sanctuaries is to protect migratory birds, and therefore hunting, as well as disturbing or molesting migratory birds, their eggs, nests or habitat, is prohibited.

A permit may be obtained from the Minister of the Environment authorizing the conduct of certain activities in an NWA or MBS, if the Minister or delegate is of the opinion that the proposed activity:

• will not interfere with the conservation of wildlife; or
  
• is consistent with the purpose for which the protected area was established; and
  
• is consistent with the management plan for the protected area.

Additional information on entry, prohibited activities and permits in Environment Canada's protected areas is provided on the Management and Activities web pages of the National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. For more information on Environment Canada's protected areas in Nova Scotia, please contact the regional Environment Canada office: 

Environment Canada - Atlantic Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected Areas Program
17 Waterfowl Lane
Sackville, New Brunswick
E4L 1G6
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca