I'm in lockdown, so might as well post a few photos of the 61 new protected areas announced in Nova Scotia yesterday.

Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area will be expanded at a key access point near Kearney Lake. This near-urban wilderness in Halifax is an absolute gem and really should be a National Urban Park.

Fourchu Coast Wilderness Area in Cape Breton contains long stretches of wilderness coastline, with barrier islands, beaches, lagoons, estuaries, salt marshes. Very important place. ( @irwinbarrett )

Ponhook Lake Nature Reserve in Kespukwitk contains some of the rarest plants in Canada and is a well-known biodiversity hotspot. ( @ns_environment )

East River St. Mary's Nature Reserve is part of the famous St. Mary's River watershed, and supports important habitat for threatened wood turtles. ( @irwinbarrett )

Minard Brook Nature Reserve is adjacent to Kejimkujik National Park. It contains old-growth hemlock forest and provides habitat for Blanding's turtles and eastern ribbon snakes.

Sugar Harbour Islands in Guysborough County will be designated as a nature reserve to protect seabird colonies. This site is also an Important Bird Area. ( @ns_environment )

Uisge Ban Falls Provincial Park in Cape Breton is a well-known place to go for a walk and to enjoy a very beautiful waterfall. This place has been managed as a park for awhile, but has never received formal protection until now. ( @AdamHillPhoto)

Tobacco Island, in Guysborough County, contains important coastal ecosystems & seabird colonies. It was first identified for protection in 1970's as an "International Biological Programme" site, but it's taken a half century to secure official protection. ( @ns_environment)

Petite-de-Gras Provincial Park at Isle Madame. Beautiful stretch of coastline with walking trails and important coastal ecosystems. A very beautiful place. ( @ns_environment )

61 new protected areas in total. To fully implement the NS Parks and Protected Areas Plan requires 175 sites to receive legal designation, so this helps close the gap significantly. It's welcome news. ( @irwinbarrett )

More info here. https://cpawsns.org/61-new-protected-areas-for-nova-scotia/

Nature is important.
And we've worked hard to protect these areas.
If you like what we do, please consider making a donation to @CPAWSnovascotia. It would be much appreciated.
https://donate.cpaws.org/page/26390/donate/1