Goals and Objectives

• To permanently protect the Long Cove property through acquisition
• To develop a long-term management/stewardship plan for the property
• To raise a stewardship endowment fund to ensure the long-term stewardship of the property.

Activities

• Land securement
• Land stewardship planning.

Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC’s Contributions
The project will protect one of the largest and most ecologically diverse areas of undeveloped coastal habitat on the south shore of Nova Scotia. The lands comprise bold open oceanfront with two small headlands, a white sand beach and rocky shorelines which give way to an inlet with very extensive areas of saltmarsh and a number of small islands. Approximately 4.5km of coastline and six islands in Ragged Harbour will be protected.

Benefits to Wildlife

• The property is rich in bird species, notably migrant wildfowl and wading birds. Over 250 bird species are known to use the area and a local birder has recorded 150 species in one day on the property. The property, along with adjacent areas in Medway Harbour, is an important overwintering area for waterfowl. The site is considered a priority site by the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture’s coastal habitat project.
• The project directly benefits wetland habitat conservation by preserving 63 hectares of diverse coastal wetlands and shoreline. These habitats are important for a wide range of wildlife, including waterfowl and wading birds.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
The project directly advances the conservation objectives of the Nature Trust, Ducks Unlimited, the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture and Nova Scotia’s Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Labour. The hunting community benefits through the protection of prime waterfowl habitat. The properties are proposed for designation as Nature Reserves under the province’s Special Places, and part of the provincial protected areas network. There are very few Crown protected areas on Nova Scotia’s coast, and this project provides an excellent model of a combined non-government/government partnership for habitat protection. The local municipality benefits through the protection of an extensive undeveloped and ecologically rich coastal area. Concern is mounting regarding subdivision and poorly planned growth resulting in habitat fragmentation and a proliferation of small coastal developments.

Project Location
The property is located just south of Medway Harbour on Nova Scotia’s south shore.

Please click here to view the project location/map (pdf file).

Project Contact
For more information on this project, please contact Bonnie Sutherland, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Nature Trust, Halifax, Nova Scotia.