Nova Scotia Nature Trust | Nova Scotians Protecting Nova Scotia

Logo by Revolve

Photo by Jeff Amos

“Mudflats and marshes teeming with life, salmon pools, lakes, brooks, rapids and still waters, turtle and eagle nest sites – combine to create a unique chain.”

 

– George Archibald, St. Mary’s River Campaign Team Member, and Co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, speaking of the St. Mary’s River

 

 

Launched in 2006, the St. Mary's River Conservation Legacy Campaign is an initiative by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust to preserve the most ecologically important lands along the St. Mary's River, in Guysborough County. In addition to being one of the province's most scenic and spectacular rivers, the St. Mary's also offers a tremendous ecological richness, supporting three unique ecological gems:

Photo by Jeff Amos
Photo by Jeff Amos
Many local residents and visitors who travel from afar to experience for themselves the magic of the river, have seen devastating changes over the past few decades. The St. Mary's faces increased pressures from many activities, which impact the river’s ecological integrity and the species that live in and around it.

Photo by P.Green
Photo by P.Green
The Nature Trust's campaign will help reverse these trends and ensure the natural legacy of the St. Mary's is preserved, by securing some of the most ecologically important lands along the river, as "forever wild" conservation lands.

The long–term ecological health of the St. Mary's River depends greatly on both healthy land and water. This project offers a connection between the typically "in–stream" efforts of local resource groups and "land focused" conservation efforts. The Nature Trust's expertise and resources in formal protection and management of private lands adds a unique new approach to conservation in the watershed.

Photo by Len Wagg
Photo by Len Wagg
The Nature Trust's work is an important complement to other conservation efforts within the watershed, including projects of local and regional conservation groups, like the St. Mary's River Association , Nova Scotia Salmon Association (and parent organization Atlantic Salmon Federation), St. Francis Xavier University, and government departments.

In July 2006, the Nature Trust celebrated the first major success of the St. Mary's River Conservation Legacy Campaign: the protection of 36 hectares of exceptional conservation land, including some of the province's last remaining old–growth floodplain and hemlock forests. Thanks to the foresight and generosity of the late Alex (Sandy) Cameron, his wife Shirley, and their family, the A.M. 'Sandy' Cameron Conservation Lands have been donated to the Nature Trust for permanent protection. Sincere thanks to the Cameron Family for this legacy gift.


Photo by
Photo by
The success of the St. Mary’s River Conservation Legacy Campaign continues. In April 2008, the Nature Trust, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, acquired a spectacular 90–hectare property on the West Branch of the river. The area, known as the Hemlock Falls Conservation Lands, supports intact old–growth forest, as well as habitat for wood turtles and Atlantic salmon. The property will be permanently protected as a Nature Reserve, the highest form of protection for provincially–owned lands. According to Jon Miller, Nature Trust supporter, he old–growth forests on this property are incredible. There are few places like it remaining in the province.

The St. Mary's River Campaign has benefited greatly from the generous in–kind support of communications and graphic designers Nelson Angel and Mike Bardsley with Revolve, photographers Jeff Amos, Len Wagg, and Gilbert van Ryckevorsel, and television producer Terry Fulmer. We would also like to thank the Miller Family for their support.


We extend our sincere thanks to all our supporters who have made this project possible. These include the Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species–at–Risk, the David and Faye Sobey Foundation, The Donner Canadian Foundation, ExxonMobil, EnCana Corporation, Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environment, the Elizabeth Wakefield Henderson Charitable Foundation, the Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund (contributions from Hunters and Trappers), the McLean Foundation, the Sage Environmental Program, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Shell Environmental Fund, the William P. Wharton Charitable Trust, the Enterprise Rent–A–Car Foundation, and the many individual donors that have contributed to the project.

We are also grateful to the many people who have volunteered to help this campaign, including: George Archibald, Hardy Eshbaugh, Tom Purves, Hugh Wright, Mark Pulsifer, Bill and Brenda Carpan, Jack and Florence Duffy, Marty Alpert, and Pat Foote.


Click here to read the St. Mary's River Conservation Legacy Campaign Brochure

* Forever Wild St. Mary’s River Logo by Revolve

Media

Nature Trust Catches a Big One for Earth Day (Press Release April 21, 2008)

In Nature We Trust (Chronicle Herald May 13, 2007)

Everybody Loves Mary(Atlantic Salmon Journal, Summer 2006)

Lifestyle Nova Scotia Magazine, June-August 2006

St. Mary’s River Campaign ad

Legacy of Love (Atlantic Salmon Journal, Winter 2006)

Nature Trust Celebrates Major Conservation Gift on St. Mary’s River (NSNT)

Cameron Property Closing a Wonderful Success (NSNT)

Battle Set for St. Mary’s (Chronicle Herald, May 30, 2006)

Lasting Legacy: Cameron’s donate land to Nature Trust (Guysborough Journal, July 19, 2006)

Major Project Sponsors

canada David and Faye Sobey Foundation
Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Program for Species–at–Risk Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program David and Faye Sobey Foundation Donner Canadian Foundation
ExxonMobil Encana EcoAction
Elizabeth Wakefield Henderson Charitable Foundation
Department of Natural Resources Department of Environment Elizabeth Wakefield Henderson Charitable Foundation
maritimes and n.east pipeline rbc bluewater
Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline RBC Bluewater Foundation
     

 

How You Can Help

Your donation to the St. Mary’s River Campaign will help the Nature Trust continue to protect and steward important natural areas along the river, while the most significant natural features and processes are still intact. With your support, we can ensure that the St. Mary's River, one of Nova Scotia's ecological gems, is there for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

St. Mary's River notecards - Jeff Amos
For your donation of $100 or more, you will receive a free set of St. Mary's River notecards, featuring the photography of Jeff Amos.

Photo by Gilbert van Ryckevorsel
Photo by Gilbert van Ryckevorsel
For your donation of $200 or more, you will receive a set of notecards and also be entered in a draw to win a framed print of Gilbert van Ryckevorsel's "Atlantic salmon and sucker carp holding along a submerged boulder located in the head of Indian Man Pool, West branch of the St. Mary's River", generously donated by the artist.



Download a donation form