Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association

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Projects in which the Southwest Nova Bisosphere Reserve Participates

Current Projects

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI)

The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) is involved in a partnership with the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. MTRI's mission is to advance collaborative research, monitoring, and management that promotes sustainable use of natural resources in southwestern Nova Scotia. The results from the research and monitoring are then communicated to the public.

The MTRI is currently researching and monitoring the effects of riparian buffers and forestry practices on water quality, wildlife (dragonflies, birds, flying squirrels, bats, other insects), and the effects of climate change and pollution on water quality and aquatic wildlife. They are also researching and promoting the stewardship of rare species such as Blanding's turtles and ribbon snakes.

For additional information please see www.merseytobeatic.ca

Green Mapping

The SNBRA is exploring partnerships in the region to promote and develop a series of Green Maps for Southwest Nova Scotia. Green Maps are locally created maps that chart the natural and cultural environment. Green Maps cultivate citizen participation and community sustainability. The Tusket River Environmental Protection Agency (TREPA), a contributing partner of the Association, has successfully completed Green Mapping for the Yarmouth area in recent years, and may assist the SNBRA in applying this project more broadly.

For additional information please see http://homepage.mac.com/dan_earle/green_map/TOC.html

Communications Initiatives

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve is currently involved in the following communications initiatives:

Brochure: A brochure is currently being worked on that will provide a brief overview of the Biosphere Reserve and which will be used for promotional purposes.

Video: A video was produced by the grade 6 class at North Queens school. This video will be distributed in schools and to environmental clubs in the 5 counties that are part of the Biosphere Reserve.

Road Signs: SNBR is currently working on getting several promotional road signs to indicate the location of the Biosphere. These signs will be placed on both rural roads and highways.

Past Projects

Species at Risk Project

Many populations of plants and animals are at risk of disappearing in Canada. In most cases the cause of the problem is humans altering, degrading, and destroying habitat. However, species at risk can be saved by changing current harmful behaviour patterns.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the status of Canada’s wildlife species. Spcecies classified as being at risk fall into one of the following categories : of special concern, threatened, or endangered.

Southwest Nova Scotia is unique for its number of species at risk found within such a small geographic area. This is demonstrated by the fact that one animal species and nine species of plants listed as endangered or threatened by COSEWIC are not found any where else in Canada.

Several endangered species found in Nova Scotia are the Piping Plover, the Southern Flying Squirrel, and the sabatia kennedyana.

The Piping Plover is adversely affected by a lack of suitable nesting habitat. Suitable nesting habitat in the province is scarce and despite conservation efforts, Piping Plover numbers remain low. The main reason for this is the loss of suitable nesting habitat due to natural events such as storms and vegetation succession, human disturbance during nesting, and predation of eggs and young by predators.

The Southern Flying Squirrel is threatened by the loss and degradation of mixed forests caused by clearcutting practices. This rare species was found in Falmouth, Gaspereau, Kentville, Middleton, Lequille, Bear River, Milford, Maitland Bridge, Kejimkujik National Park, North Brookfield, Hibernia, Ponhook Lake and Cookville by researchers during the summer of 2001. The researchers also sought answers about the diet, the genetics, and winter nests of southern flying squirrels.

The sabatia kennedyana is a delicate flower which is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora group. It is found only in the Tusket River Valley of Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. This species is threatened by its loss of lakeshore habitat as a result of dam construction, cottage and shoreline development, and by destruction of populations by increased ATV usage and foot traffic along the shoreline.

Research is a crucial element in the protection of species at risk. Scientists, universities and volunteers are involved in studying species at risk in Nova Scotia because the more that we know about a plant or animal, the more we will be apt to protect it.

Community Stewardship is another imporant element in the protection of species at risk. The establishment of protected areas, by government in the form of national parks protects against the loss of habitat. However, this alone cannot solve the problem as a large part of Nova Scotia land is owned by private individuals. This is why community stewardship becomes extremely important. Put simply, stewardship refers to actions that Canadians take to care for the environment. To properly protect the habitats of endangered species in Nova Scotia, responsible actions on the part of these private land owners is required.