N.S. group seeking to protect 11,000 hectares of wilderness around Ingram River

A section of Ingram River in Nova Scotia is pictured. (Source: Google Maps)

For more than 10 years, Mike Lancaster and a group of fellow conservationists have been trying to protect a key patch of wilderness that houses countless species in Nova Scotia. On Monday he’s heading back to Halifax City Hall to restate the case for the land.

Lancaster, the executive director of the St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association, is calling for a protected wilderness around the Ingram River that would cover just under 11,000 hectares.

“It’s hard to undersell the importance of Ingram River,” Lancaster said. “It contains 17 species at risk we’ve documented in the areas, including mainland moose, which are incredibly endangered.

“The core habitat is essential for the species.”

Lancaster is one of several presenters who will talk about the proposed protected space at an Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee meeting on Monday. Nature Nova Scotia is also adding its voice to the calls to safeguard Ingram River.

“It is really one of the last intact wildernesses and with that comes several ecosystem goods and services,” said Becky Parker, executive director of Nature Nova Scotia. “Ingram River refers to the river proper and the wilderness area. Within that broader area, there are parcels that are protected.

“The majority of the river area is not protected. The protected area system is one mechanism to protect those ecosystems.”

Lancaster said one of the ongoing concerns for Ingram River is potential forestry and clearcutting activity.

“One of the biggest challenges to conservation is degradation and fragmentation,” he said. “From an ecology standpoint, you need things connected and we don’t really have it in Nova Scotia. There’s not a lot of room for all wildlife and plants to have the space they need.”

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources said forestry activity “has a long history in the Ingram River area” and some harvesting activity continues to this day.

“As part of the Island Lake Wilderness Area, about 4,000 hectares around Ingram River are already protected,” the department said in an email. “At this time, there are no plans to designate additional lands for protection.

“We are committed to conservation, but it requires a sustainable, balanced approach that considers economic development as well.”

While the province would have the final say on the potential protected land, Lancaster is reaching out to the Halifax Regional Municipality to add its support to the idea.

“We’re looking to the municipality as a more stable and reasonable voice,” he said. “This is a very targeted approach. We’re looking to protect the best of what’s left.

“We’re always open to having the conversation. If we don’t have a healthy environment, we don’t have a healthy population or a healthy economy. It’s unfortunate to see those things as separate. How can we not be protecting an area like this?”

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