Chris Miller says the proposed Lake Archibald Wilderness Area is an “ecological hot spot” and he and others have produced a report saying the provincial government should provide legal protections for the land.
Miller and others worked in the field over a period of months in various seasons on 684 hectares of land in Guysborough County near the St. Marys River. The goal of the fieldwork was to fill in information gaps about the species in the proposed wilderness area, he said.
“I’ve done a lot of field work in Nova Scotia, and I have to say that Lake Archibald really stands out,” said Miller, executive director of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society.
“The old growth forests and the rare species there are really impressive,” he said.
Continental moose, rare birds, lichens among the finds
The report, recently submitted to the provincial government, shows evidence of 26 rare species, including five listed under the province’s Endangered Species Act.
Species identified include common nighthawk, blue felt lichen, Canada nettle and continental moose. Miller said the findings should come as no surprise.
“Wherever you have old growth forests, you’re going to find rare species because there are certain species that can’t survive anywhere else. They need … trees that are very old and ecosystems that haven’t been disturbed for a very long time to be in order for you to survive there.”
Because some discoveries border the boundaries of the proposed wilderness area, Miller and his team recommend that the government expand those boundaries to provide a larger area of protection. He and his team plan more field work later this year.
Still no solution
The former Liberal government earmarked the land for potential protection in 2020. Although public consultation has taken place, no decision has yet been made.
Environment Minister Tim Hallman said he welcomed the fieldwork but was currently focused on protecting the remaining land identified in the 2013 Parks and Conservation Areas Plan.
Hallman said his department will turn its attention to other pieces of land to be protected when the work is done.
“My department is very much driven by science and data, and that’s how we make our decisions as a regulatory department. So of course, look, when information comes in, we always take it into consideration and in a wider context,” he said at Province House.
“Many discussions are taking place, but no decision has yet been made on this particular file.”
Concern for the industry
Miller and others called for Lake Archibald to be protected in part because of the proposed development of a gold mine nearby and the forestry activity that could take place in the area.
Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton said no industrial activity was currently approved near the proposed wildlife area and all necessary safeguards would be in place around identified species at risk.
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