Current Projects

Photography © Southwest Nova Biosphere Region

Ecological Science Atlas

The UNESCO Southwest Nova Region is internationally recognized for its unique biodiversity, scientific activity and geographic location downwind from mainland North America. Many institutions and agencies carry out research and collect critical data here of regional, and international importance.

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association has partnered with the Nova Scotia Community College, Centre for Geographic Sciences and the Government of Nova Scotia to develop a unique software application to increase access to ecological data for students, educators, land managers and the general public.

We invite you to explore this innovative “Ecological Science Atlas” based on ‘open science/open data’ principles with your computer. Geopositioned access to landscape information is also accessible using portable devices including smartphones and tablets.

To learn more, visit our Ecological Science Atlas page!

Satellite image - Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia Ecological Science Atlas LITE

Explore the Ecological Science Atlas

2 Billion Trees

Increasing Climate Resiliency in Kespukwitk (SWNS) Through the Restoration of the Wabanaki (Acadian) Forest

Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) introduced the 2 Billion Trees program in 2021 as part of a multilayered effort to reduce/mitigate the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, and to enhance community wellbeing through the creation of greenspaces. 2BT is a Canada-wide initiative committed to planting two billion trees over 10 years. Expected long-term benefits of the program include carbon sequestration, habitat restoration, enhanced biodiversity, air and water purification, generating a green economy and enriching the wellbeing of Canadians for generations to come.

Here at the Southwest Nova Biosphere Region (SNBR) we aim to plant 250 000 trees through-out Southwest Nova Scotia over a 3 year period and are on track to do so. Our project, Increasing Climate Resiliency in Kespukwitk through the Restoration of the Wabanaki Forest, aims to create permanent additions to Kespukwitk’s forests and increase tree cover outside of existing forest stands. Through this project SNBR is further strengthening its role in combating climate change through the long-term carbon storage offered from trees, and enhancing the overall climate resiliency of our region.

For further information regarding this project or to see how you may become involved, please reach out to our 2BT Project Manager adam@swnovabiosphere.ca

The 2 Billion Trees project is funded by Natural Resources Canada.

2BT Poster 2023 - PDF

Photography © Southwest Nova Biosphere Region

OECM Project

This project is focused on identification of potential areas for protection and designation as OECMs in the buffer zone of the Southwest Nova Biosphere Region, specifically in the lands surrounding and/or contiguous with/near Kejimkujik National Park and the Tobeatic Wilderness Area in Southwestern Nova Scotia.

In some cases, lands near the buffer zone may be considered where high levels of biodiversity are noted and/or opportunities for protection are identified. Funding will allow for the hiring of a project coordinator, surveying of the area in question to identify and map areas of high biodiversity that would be appropriate for designation, investigation of property titles, negotiation of protection agreements and developing legal frameworks for those agreements. Staff would work with partners to identify barriers to designation of areas for protection as OECMs.

In the process of identifying areas for potential protection, threats from invasive species and/or human activity will be identified with possible mitigation strategies. Nova Scotia currently has achieved between 13% and 14% in protecting lands with a significant gap to reach the provincial target of 20%.

This project will allow the Southwest Nova Biosphere Region to identify additional lands that would complement what has currently been designated and support the conversations that will ultimately achieve protected status for those lands.

Successful completion of the project will support designation of an increased number of protected areas of high biodiversity in Southwestern Nova Scotia as well as potential strategies to address those barriers to designation as OECMs.

Areas for habitat restoration will be identified and a subset of these will have plans developed and on-the-ground projects initiated. Over 40 species at risk have been identified in this region.

An increase in the amount of protected lands will assist in mitigating threats to their survival.

This project will advance opportunities for reconciliation by reaching out to the three first nations communities in the biosphere region to seek collaboration in identification of areas for protection.

Protecting landscapes and biodiversity in Kesputwitk/Southwest Nova Scotia - PDF

Kespukwitk / Southwest Nova Scotia Priority Place—Lakeshore Restoration for Coastal Plain Species At Risk: 2024 to 2026 - PDF

The OECM project is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

For further information regarding this project or to see how you may become involved, please reach out to our Project Coordinator Maria Roy maria@swnovabiosphere.ca.

Lakeshore Restoration Project For Coastal Plain Species At Risk

Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve Association has been given two years of funding to restore lakeshore habitats that have been damaged and have lost the ecological services they provided. Lake shores are hot spots of biodiversity and they prevent erosion and keep nutrients from entering lake waters. The shorelines of large watershed area lakes and spring-fed lakes in Nova Scotia are the only habitats in Canada that support a suite of globally and nationally rare Atlantic Coastal Plain plants.

For further information regarding this project or to see how you may become involved, please reach out to our Coordinator Nick Hill nick@swnovabiosphere.ca.

Lakeshore Restoration Project pamphlet, 2024 - PDF
The Shoreline Restoration project is funded through Priority Place funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Learn more:

Ponhook Lake (Queens County), Photography © Southwest Nova Biosphere Region

Plant Propagation, Photography © Southwest Nova Biosphere Region

Maria, Fieldwork, Photography © Southwest Nova Biosphere Region

Rose Coreopsis, Sloan's Lake, Yarmouth County

Pink Coreopsis (Species At Risk), Sloan's Lake, Yarmouth County

Redroot (Species At Risk), Ponhook Lake, Queen's County

Spoonleaf sundew (Drosera intermedia), Ponhook Lake, Queen's County

Integrated Community Sustainability Planning

The Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) is an important document that will provide direction on how our communities can achieve their desired future while maintaining a balance between its environmental, social, cultural and economic qualities for the 10, 20 , 30 + year time frame. ICSP’s will be developed in each of Nova Scotia’s municipalities with a draft submission September 2009 that will allow for Federal transfers of gas tax revenues.

SNBRA Board members have become engaged in the ICSP process and it was a decided upon priority at the strategic planning retreat in March 2009. Presentations on the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve with a focus on sustainability were made to each of the 5 municipal councils including Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Queen’s and Shelburne. The South Shore has formed an ICSP network linking the municipalities of Shelburne, Yarmouth and Argyle and invited SNBRA to participate in their Natural Resources and the Environment forum. SNBRA Board members have also participated in community round tables and community cafes in the counties of Queen’s, Annapolis and Digby.

Outside of these projects, we are working with other organizations to further conservation efforts in the region. We will be publishing our science strategy shortly.