Big Wilderness Area Protected: a Biodiversity Win!

Nova Scotia, Canada, protects close to 700 hectares of old-growth forest, wetlands, and lakes. They are a crucial habitat for many species, including the endangered mainland moose and Canada warbler.

“This is a big win for biodiversity,” says Scott Beaver, president of the St. Mary’s River Association. “The salmon, turtles, moose, lichens, songbirds, bats, and forests will all benefit from this important conservation decision,” adds Chris Miller, executive director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

The Archibald Lake Wilderness Area covers 684 hectares and is a “pristine natural gem” that “takes your breath away when you come to it,” as Greg Morrow, the province’s agriculture minister, puts it. It will encompass forests, wetlands, and three lakes feeding into a tributary of the St. Mary’s River in Guysborough County. The area is home to 37 rare species, including seven endangered ones.