Nature Nova Scotia

06/10/2026

An update on our recent post regarding the federal government's proposed changes to Canada's environmental laws. The Government of Canada has announced it is extending the public engagement period on its proposed regulatory reforms to July 22. This follows significant feedback from Indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and members of the public from across the country.

We welcome this decision. If the government is genuinely listening to the concerns being raised and is willing to take additional time to hear from Canadians and consider its approach carefully, that is a positive step.

Our concerns about the scope of the proposed changes remain. Reforms that could reduce the rigour of environmental assessments, limit public participation, or weaken protections for species at risk deserve careful and transparent consideration. We will continue to engage in the process and encourage others to do the same.

The comment period is now open until July 22. To read the Discussion Paper and submit your comments, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/services/simplifying-canada-process/engagement-supporting-timely-decision-making.html

06/10/2026

Nature Nova Scotia joined over 50 other organizations in Halifax today to speak to the media about the need to get serious about protected areas. Stay tuned for some new exciting protected areas initiatives from us and friends across the province!

06/10/2026

📣 Over 50 groups from across sectors and communities throughout Nova Scotia are gathering today for something big. Stay tuned for more!



Nova Scotia Environmental Network Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment - Nova Scotia Nature Nova Scotia Save Our Old Forests NS Forests Forever Sierra Club Atlantic Canada Chapter CARP Nova Scotia Salmon Association Ecojustice

06/10/2026

We will be at the Sackville Farmers' Market NS this Saturday!

Coordinator Jess will be at our Bird booth selling bird friendly coffee, stickers, and other merchandise, but we'll also be there advocating for the birds that share our city.

Stop by to chat about our projects, learn how to make your home more bird friendly with Feather Friendly window markers, bird friendly native plantings, and other simple actions that help protect birds. You can also learn about upcoming events and sign up to volunteer with us.

P.S. We are still looking for a volunteer to help at the booth for a few hours. If you're interested in talking birds, meeting community members, and supporting our work, we'd love to hear from you! email [email protected]

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

That's a wrap on Bird Week 2026!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a walk, volunteered, supported the event, or helped spread the word - let's make halifax a safer space for birds

Together, we made Bird Week a huge success. This year, Bird Friendly Halifax hosted 16 beginner bird walks across all Halifax districts with the support of 15 volunteer bird walk leaders and 8 volunteer walk helpers. We were thrilled to welcome🪺 250 attendees 🪺and have 11 councillors join us throughout the week

If you'd like to help keep the momentum going, there are several ways to get involved.
- If you attended a bird walk, please consider completing our short feedback survey: https://forms.gle/o6CksVKAz7yzNDt49
- You can also join our mailing list at naturens.ca,
- attend Bird Friendly Halifax's monthly meetings by emailing [email protected],
- or support our Conservation Action for Birds Fund here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/federation-of-nova-scotia-naturalists/campaign/conservation-action-for-birds/

Bird Week may be over, but there are many ways to help birds year-round. Keeping cats indoors or on a leash, reducing pesticide use, planting bird friendly gardens, preventing window strikes, turning off unnecessary lights during migration season, providing clean water, and reducing single use plastics can all make a difference.

Thank you for spending Bird Week with us. We hope to see you at another Nature Nova Scotia or Bird Friendly Halifax event soon.

06/08/2026

We'll be at the Forest Market in Lunenburg later this month! Will you be joining us!?

We’re bringing the Forest Market to Lunenburg for the very first time! 🌲

Join us for a special spring edition of the Forest Market — a curated gathering of local makers, forest-based traditions, and organizations connected to the woods. We’re excited to partner with Save Our Old Forests and NS Forests Forever to bring it to life.

Browse handmade goods, connect with local organizations, and celebrate the people and stories rooted in our forest landscapes.

📅 Saturday, June 27 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Lunenburg School of the Arts (6 Prince Street)
🎟 Free & open to all

Vendor lineup coming soon — hope to see you there!

06/08/2026

We're going to be at the Prospect Communities Farmers market every other week this summer, talking about birds, selling bird-friendly certified coffee and other fundraiser items, and leading nature walks! Stay tuned for more details!

06/08/2026

" In March 2024, the Queens County Fish and Game Association embarked upon an effort to define and recommend additions to both the Tobeatic Wilderness Area and the Tidney River Wilderness Area. Those mapped additions total over 20,000 hectares. These designations will provide a large contiguous area of endangered mainland moose habitat, without harvesting or roads. Moose are easily disturbed by forestry operations, and on many occasions, the result is that they bolt towards the coast, where they are usually poached within one week. We had incorrectly hoped that the province would not procrastinate on our March 2024 additions request.

Minister of Environment Tim Halman thanked our association for the submission and passed it on to his Parks and Protected Areas division. Both Premier Tim Houston and Minister of DNR Tory Rushton were copied on that request.

The province was working with Ottawa under an agreement to spend approximately $28.5 million to designate enough protected areas to reach 15 per cent of Nova Scotia by March 31. Purchasing private woodlands would allow the Crown to designate protected areas while maintaining sufficient forestry lands. Unspent money will likely need to be returned to Ottawa.

DNR staff plotted on the Nova Scotia Harvest Map Viewer about 20 new harvests, existing within our proposed additions. They are problematic locations for forestry as endangered mainland moose currently utilize those locations. Negative responses by citizens to DNR appear to be ignored.

DNR is creating high-production forestry (HPF) in remote areas in the province. The land will be clear-cut, trees planted, fertilized, sprayed after two years to kill the hardwoods, thinned at 25 years, and harvested at 50 years. Taxpayers will pay the high costs to maintain remote roads and bridges to locations for 50 years."

https://www. saltwire. com/nova-scotia/halifax/opinion-halifax/opinion-endangered-mainland-moose-being-neglected-in-western-nova-scotia-and-beyond

06/08/2026

Bumper stickers!!! We keep getting dragged into fights against the province to do stuff they already agreed to do... and it's getting expensive. Help us advocate for pending protected areas in the 2013 Parks and Protected Areas Plan, meeting the 20% by 2030 goal, and a process for protecting community-nominated wilderness.

While supplies last, every tax deductible donation to our new Nova Scotia Needs Parks & Protected Areas campaign will receive a mailed bumper sticker in the design of your choice. Make sure your mailing address is included in the form and select your species (moose, puffin, warbler, or trout) in the notes/dedication section.

Learn more and donate at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/federation-of-nova-scotia-naturalists/campaign/nova-scotia-needs-parks--protected-areas/?version=2