New Brunswick

NCC completes largest private land conservation project in New Brunswick’s history

In the largest-ever private land conservation project in New Brunswick, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced the conservation of 2,106 acres (852 hectares) of forested land, including vital Atlantic salmon habitat on the Bartholomew River, a tributary of the Miramichi River. 

With Atlantic salmon in decline, and the Miramichi watershed believed to produce more wild salmon than any other river in North America, the establishment of this property is a significant conservation milestone for NCC and New Brunswick.

The property includes increasingly rare old Acadian forest, five kilometres of treed shoreline along the Bartholomew River and deep, cold water pools that are integral to the health of salmon as they move upstream to spawn. 

The property will be called the Foxner Nature Reserve, based on a contraction of the former property owners’ names: Brian and Carolyn Fox, and Carl and Ann Faulkner. The two couples made the land donation under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, which provides tax incentives for individuals who donate ecologically significant land.

The conservation project received widespread support from New Brunswickers, including a significant financial donation from former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna in honour of his friend Bob Kenny, a salmon conservation advocate.

This conservation project was also supported by funding from the Government of Canada through the Natural Areas Conservation Program. Funding was also provided by the Regional Development Corporation, NB Environmental Trust Fund, TransCanada Corporation, New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund, Echo Foundation, Mountain Equipment Co-op and many local residents.

Two new land donations for the Moose Sex Wilderness Project

The NCC’s Moose Sex Project continues to grow. Two more ecologically important areas, totaling 339 acres (137 hectares), are now conserved on Chignecto Isthmus, which links Nova Scotia with New Brunswick and the rest of North America.

The sites are located in Haute-Aboujagane and near Upper Cape. NCC has now conserved 3,033 acres (1,227 hectares) on the isthmus.

The new protected lands were generously donated under the Ecological Gifts Program. This program, administered by the Government of Canada, provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land.

The Haute-Aboujagane property is the second donation of conservation land in New Brunswick by Joan Burney and former Canadian ambassador to the United States Derek Burney.

The property near Upper Cape was donated by a family who wishes to remain anonymous.

These conservation projects were also made possible through contributions from Environment Canada under the Natural Areas Conservation Program. NCC wishes to acknowledge and thank other organizations for their support, including The Gosling Foundation, Crabtree Foundation, the Lockhart Foundation and the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund, along with many individual donors.

Lincoln Wetlands trailblazing

In July 2015, a team of Conservation Volunteers broke ground on a trail extension on NCC’s Lincoln Wetland Nature Reserve, outside of Fredericton. The 21-acre (nine-hectare) property can be found near the Lincoln Elementary Community School in Lincoln, New Brunswick, and includes a freshwater marsh. The property is also home to the rare butternut tree.

The new trail will not only provide the community with access to nature, but it will also provide the children with recreational access to nature and education opportunities.

In just a few hours, with the help of people from all backgrounds who share a common love of the outdoors, the Conservation Volunteers completed the initial creation of the new trail. Armed with pruning shears, spades, gloves and dedication, the group opened up a trail through the young forest. Some volunteers removed branches, others hauled debris out of the forest, while still others cleared away trash.

By the end of the morning, a clear trail was finished, allowing access to the beautiful marsh, where otter tracks were found.