The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is holding its national meeting in Saint John this week, marking the first time in New Brunswick since its Moncton meetings in 2014.
Staff and board members from across the country are gathering from Tuesday to Thursday to review conservation priorities and assess progress on a 10-year goal to protect one million hectares of natural habitat by 2030.
Paula Noel, the organization’s director of conservation for Atlantic Canada, said the meeting helps set strategic direction and allows senior leadership to check in on national targets.
“We’re working hand in hand with private landowners, Indigenous nations, governments, industry and other partners to achieve that goal,” Noel said.
She explained that the Saint John River watershed is one of NCC’s top priorities due to habitat loss, development pressure and the presence of at-risk species.
“There are more at-risk species and loss of habitats in those watersheds than in a lot of other places in Atlantic Canada,” she said.
Noel said NCC is focused on protecting land in good ecological condition, including mature forests, wetlands and shoreline areas.
“We welcome landowners who want to explore conservation options,” she said. She added that protecting land can also help communities adapt to climate impacts.
“By protecting natural shorelines, wetlands and intact forests, we can buffer water during extreme rain or flood events,” Noel said. “That helps protect people and property.”
NCC has been active in Atlantic Canada since 1971, primarily working with private landowners and businesses to conserve ecologically important areas.
The organization also partners with municipalities and resource companies to secure land through donations, purchases and agreements.
Current projects include the Salmonier River near St. John’s, the Musquodoboit River and Harbour in Nova Scotia, and Murray Harbour in Prince Edward Island, where NCC is raising funds to protect 500 acres of coastal forest.
The meeting also includes a field visit to Shampers Bluff on the Kingston Peninsula, where NCC has partnered with photographer and former board member Freeman Patterson since 1998 to protect land through donation and stewardship.
Noel said NCC sends letters to landowners whose properties have high conservation value, but only a small number respond.
“We know there are others out there who might be interested and haven’t heard from us,” she said. “We encourage them to reach out if they’d like to learn more.”
