Saving Port Joli’s pristine coastline

The obvious ecological disaster in waiting helps explain why the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is seeking public support to help save pristine coastal habitat at Port Joli, Queens Co. The organization offered helicopter rides to the media this week to promote the campaign. “Threats to Nova Scotia’s coastline are intensifying as more and more of the natural coast is converted into residential and summer homes,” explained Dr. Bill Freedman, National Chair of NCC’s Board of Directors and a professor of ecology at Dalhousie University. “A five-year scientific assessment of the ecoregion identified the South Shore of Nova Scotia as one of the five best sites for conservation in Nova Scotia.”

Seeking public support, the organization has less than four weeks to raise about $50,000 needed to purchase more land as a buffer zone near the Port Joli Migratory Bird Sanctuary on the largely undeveloped west side of Port Joli Harbour.

A press release states, “Still unspoiled by development, the Port Joli area has long been renowned for its exceptional wildlife habitat, particularly for waterfowl. The area contains sandy beaches, eel grass flats, inter-tidal mudflats, small islands, and coastal forests. While NCC already owns 136 acres (55 hectares) at Port Joli, the current opportunity to acquire an additional 341 acres (138 hectares) will ensure this unspoiled habitat remains in its natural state. With $462,000 already donated by many generous individuals, governments and partners, NCC is asking the public to help raise the remaining funds to protect this special area.” The organization also hopes to purchase more land in the future.

Danielle and Charles Robertson of Port Joli helped initiate the project about five years ago. Danielle Robertson said, “It was actually a dream of mine started about five years ago. My husband owned a couple pieces of land we knew we’d never use and they were like a buffer zone.”

She contacted the Nature Conservancy and they ended up donating one piece and selling another at what would be considered a good price.

At that point, she sent the conservation organization a list of landowners and the negotiations began. She has also given tours of the area and written letters as part of the effort. Her husband’s cousin, Leon Robertson also negotiated a land transaction. The family has owned much of the land since the 18th century.

Robertson said providing details about the area’s bird sanctuaries and the region’s other protected areas, including Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct National Park and Thomas Raddall Provincial Park sparked the organization’s interest. “I’m really happy it’s going ahead. It’s very rewarding because it just started as a dream and I didn’t know if it would happen. I kept bugging them and Port Joli became one of their main priorities. I think it’s a very special place.”

She added some area residents have expressed concerns about recreation, hunting, fishing and other traditional uses of the area. She said not only will these uses be maintained; but keeping the lands out of developers’ hands will help ensure the area remains open. “All the traditional uses can still be had there. It will just protect the habitat from clearcutting. It also creates more habitat for wildlife.”

Port Joli Basin Conservation Society President Dirk van Loon is also excited about the possible purchase.

He laughed. “I think they’re a good neighbour despite the fact they didn’t give me a ride in their helicopter.”

He said the organization has made some small contributions to the Conservancy and has supported its efforts. “We really want the land kept in the public’s hands and not have more of the shoreline gated off. I think that it is great it will be a fairly wild bit of shoreline forever and ever.”

The Nature Conservancy press release states Port Joli Harbour is a sheltered, shallow bay that has a rich natural and cultural history, with Mi’kmaq use dating back to at least 1,200 years. The sandy shoreline is still largely unspoiled by recreational development. As an important staging and wintering area for Canada Geese, it supports 30-40 percent of the 10,000 overwintering Canada Geese in Atlantic Canada and is one of four Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the area. Located close by are other significant protected areas such as Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct National Park and the Thomas Raddall Provincial Park.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is a national non-profit conservation organization that works with landowners to protect Canada’s natural habitats. Its plan of action is to build partnerships and develop creative conservation solutions with individuals, corporations, community groups, conservation groups and government bodies. Since 1962, NCC and its supporters have helped to protect over 2-million acres (809,371 hectares) of ecologically significant land across Canada and over 18,323 acres (7,415 hectares) in Nova Scotia.

For more information visit www.natureconservancy.ca or to make a donation now, contact Donna at 902-480-3610 or toll free at 1-877-231-4400.

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