The year is 2015.

The date, December 29.

The headline?

Province Reaches Land Protection Goal

Yes,  the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act set the goal of protecting 12 per cent of Nova Scotia's landmass by 2015.

The goal was met.

(A retroactive hooray.)

And was the landmass that is West Mabou Beach Provincial Park counted as part of the 12.6 percent of land that was protected, forever?

Why, yes.

Yes it was.

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park

Protection Values

"Contributes to Province’s goal of protecting 12% of its land base by 2015; unique dune field; one species of bird found at the park is listed as critically imperilled and another two species vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.  In addition, two species of vascular plants were listed as imperilled and one species as vulnerable to extirpation or extinction."

Not all provincial parks contribute to the protected landmass in Nova Scotia. You can read a park’s official profile to learn about its protection values.

For example, Barrochois Provincial Park has these protection values, but is not characterized as contributing to our protected land mass:

Protection Values

Much of park is undeveloped and contributes

to regional biodiversity; uncommon flora

So can our government allow a golf course to be built on the very land our province celebrated as protected a mere eight years ago?

Surely, they cannot.

Words from December 29, 2015.

"This is a significant achievement," said Environment Minister Randy Delorey. "Nova Scotia is one of the most beautiful places in the country with our extensive coastline, pristine lakes, and parks. It is important that this land be kept natural to protect biodiversity and provide places for all of us to enjoy now and into the future.“

"Nova Scotia has taken a significant step forward for conservation," said Chris Miller, national conservation biologist with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. "These sites will go a long way to protecting important coastal areas, significant wetlands, intact watersheds, rare species habitat, and old forests."

Email Premier Houston [email protected]

Email Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables [email protected]