Category Archives: Conservation

Province seeking feedback on its Protected Areas Strategy 29Aug2023

Posted on August 29, 2023 by admin

A recent News Release: Province Seeks Input on Protected Areas Strategy Nova Scotians are invited to help shape the approach for protecting 20 per cent of the province’s land and water by 2030. An online public consultation started today, August … Continue reading →

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Saturday Aug 26, 2023: Chebucto Peninsula Moose Meeting

Posted on August 24, 2023 by admin

UPDATE AUG 25: EVENT POSTPONED (weather – rain would make the field component very difficult) On Nature Nova Scotia website: For some background info. about the Chebucto Mainland Moose population, see the NS Forest Notes page on the Chebucto Moose. … Continue reading →

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On the significance of wetlands in the Backlands (Halifax, NS) 18Aug2023

Posted on August 18, 2023 by admin

In a recent Nature Nova Scotia/Ecology Action Centre hosted webinar on “Wetlands, Adaptation and Extreme Weather Events”, Danica Van Proosdij talked about her work on making room for coastal wetlands (saltmarshes) to adapt to climate change, and David Patriquin talked … Continue reading →

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Japanese Barberry: a significant invasive on Lawsons Brook and perhaps elsewhere in the Backlands (Halifax, NS) 17Aug2023

Posted on August 17, 2023 by admin

UPDATE Aug 18, 2023: The NS Invasive Species Council has recently released their new Grow Me Instead guidebook in which Japanese Barberry and Common Barberry are cited as potential invasives in NS & NB; they suggest alternative native species to … Continue reading →

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Hemlock Wooly Adelgid now in the Halifax area 11Aug2023

Posted on August 11, 2023 by admin

UPDATE Aug 16, 2023: Forest ecologist, Donna Crossland, explains the significance of the discovery of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid – or HWA – in Bedford, NS (Audio) CBC Maritime Noon ———————————- Subject: HWA Working Group – HWA Detection in Nova Scotia Date: … Continue reading →

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Art Meets Nature and Activism at Sandy Lake – art show opens Thursday July 13th, 2023 !

Posted on July 12, 2023 by admin

A wonderful collective of artists has been creating works based on their experiences at Sandy Lake Regional Park. Their gorgeous paintings and drawings will form part of a 2-week long art show at Second Gallery (Upstairs at 6301 Quinpool Road, … Continue reading →

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Peak flowering (now) is a good time to spot invasive multiflora rose and help stop its spread into the Backlands 6Jul2023

Posted on July 6, 2023 by admin

By David Patriquin It’s peak flowering time for Rosa multiflora, an invasive species that can be challenging to remove once it gets well established. The plants are readily spotted when they are flowering, so its a good time to be … Continue reading →

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A misty walk at East Pine Island Pond on Canada Day 2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by admin

Photos by Joshua Barss Donham and Rosa Barss Donham at East Pine Island Pond in the Purcells Cove Backlands on Canada Day

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Presumptive Exobasidium infestation on Black Huckleberry extends well beyond Osprey Trail area (Halifax Backlands) 5July2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by admin

It took only 2 days following my initial post about this “mystery pest” on Black Huckleberry in the Osprey Trail area (McIntosh Run barrens) to document, courtesy of Joshua Barss Donham & Rosa Barss Donham & iNaturalist, occurrences of the … Continue reading →

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Fruit production by Black Huckleberry on the McIntosh Run barrens reduced by mystery pest 3Jul2023

Posted on July 3, 2023 by admin

The mystery pest appears to be the work of a fungus in the genus Exobasidium, a group of parasitic fungi. While berry production in the area examined will certainly be reduced this year, it probably won’t have serious longer term … Continue reading →