Nova Scotians Honoured for Conservation Efforts
A naturalist, a toymaker and two environmental organizations are among the individuals and groups honoured for their efforts to protect marine habitats around the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine.
Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont presented recognition awards in Halifax today, Jan. 10.
"Each year, we honour outstanding Nova Scotians with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine awards for their efforts to protect marine habitats," said Mr. Morash. "We also thank all the other groups and individuals who work tirelessly to protect rivers, marshes and wetlands along our coastline."
Mr. Morash presented Bay of Fundy Awards to June Swift and the Nova Scotia Eastern Habitat Joint Venture.
Ms. Swift lives in Westport, Digby Co. She is a naturalist, photographer, educator, community steward, and author of Brier Island's Wildflower Field Guide. She received the Bay of Fundy Education and Awareness Award for her efforts to help people in her community understand the fragility of sand dunes, bogs, and bird and wildflower habitats.
The Nova Scotia Eastern Habitat Joint Venture began in 1989 and brings a wide array of individuals, businesses and governments together for numerous projects aimed at conserving and managing wetlands and coastal habitats. The group received the Bay of Fundy Award Business Partnership Award for its many projects and partnerships involving coastal habitat conservation, including land purchases, stewardship agreements, and research.
"By recognizing these award recipients for their commitment to our marine habitat, we can all become inspired to do something for our environment," said Mr. d'Entremont. "We all benefit from their efforts."
Mr. d'Entremont presented Gulf of Maine Visionary Awards to Warren Paton and to the Salt Marsh Restoration Team at the Ecology Action Centre.
Mr. Paton is best known for his toy shop on the Digby waterfront. He is also a protector of wetlands and wildlife areas. He received the Gulf of Maine Visionary Award for an individual for acquiring land and creating the 60-acre Toymaker's Marsh Wildlife Area at St. Mary's Bay.
The Salt Marsh Restoration Team at the Ecology Action Centre aims to protect, restore and raise awareness about coastal wetlands. The team received the Gulf of Maine Visionary Award for a group for its work getting a culvert at Cheverie Marsh in the Minas Basin replaced with a larger one. The replacement restored a more natural tidal flow and the ecological integrity of the surrounding wetland habitat.
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment was established in 1989 by the governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine to foster co-operation in the gulf watershed.
The council's mission is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the gulf and to ensure that existing and future generations use the resource in a sustainable way.