Fines Protect Wildlife Habitat, Watercourses

A new set of fines will help protect the province’s wildlife habitat and watercourses.

Summary offence tickets with fines ranging from $812.50 to $1,157.50 can now be issued for offences under the Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations.

Under the Forests Act, the regulations protect water quality and wildlife habitat on private and Crown lands where forestry operations take place. Conservation officers enforce these regulations. Summary offence tickets are now added to their range of existing compliance tools including education, written or verbal warnings or a charge that requires appearing in court.

Fines can now be issued for 18 offences, such as failing to establish special management zones, operating a forestry vehicle too close to a watercourse or creating a tree canopy opening larger than 15 metres.

Quick Facts:

• the fines have been added to the Summary Offence Tickets Regulations
• no changes to the Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations were required to implement the summary offence tickets
• these regulations, in place since 2002, will be reviewed next winter to ensure they are effectively protecting wildlife as intended
• reviewing these regulations was a recommendation in the independent review of forestry practices in Nova Scotia by Prof. Bill Lahey

Additional Resources:

More information on the offences and associated fine amounts is available in the Summary Offence Tickets Regulations at: https://www.novascotia.ca/just/regulations/rxam-z.htm#sumpr

Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations are available at:
https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/fowhwp.htm

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