The Nova Scotia Nature Trust announced a new protected area today in the spectacular 100 Wild Islands. The 40 acre conservation lands on Gerard Island brings 85% of the eastern shore’s nationally significant, wild and beautiful coastal archipelago under protection.
This latest addition to the 100 Wild Islands is 40 acres in size and encompasses over a kilometer of shoreline on Gerard Island, one kilometer offshore from Popes Harbour. The property was acquired through purchase.
The 800 acre Gerard Island is one of the largest islands in Nova Scotia. It is nestled between the Nature Trust’s Shelter Cove Conservation Lands and the provincially protected Taylor Head Provincial Park. Over 87% of Gerard Island has now been protected or is in the process of being protected, including efforts by the Nature Trust’s provincial and municipal partners.
Ecologically rich and diverse, Gerard Island encompasses large areas of undisturbed coastal forests, bogs, barrens, cobble beaches, wetlands, eelgrass meadows and saltmarsh, including the well‐known 15 acre landmark, “the Mud Hole.”
With some of Nova Scotia’s only remaining undisturbed maritime coastal boreal forests, the island also provides refuge to boreal songbirds that are increasingly rare on the mainland.