A Habitat Conservation Strategy for Southwest Nova Scotia

Lesley Farrow Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute Environment Canada

MTRI Science Conference November 1, 2013 Habitat Conservation Strategy

• The first of a suite of HCS with continuous boundaries that will consider all areas of the province • Responds to a need to better coordinate and inform actions of regional conservation organizations, highlight opportunities for collaboration, and identify gaps • Purpose is three-fold: – Identify and assess the current state of species and ecological communities of conservation priority in the region – Present a series of mapping approaches to identify key areas for conservation within the region – Identify the planned conservation and stewardship actions of organizations working in the region The Southwest Nova Scotia Bioregion

• Total area: 1,618,299 ha (29.3% of the province) – 606,340 ha of Crown- owned land – 41,982 ha of federally- owned land – Remaining is primarily privately owned • Coastline: 2,813 km Boundary Justification

• Guided by the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Biosphere Reserve designation Biosphere Reserves

• Biosphere Reserves are internationally recognized areas that are deemed to demonstrate a “balanced relationship between humans and the biosphere”. • Collaborative efforts among people in the designated area promote the sustainability of local economies and communities, as well as the conservation of ecosystems. Boundary Justification

• Guided by the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Biosphere Reserve designation • As a bioregion, boundaries should be ecologically relevant • Watersheds are widely recognized as an important planning and management unit – Address broad-scale threats – Species at risk – Watershed and stewardship organizations Boundary Justification

• Guided by the UNESCO Nine primary watersheds Biosphere Reserve designation • As a bioregion, boundaries should be ecologically relevant • Watersheds are widely recognized as an important planning and management unit – Address broad-scale threats – Species at risk – Watershed and stewardship organizations

Ecological Significance

One of the most biologically diverse areas of the province Northern Appalachian / Acadian Ecoregion Northern Appalachian / Acadian Ecoregional Plan

• A comprehensive analysis of the ecology and conservation status of the ecoregion • Based on evaluation of the size, condition, and landscape context of representative ecosystem occurrences, the plan identified ecoregionally critical occurrences of representative ecosystems NAAP Ecoregional Portfolio Ecological Significance

One of the most High concentration biologically of ecoregionally diverse areas of critical occurrences the province of representative ecosystems Significant Species

• All federally assessed (COSEWIC) and provincially listed (NS ESA) species at risk • All rare species with a provincial rank of S1, S2, or S3 (with a global rank of G1, G2, or G3) • All BCR 14 and MBU 11 priority bird species that occur with regularity in the Bioregion Species Composites

• Methodologies were developed to map the likelihood of occurrence of significant species based on existing species occurrence data • Data used included: – ACCDC rare species database – CWS critical habitat mapping for SARA Threatened and Endangered species – MBBA relative abundance and breeding evidence • Composites were developed for a number of subsets of the significant species list Rare and At Risk Non-Bird Species

N = 220 Non-Bird Species at Risk

N = 37 Rare and At Risk Plants and Lichens

N = 173 Rare and At Risk Non-Bird Habitat Limited Species

N = 84 Rare and At Risk Reptiles

N = 2 Rare, At Risk, and Priority Birds Relative Abundance

N = 32 Rare, At Risk, and Priority Birds Breeding Evidence

N = 67 Bird Species at Risk

N = 22 Bird Habitat Limited Species

N = 8 All Significant Species

N = 313 Conservation Priority Habitats

• Guided by the priorities identified in the NAAP, with further literature review and consultation with experts • Priority habitat types were selected at a coarse scale Conservation Priority Habitats

• The final suite of priority habitat types for the Southwest Nova Scotia Bioregion includes nine ecological systems:

– Beaches and Dunes – Freshwater Wetlands – Tidal Marshes – Riparian Systems – Tidal Flats – Acadian Forest Mosaic – Coastal Islands – Grasslands – Barrens

Priority Habitat Assessment

Landscape Assessment Priority Habitat Condition Size Context Rank Beaches and dunes Good Fair Fair Fair Tidal marshes Good Fair Fair Fair Tidal flats Good Fair Good Good Coastal islands Good Good N/A Good Freshwater Wetlands Very Good Good Good Good Riparian systems Fair Fair Very Good Good Acadian Forest Mosaic Fair Poor Fair Fair Grasslands/Agro-ecosystems Fair Fair Unknown Fair Barrens Good Fair Good Good Overall Assessment of Habitat Conservation Priorities in the Bioregion Good

Priority Habitat Composite

• Methodologies were developed to identify and score individual patches of the defined priority habitats • Scores making up the priority habitat composite include consideration of the uniqueness, representivity, size of patches of priority habitat relative to minimum area requirements, and occurrence of rare ecosystem types (e.g., old growth forest, Annapolis Valley sand barrens) Priority Habitat Composite Conservation Value Index Threats

• Assessed the scope, severity, and irreversibility of threats to the conservation priority habitats expected within 10 years given the continuation of current circumstances and management • Examples of the highest ranked and most pervasive threats include cottage and residential development, forest harvesting practices, sea- level rise, and coastal erosion. • The overall threat status for the Bioregion is medium.

Conservation Actions

• Identify the planned conservation and stewardship actions of organizations working in the region – Highlight opportunities for collaboration – Encourage information sharing – Reduce redundancies – Identify gaps in our collective conservation actions

In Conclusion…

• Al Hanson Head, Landscape Conservation Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic Region Environmental Stewardship Branch Environment Canada [email protected]