Feds fund protection of Tabusintac marsh

July 28, 2015 (Tabusintac, NB) – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced today the protection of 30 hectares (75 acres) of salt marsh, forest and coastal bog habitat on New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula.

The group announced the completion of six new conservation projects, on Tabusintac and Neguac Bays. Three of the sites were generously donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada by private land owners Bernise Savoy-Cole, Sarah Savoy and Sabine Dietz and Roland Chiasson. Some of these properties were donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program.

Joining NCC and the land donors along the Tabusintac River were Miramichi MP Tilly O’Neill-Gordon and Miramichi Bay-Neguac MLA Lisa Harris on behalf of federal and provincial funding agencies.

The beaches and dunes that enclose Tabusintac and Neguac Bays provide critical breeding habitat for globally endangered piping plovers. This is a critical site in the migration of a variety of birds, particularly waterfowl. The area has many important habitats, including upland forest, barrier beach, salt marsh and bog. Both bays are recognized as Important Bird Areas and Tabusintac Estuary is one of only three Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in New Brunswick. NCC has previously protected over 445 hectares (1,100 acres) around the Tabusintac Estuary.

The new sites include the 7 hectare (16 acre) “Kingfisher Reserve” on the north side of the Tabusintac River. This reserve boasts salt marsh bordering the estuary and a diverse Acadian Forest. The site was cared for and enjoyed for many years by Sabine Dietz and Roland Chiasson and their daughters Lena and Mira who spent their summers in the area. Wanting to ensure the land remains wild and natural, the family decided to donate their property to NCC. Another 2.8 hectares (7 acres) of riverfront was protected on Cove Brook.

Also added to NCC’s Nature Reserves in the area are 21 hectares (52 acres) of forest and coastal bog off of Malpec Road which include the properties donated by Sarah Savoy and Bernise Savoy-Cole. Coastal peat bogs are important wetland habitats which support a number of rare plants.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada wishes to acknowledge the generous financial support of the funders who made these land conservation projects possible; corporate sponsor Groupe Savoie, the Government of Canada through the Natural Areas Conservation Program, the Government of New Brunswick through the Regional Development Corporation, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Quotes

"The Tabusintac Estuary is an incredibly important region for wildlife and NCC and our partners have been working to protect land in the region for nearly 20 years, said Paula Noel, Program Director for New Brunswick with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It is especially touching when New Brunswickers support our work so much that they are willing to donate their land for conservation.”

“Our Government is committed to preserving Canada's long-term prosperity by conserving and restoring our lands and waters, and connecting Canadians to our natural and unique spaces,” said Tilly O’Neill-Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi. “This important investment highlights our commitments announced in the National Conservation Plan.”

"The Government of New Brunswick through the Regional Development Corporation Northern Fund is pleased to support these important projects in Neguac and Tabusintac," said Lisa Harris, MLA for Miramichi Bay-Neguac. “Working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada we are protecting sensitive habitats for plants and wildlife?. We are also preserving our spectacular natural beauty for local residents and visitors to enjoy, for today and for future generations."

Facts

• Lands were donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program ensuring the protection of these lands for future generations. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals who donate ecologically significant land. Since the beginning of the Ecological Gifts Program in 1995, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has received more than 272 gifts of land through the program across Canada, including 19 in New Brunswick.

Learn more

To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit http://www.ec.gc.ca/pde-egp/.

This project was funded as part of the Government of Canada’s National Conservation Plan. The Natural Areas Conservation Program (NACP) is a unique public-private partnership led and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). To date, $345 million has been invested in the NACP by the Government of Canada, with more than $400 million in matching contributions raised by NCC and its partners to secure our natural heritage. This includes $100 million announced in May 2014 under the National Conservation Plan to continue this program.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation's leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 1.1 million hectares (over 2.7 million acres), coast to coast. The Nature Conservancy of Canada and partners have conserved 15,984 acres (6,468 hectares) in New Brunswick. Learn more at www.NatureConservancy.ca/NB. People may find many of our sites for recreation on this free mobile app: www.exploreconb.ca