Protecting Natural Heritage
Protected Areas
One way we can make our province cleaner and greener is simply by leaving parts of it alone. This way, wild animals, birds, fish and plants have a place to live and breed. Ecosystems that provide us with clean air, water, and soil can function their natural way. Parts of our culture heritage that deserve protection are preserved. And we all have a chance to connect with our province's true nature through wilderness activities.
The province currently has 33 protected areas and more are being designated right now. By 2015, 12 per cent of the province's total land mass will be protected.
Find out more about the Protected Areas program, and how you can take a guided tour of these areas with a wilderness expert by clicking here.
Reducing Our Waste
Nova Scotia is a world leader at diverting waste from our landfills. We’re turning what used to be garbage into new products and new jobs through recycling and composting. And the list of items being restreamed from the landfill to the economy is growing all the time. Find out more here: www.gov.ns.ca/nse/waste .
Contaminated Land Regulations
Contaminated land can affect everyone from private owners to industrial companies to the financial and legal sectors. Problems can result from such things as small fuel oil spills, gasoline service station leaks/spills or larger commercial/industrial contamination that may involve a variety of chemicals.
Nova Scotia is committed to the development of new contaminated site management regulatory tools by 2010. These tools are being designed to address environmental sustainability and health protection as well as contributing to economic development. A number of plans and measures are being evaluated to make this happen. For information on current policy and future updates for contaminated land management, please click here.
Environmental Home Assessment Program
Leaking oil tanks, contaminated wells, and malfunctioning septic systems can cause real problems for our soil and water – and for our health. So Nova Scotia Environment came up with the Environmental Home Assessment Program (EHAP) to help owners learn how to properly maintain their well water, septic systems and oil tanks. Along with providing participants with a septic system assessment, a water quality sampling kit and water-saving device program, the program also offers participants a rebate to have their home septic system pumped, and helps qualifying homeowners out with a grant of up to $3,000 to repair or replace failed septic systems. Over 400,000 Nova Scotians depend on private wells and septic systems. So far, more than 2,000 have had an assessment, and 470 grants for system upgrades or replacements have gone out Want to know more about how EHAP is helping to protect our health and environment? Go to: www.gov.ns.ca/nse/offices/emcoffices.asp
Aquaculture Environmental Monitoring Program
We all know fish is good for our health. And the Aquaculture Environmental Monitoring Program through the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture makes sure Nova Scotia’s fish farming practices are good for the environment’s health, too. It’s all about creating a sustainable supply, in an environmentally sustainable way. Catch more information here: http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture/EMPSummaryReport.pdf
Coastal Management Framework
The history of our province has long revolved around our coastline. Much of our economy has depended upon it, whether that be fishing, shipping, the navy or tourism. But as endless as it may seem, it is a finite resource that must be used carefully with an eye always on the future. That’s why government has adopted a Coastal Management Framework – the first of its kind in Canada – to provide economic growth along our coast, while protecting the environmental and social qualities it provides that are so vital to Nova Scotia. Want to learn more? Go to: http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20080605002
Adopt a Stream
It would be hard to count the number of living organisms that count on our streams and waterways for survival. Fish, birds, animals, plants…and let’s not forget us! That’s why the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has developed the Adopt-a-Stream program, which helps make Nova Scotia cleaner and greener by providing interested community groups with the guidance and funding to clean up, maintain or rebuild water environments. Want to get involved? Click here: http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/sportfishing/extension/adopt.shtml
Septic System Dewatering
With the help of the Septage Treatment Facility Assistance Program, the Municipality of the District of Chester was the first in Nova Scotia to purchase a dewatering truck from ABCO Industries Limited of Nova Scotia . It’s a move that will help the municipality protect its groundwater and surface water resources, while supporting the development of a Nova Scotian industry.
ABCO's dewatering technology lessens the threat of septic system failure, greatly reduces fuel consumed by pumping trucks, and vastly decreases the amount of material going into septage lagoons.
Their trucks pump the septic system, separate the liquids from the solids, and then put the liquids back into the septic system. The truck hauls away only the solids, which go to composting facilities for use in landscaping, land reclamation, silviculture and the creation of biofuels. Since the trucks take away less discharge per location, they can visit more locations per outing, so they don’t have to go out as often. That burns less fuel, reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. Estimates suggest operators will save 80 per cent annually on fuel.
Helping Farms Become More Enviro-Friendly
The goal of the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is to help farmers identify, assess, and address any environmental risks on their property before they turn into problems. Everything from water use and management, to manure storage and handling, to pesticide use is looked at. Farmers can apply for funding to implement any recommended changes through the Canada-Nova Scotia Farm Stewardship Program (CNSFSP), which is delivered by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. For more information, click here.
Herding Up All the Regulations for Farms
There are many environmental regulations, standards, codes and guidelines that affect decisions made in the management of a farm. The Environmental Regulations Handbook for Nova Scotia Agriculture gives farmers the latest information in one handy source. Get the full book here.
The Science of Going Organic
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) conducts research into organic farming and helps educate the public and producers on the benefits, latest updates, and how to’s of going organic. The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture supports the OACC’s initiatives through the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Study up here.
Putting Waste To Work
Many non-agricultural organic wastes (NAOW), including biosolids (the residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage) can be used beneficially in agriculture. This diverts wastes from landfills and helps farm production. To ensure this is done in a way that protects the environment, human-and-animal health, food safety, and the productivity of the land, the Department of Agriculture has produced Codes of Practices for NAOW. Access them here.
Protecting Everything from Peeps to Potatoes
The Department of Agriculture is involved with administering many acts and regulations that protect our province’s agriculture and food-related industries. These range from acts that protect baby chicks and regulate weed control, to the Farm Practices Act and the Agricultural Marshland Conservation Act, which helps the department maintain and protect more than 17,400 hectares of land. Get in on all the acts at www.gov.ns.ca/agri/legislation/
Adding the Fourth “R” - Research
The earth is their research lab at Nova Scotia Agricultural College’s (NSAC) Department of Environmental Sciences. With support from the Department of Agriculture, NSAC offers technical, undergraduate and post-graduate courses in the issues that affect our world, helping us find answers today while creating environmental stewards of tomorrow. Do your own research here.
Healthy Soil, Healthy Crops (and Industry)
By improving our soil, we can improve our crops. The Department of Agriculture partners with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the Soil and Crop Improvement Association of Nova Scotia (SCIANS) on a number of initiatives to keep our crops and our agri-food industry growing and thriving in a healthy way. Reap more information here.
Eco-Efficiency Centre
In many places around the world, environmental concerns are influencing how businesses manufacture, design, package, and take responsibility for a product’s end-of-life requirements. The Eco-Efficiency Centre is helping Nova Scotia businesses understand that improving environmental performance can also mean reducing costs, remaining competitive, and reducing financial risk. It may also influence new markets.
An extension of Dalhousie University with support from the Nova Scotia Government and other sources, the Centre advises businesses on how to generate less waste in their design and manufacturing processes, to reduce their energy and water consumption, to reduce the use of toxic materials, and to use natural resources more efficiently and effectively.
Since its inception, the Centre has identified more than $5,500,000 in potential savings for Nova Scotian businesses, enabled hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business opportunities, found tens of thousands of kilowatt hours of energy savings, and developed ways for businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes.
For more information, go here.