Habitat conservation fund helps 15 projects

Nova Scotians will have a chance to learn more about unique species and their habitats through this year's projects included in the province's Habitat Conservation Fund.

Fifteen projects will be supported with more than $200,000 from the fund, which is financed by the $3 wildlife habitat stamp on all hunting licences sold in Nova Scotia. One dollar from each stamp is allocated to land acquisition projects.

"With the purchase of one of these stamps, hunters and trappers can help protect the province's wildlife habitats," said Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell. "Since 2001, more than $1 million has been invested in wildlife conservation."

The fund's primary goal is to help projects that protect and enhance wildlife habitats. Projects are funded up to 75 per cent, on a cost-shared basis, to a maximum of $25,000 and up to $50,000 for land acquisition. To be considered, a project must improve habitat, research wildlife habitat, conduct related education programs or purchase land for the benefit of wildlife.

Project applications are reviewed by an independent board of directors with members from hunting, naturalist and academic associations.

Applications for the 2011 Habitat Conservation Fund can be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31. Guidelines and application forms can be obtained from Natural Resources offices or at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/habfund/ .

Information on 2010 and past projects, is also available on the website.

The following are the 15 projects and funding recipients for 2010:

-- Johnston's Pond Land Acquisition Project, Nature Conservancy of Canada
-- Sheltering Forests Project, Friends of Redtail Society
-- Young Naturalists Club Expansion Project, Young Naturalists Club
-- Saving Spaces for Species, Nova Scotia Nature Trust
-- Project Webfoot Wetland Education Program 2010-11, Ducks Unlimited Canada
-- Youth Environmental Day Camp Pilot Project, Hope for Wildlife Society
-- Bridging the Ages: Understanding our Natural World, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-N.S.
-- Building Capacity for Coastal Waterbird Monitoring at Important Bird Area Sites on the South Shores of Nova Scotia, Bird Studies Canada
-- BioBlitz: Facilitating Education on Biodiversity and the Conservation of Wildlife Habitats, Saint Mary's University
-- Ecological value of restored and engineered wetlands, Acadia University
-- Habitat use by en route migratory songbirds in coastal Nova Scotia, Acadia University
-- Acadian Forest Region "Habitat Heroes" - Children's Ecology Camp, Acadia University: Irving Botanical Gardens
-- Micou's Island Coastal Habitat Restoration and Stewardship Project, St. Margaret's Bay Stewardship Association
-- Monitoring Flying Squirrel Survivorship, Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute
-- Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas Year 5 - Last chance to put Nova Scotia's bird biodiversity on the map!, Bird Studies Canada