Nova Scotia’s 100 Wild Islands home to incredible biodiversity

The Chronicle Herald writes,

Little more than a decade ago, a chain of some 282 islands off our province’s Eastern Shore came to the attention of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, in part because they were complete unknowns, ecologically speaking.

The sciences simply hadn’t been done for these collective 7,000 acres and with a few exceptions, they appeared mostly untouched. But this charity was still young, collecting naturally significant properties and holding them in trust for future generations. A study of this entire archipelago simply wasn’t in their budget and so, for the time being, they moved on.

But the fates of this charity and these islands were intertwined, it would seem, their eventual reunion made possible by wealthy entrepreneur and Cole Harbour native Paul Gauthier. Eight years ago, he agreed to finance the necessary study so the significance of these islands could be uncovered, and after three years of diligent science, their contributions to Nova Scotia’s natural heritage were undeniable.

Read the complete Chronicle Herald article