Every day, Canadians are stepping forward to help protect the natural areas that define our country.   In celebration of the many gifts from Canadians who care about our natural heritage, and in time for Canada Day, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announces the protection of 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of land on the beautiful Sandy Point Island located near St. George’s Newfoundland and Labrador.

The three properties on Sandy Point Island are part of the Southwest Newfoundland Natural Area, one of the most unique and diverse natural regions in the province. These acquisitions by NCC bring the Sandy Point Legacy Project to nine protected properties for a total 70 acres (28.3 hectares).

Sandy Point has the single highest recorded number of migrating shorebirds in Newfoundland and Labrador. Migratory birds such as Canada Geese and Blue-Winged Teal can be found here, along with the first North American record for Black-headed Gull and the first provincial record for Willet. The sandy beaches and dunes also provide habitat for the endangered Piping Plover.

Partnership is at the heart of NCC’s work. Many forces for nature have come together to help secure these properties including the EJLB Foundation and Environment Canada. The Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program is a unique public-private partnership helps non-government organizations secure ecologically sensitive lands to ensure the protection of our country’s diverse ecosystems, wildlife and habitat.

You can join with NCC and became a force for nature this Canada Day.
Stand up and be counted. Add your name to the growing list of Canadians who believe protecting native habitat and wildlife is critically important to our future.

Join NCC’s Conservation Volunteers program. You can join friends, family and NCC experts at events throughout the year and help care for some of Canada’s most important natural areas.

Make a gift to NCC. You can celebrate a loved one, friend, teacher, or perhaps a favourite Canadian species, or a beloved landscape by making a donation today.

Quotes
“Each of these properties is important to protect the fragile and uncommon beach and dune habitat,” said Doug Ballam, Nature Conservancy of Canada’s program manager for Newfoundland and Labrador. “NCC is now the single largest landowner on Sandy Point and through our management and stewardship activities, the viability of these species will be greatly increased”.

“This acquisition marks another achievement under our government’s Natural Areas Conservation Program. With this investment, we are taking real action to protect and conserve our ecosystems and sensitive species for present and future generations,” said Environment Canada Minister Peter Kent. “Your actions today will help to protect the abundance and variety of life that will constitute an integral part of our natural heritage tomorrow.”

“As I sat on the old concrete foundation of the former St. Stephen’s Anglican Church located on the resettled island of Sandy Point it felt like pressing my nose against the glass of another era,” said Aiden Mahoney, an NCC Conservation Volunteer helping protect special places in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Uninhabited islands such as Sandy Point in Bay St. George provide very important undisturbed breeding habitat for migratory bird”.

Facts
This Canada Day, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has protected over 7,870 acres (3,185 hectares) of natural heritage for all Canadians to enjoy.

For a complete list of NCC’s 10 Canada Day announcements and the forces of nature behind them visit, www.natureconservancy.ca/Gifts2011.

Sandy Point is home to 11 rare plants, all of which occur on NCC properties.

Donations to the Nature Conservancy of Canada deliver results you can walk on – 85% of donations go directly to protecting fragile landscapes in Canada.

Almost 1,200 volunteers contributed approximately 7,300 hours of volunteer work through the Conservation Volunteers program last year.

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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 2 million acres (800,000 hectares), coast to coast. In Newfoundland and Labrador, more than 12,460 acres (5042 hectares) are protected. To learn more visit: www.natureconservancy.ca

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Contact:  Andrew Holland, NCC communications manager (Atlantic) 1-877-231-4400 or   andrew.holland@natureconservancy.ca

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Interviews with volunteers, donors, NCC staff, experts and scientists available.
Check out our online newsroom for more updates at www.natureconservancy.ca/media.
  
 Link to NCC news release.