Nature Conservancy acquires more forest, wetland in southeastern N.B.

TheNature Conservancy of Canada has acquired more land insoutheastNew Brunswickas part of its plan to conserve wilderness habitat and maintain what it considers a vital wildlife corridor.

Thetwo parcels of forest and salt marsh total 131.5 hectares, including of 79.5 hectares of wetlands and forest in Halls Hill, near Sackville, N.B.

The conservancy said it's an important addition to itsexisting conservation areas on theChignectoIsthmus, the narrow stretch of land between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

TheChignectoIsthmus, about 25 kilometres across at its narrowest point, provides the only land connection between wildlife populations in Nova Scotia andthose in the rest of North America.

To date, the organization hasconserved 1,385 hectares of the Chignecto Isthmus on both sides of the border.

"We are very pleased to be able to protect this wilderness for the benefit of wildlife and for the enjoyment of residents and visitors," saidPaula Noel, NCC's New Brunswick program director.

The new land is located between the federally protected Tintamarre National Wildlife Area in New Brunswick and the provincially protected Chignecto Isthmus Wilderness Area in Nova Scotia.

In addition to theHalls Hill property, NCC purchased 52 hectares ofcoastal property in nearby Shemogue, N.B.

This coastline atComeauPoint provides habitat for many species of shorebirds and migratory birds.