The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) is a non-profit co-operative with a mandate to advance collaborative research, monitoring, and management that promotes sustainable use of natural resources in southwestern Nova Scotia.
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Species at Risk Stewardship
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Background
The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (SNBR) is home to approximately 75% of the more than 40 Species at Risk (SAR) that live in Nova Scotia. SAR Stewardship Biologists from Acadia, Kejimkujik, and MTRI have partnered with other NGOs, First Nations, schools, community groups, industry, and all levels of government to help recover the SAR that live in this unique region.
Our work is to learn interesting and useful information about SAR in the SNBR, share this knowledge with the public, and excite, engage and guide interested individuals, families, and communities in the conservation of these species and the habitat in which they live.
Objectives
Our main objectives are to increase awareness and understanding of species at risk, generate sighting reports from the public, and engage volunteers in their recovery. We hope to promote environmental stewardship and advocacy and create ambassadors for species at risk.
Our focal species at risk are Blanding’s turtle, Eastern ribbonsnake, Boreal Felt Lichen, Southern flying squirrel, Monarch butterfly, Water-pennywort, and other endangered Atlantic coastal plain flora.
Methods
Engaging outreach strategies continue to be developed throughout the SNBR, including the creation of the Species at Risk in Nova Scotia: Identification and Information Guide which is intended to increase awareness, sighting reports, and stewardship of SAR in Nova Scotia.
Simple, useful, and fun volunteer opportunities continue to be provided for Kejimkujik visitors and communities in the SNBR, including: Blanding’s turtle nest monitoring, trapping, radio tracking, and visual surveys; Eastern ribbonsnake surveys; Monarch Butterfly Club; Boreal Felt Lichen surveys; flying squirrel monitoring; and Atlantic coastal plain flora monitoring.
Results
Stewards continue to monitor SAR on their properties throughout the SNBR, and participate in volunteer programs - over 250 individuals volunteered a total of more than 10,000 hours in the Greater Kejimkujik Ecosystem in 2009, which is the third year in a row this five digit milestone in volunteer hours has been achieved.
Volunteer stewards continue to help us discover new populations of endangered turtles, lichens, and other flora and fauna. Over 100 volunteers and stewards continue to attend a volunteer banquet each December to celebrate their achievements.
Years of Data
- Ongoing since 2006
Partners
- Parks Canada
- Acadia University
- Bear River First Nations
- Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute
- Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association
- Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program