Cumberland Wilderness

Submitted to NSEN by Cumberland Wilderness

Cumberland Wilderness (CW) is a citizens’ group established in 2005 to advance wilderness protection in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Since inception, we have significantly advanced conservation in our region by advocating for the creation of protected Wilderness Areas totaling more than 30,000 hectares, including the Kelley River and Raven Head Wilderness Areas.

We have been working with other NGOs and Provincial Government Departments to create migration paths for large mammals between wilderness areas and the Chignecto Isthmus.  We also provide input on the location and management of new wilderness areas in Cumberland County and our region.  To this end we supported the Community Nominated Priority Fund Proposal and the Chignecto Isthmus Community Nominated Priority Place. 

This year, CW has contributed funds to the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Caemmerer Lands Project (1,400 acres) on the Chignecto Isthmus and we have met on Zoom with the N.S. Minister of Environment, Gordon Wilson.  We have continued our support for Nova Scotia’s part of the 26 million dollar Nature Fund under Environment and Climate Change Canada by working with municipalities to identify potential properties in and around our existing wilderness areas and water supplies.  The emergent fruition of these efforts is that our municipalities have signed agreements with the province, and property acquisition will follow.   This will greatly enhance connectivity for large mammal migration routes through Cumberland County and the Chignecto Isthmus.

CW’s dues paying members, directors, and officers provide support for local, provincial and federal governments in their efforts to increase and enhance wilderness areas in the Cumberland County region. 

Membership is by invitation and we presently meet by Zoom as required.
You can get in touch with dickbeswick@yahoo.ca for more information.