The Ingram River watershed is facing a critical moment. Significant portions of publicly-owned land north of St. Margaret’s Bay are slated for high-production forestry, which means repeated clear-cutting in short rotations, plantations re-established again and again — even in areas proposed for protected status. This isn’t simply a matter of harvesting trees. It is about whether we choose extraction for the benefit of few, or protection and renewal for the long-term benefit of many.
I have spent time in the area myself. It is a beautiful place to camp and paddle. I went last month and saw a beaver swimming in the lake while the full moon rose over the other shore. It’s not only these trees and habitats that are precious, but these experiences. We are disconnected from nature, and these experiences change our perspective, soothe our frayed nerves, and put everything into perspective.
The ecology, the recreation, the possibility of future businesses built on nature all hinge on whether this land remains intact or is fragmented and disturbed by logging.
Rare ecosystem features and corridor habitat
The area proposed for formal protection is rich in ecological value. The campaign site notes that it includes “old growth Acadian forests” and “pockets of intact forest” ready for recovery. According to NSForestMatters, one specimen tree in the area is 535 years old, making it the oldest documented forest tree in the Maritimes. The same site reports at least 17 species at risk and many more of conservation concern.
In addition to rare trees and species, the Ingram River region functions as a corridor habitat for the mainland moose. The proposed protected area is recognized by the provincial government as “core habitat” for this species, meaning its survival depends in part on connectivity through lands like this. If this corridor is compromised, the southern population of moose in Nova Scotia could face extinction.
Also noteworthy: after roughly 100 years without salmon in the watershed, salmon have now returned to the drainage. This demonstrates the recovery potential of the land and the importance of surrounding natural habitat, water quality, and undisturbed forest for aquatic species too.
What caused the disappearance of salmon? It wasn’t over-fishing, it was logging – the very thing that threatens the Ingram now.
Recreation, business and the logic of investment
From a human-use perspective the area is particularly valuable. Accessible from Halifax, it offers lakes, rivers, hiking, paddling and wilderness experience close to urban centres. The community-proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area covers just under 11,000 hectares of formerly industrial Crown land, much of which drains into St. Margaret’s Bay.
But there is a catch: business owners and investors who might want to base enterprises around nature-tourism, guiding, recreation or wellness will hesitate if the underlying land is threatened by large-scale logging or if the landscape is not secure. You won’t see new lodges, trails, eco-businesses investing in an area if they expect the forests will be clearcut or heavily industrialized in the near term. Protection signals stability, long-term value, and confidence. Without that, the economic potential falters.
Broken promises, slow protection and fast-tracked clearcutting
Nova Scotia has committed, through its legislation (the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act) to protect 20 percent of its land base by 2030. Yet the province under the current government, led by Tim Houston, has made little progress toward that goal. The provincial environmental organization Ecology Action Centre (EAC) has published a statement noting that this proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area “contains the oldest documented forest in the Maritimes” and yet the government is allowing high-production forestry in the area.
The EAC further states that the government is fast-tracking extractive operations in proposed protected areas while public nominations for protection remain stuck in limbo. In one example the government slated over 191.5 acres for high-production forestry within the proposed Ingram boundary. Brush-clearing and road access work has already begun in some corridors — a classic tactic of “log while we can, before protection is signed” so that the industrial footprint is entrenched. The government’s approach suggests that protection is an afterthought, while extraction is the immediate priority.
Why old forest really matters, and why you can’t just “grow it back”
It is important to understand that forests are not fungible. A young plantation is not the same as an old-growth ecosystem. The structure, the species composition, the soil, the canopy layers, the deadwood, the fungal networks, the rare lichens and species that depend on long-undisturbed habitat do not simply return in a few years or even a few decades. When you log an old forest, you destroy complex interactions that may take centuries to rebuild, if at all. In short: once it’s lost, something irreplaceable is lost.
This region includes stands of very old forest and the oldest tree recorded in the Maritimes. Logging may target younger stands now, but big forestry companies often deploy green-washing to disguise the true cost of repeated clearcutting and fast rotations. We must hold that narrative apart: protection of older forest and corridor habitat is absolutely critical. We are not simply talking about trees. We are talking about ecosystems, wildlife connectivity, carbon sequestration, water systems and the integrity of a wild landscape.
What you can do — act now
If this matters to you, here are concrete steps you can take:
- Let your elected representatives know that their jobs are at stake if they continue to ignore public will. Nova Scotians overwhelmingly support conservation and politicians need to hear, clearly and repeatedly, that protecting forests is not optional, so write to your MLA, the Premier and the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, asking that harvesting plans be paused within the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area until legally designated. The EAC lists this as point one of its demand.
- A group of concerned citizens is taking action together. Email them to join the email list to get on their email list to find out about future actions. ingramactiongroup@gmail.com
- Sign onto petitions and support the campaign by organizations like the Protect Ingram campaign. The website lists contact information, news updates and “get involved” forms. Protect the Ingram Facebook Page
- Visit the area — spend time hiking, paddling or exploring in the watershed. Personal experience builds connection and also helps document recreational value.
- Share the story with friends, social media or your networks. Let more people know the urgency of this protection and the specific threat of high-production forestry.
- Support businesses and initiatives that depend on a healthy, intact landscape — this builds economic momentum for protection rather than extraction.
- Stay engaged — monitor public consultations, harvesting plans and the status of the proposed wilderness area. Public pressure works.
The Ingram River region stands at a crossroads: one path leads to short-term extraction, fragmentation and decline; the other leads to protection, ecological renewal and future-oriented value. We cannot afford to treat forests as interchangeable. Once the complex structure of an old growth forest is lost, the ecosystem service, the habitat, the rare lichen, the corridor function — these are gone or severely diminished.
If you care about wildlife, recreation, nature-based business, climate and community, then this is the moment to act. Protecting Ingram is not merely an option. It is a necessity — for the land, for the water, for the species, and for the people who value wild places.
Sources & Further Reading
- Protect the Ingram Wilderness Campaign
- St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association
- Ecology Action Centre: Statement on Clearcutting and Conservation
- Nova Scotia Forest Matters: Ingram River Area Targeted for Perpetual Clearcutting
- Government of Nova Scotia: Proposed Protected Area Near St. Margarets Bay