New Brunswickers can look forward to more opportunities to enjoy nature this year.

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick, which finds land across the province, either by donation or purchase, to turn into nature preserves, is planning its most ambitious campaign to date.

Normally they add three or four a year, but this year they’re aiming for 15 to 20.

“We were able to secure a good amount of funding to purchase these lands, and now what we need to do is rally to get the money that we need to ensure that we can care for them forever, which is part of our mandate,” Jon MacNeil, the trust’s communications manager, said in an interview with CBC Radio’s Shift.

MacNeil said the higher goal this year comes from more people interested in donating land.

The trust has a team that works to find strong ecological habitats around the province and look into conservation possibilities, he said.

“So we worked hard and we kind of secured these funds, and now we’re working hard to secure the remaining little bit we need to make as many of these nature preserves come to fruition.”

The threat of climate change and industry have also spurred some people to want to help protect more land in the province, MacNeil said.

“I know a lot of New Brunswicker are concerned about the rate that we clear-cut and the amount that we spray.”

Ancient forests and Fundy wetlands

The properties the trust will be adding this year are all over the province, and they range in size from five to 115 hectares. MacNeil said one that stands out is going to be called the Ancient Hardwoods of Marsh Creek, in Carleton County.

Describing the property as breathtaking, he said it includes eastern hemlock that are estimated to be 300 to 500 years old.

“I had the chance to go up there a couple of months ago and it took three of us, you know, full-grown adults, arms reaching around at our fingertips, just barely touching to encircle this tree,” MacNeil said.

Wetlands properties near the Bay of Fundy coast are included in new conservation areas the group will be adding this year. (Submitted by Jon MacNeil)

“It’s something that you don’t really get a chance to see in New Brunswick very often.”

MacNeil said there are also several wetlands properties along the Bay of Fundy being added this year, which are “recognized as a really critical habitat to protect because they support so much different life from amphibians to birds to mammals.”

Wetlands also have added benefits to address climate change, he said.

“When we have these more intense storms bringing storm surges, when we have more intense rain events that can potentially flood our communities, wetlands soak up and they give a little more resilience and a little bit of natural protection.”

MacNeil said the trust is close to its goal of raising $200,000.

“We’re pretty optimistic that New Brunswickers will help us close that gap and they will be able to secure all these properties that we’re working toward.”