©Parks Nova Scotia

The amount of land protected has increased, but the method is raising eyebrows. Nova Scotia’s environment minister revealed Thursday that his government has increased the amount of protected land in the province, but it’s not in a way that sits well with environmentalists or the interim Liberal leader. In response to an inquiry from Iain Rankin during question period, Tim Halman said the government has protected 14.55 per cent of the province, nearing its goal of 15 per cent by the end of the year. The minister also acknowledged the recent jump from 13.8 per cent was accomplished using something called other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM), which refers to land that isn’t suitable for forestry activity, such as steep slopes or buffer areas between watercourses and forestry operations. “That is a new shift that has never been seen in this province before,” Rankin said in the House.