OUR CAMPAIGN
Buy Back the Mersey!
In 2012, the collapse of the Bowater Mersey Paper Company triggered an important opportunity. The St. Margarets Bay Stewardship Association (SMBSA) and local citizens successfully rallied the Province to buy back the Mersey area, where they responded by acquiring nearly all the company’s lands. It was a "once-in-a-generation" victory, promising a future where the community finally had a say in land management.
The Big Letdown
The promise of community-led forestry quickly faded. Despite public outcry, the government rejected sustainable proposals, favouring industrial logging instead. Today, the Ingram lands are still treated as industrial crops, managed by logging consortiums. Clearcuts and industrial development continue, leaving citizens with little more than perfunctory input.
Toward Wilderness
​In 2017, the SMBSA proposed a 20,000-hectare Wilderness Area to protect this overlooked region. Developed alongside Mi'kmaw partners, the proposal was modified so as to not overlap with a new Mi'kmaw Forestry Initiative project. It gained momentum in 2019 when the government committed to a joint biodiversity assessment. This led to a temporary pause in logging, a crucial first step toward permanent legal protection.
Stewardship In Motion
​​​The SMBSA has been collaborating with government officials, university researchers, local users, and citizen scientists to better understand and conserve the area's natural attributes. We’ve identified 17 species at risk, including the mainland moose, which depend on these vital forest areas to survive. In the last few summers, our team has employed Habitat Restoration Technicians is actively rehabilitating the land. We continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure this wilderness area meets the needs of all users.
