Application Instructions

I. Applicant Information

Qualified applicants are charitable nature conservation land trusts recognized under Nova Scotia’s Conservation Easements Act – Designation of Eligible Bodies Regulations. The lands secured must be stewarded to a high conservation standard; at least equivalent to IUCN I, II, or III criteria.

II. Property Information

To help keep conservation affordable, the NSCSLLT will not purchase properties for more than 5% above their appraised fair market value. This policy ensures that our support for land conservation does not unintentionally drive-up property prices and make future conservation efforts more costly.

For clarity, a “property” refers to a single tract of land, or several of them, being acquired from a single vendor, with all transactions closing on a specific date.

Conservation Area – Identify if the property lies within an area recognized as an ecological priority, e.gs. Rich and/or rare in biodiversity; watershed protecting aquatic habitat, in a relatively intact natural state.

Acquisition Type – “Consent to protected area designation” – falls under either the Nova Scotia Special Places Protection Act or the Wilderness Area Protection Act.

III. Significance of the Property

Key Natural Features and Biodiversity Targets:

• Identify how the project is relevant to a priority theme or target of your organization.
• Indicate if the property is located within one of your organization’s priority conservation areas and explain the benefit of securing this property within the area, as applicable.
• Identify and describe the conservation values of the property. Include any identified targets and threats to those targets.
  • List biodiversity targets within the property which could include:
    representative ecosystem/community types and landscapes
  • rare or at risk community types
  • rare or at risk species (S-ranked, G-ranked and COSEWIC species)
  • keystone or wide-ranging species
• For a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) project, include details about waterfowl and other wetland associated values
• Show how the property may complement other conservation work in the area
• Where a property may not contain biodiversity targets, explain its potential role in maintaining ecological integrity of the larger region, e.g. its importance for restoration and/or reintroduction.
• Does the property significantly contribute to biodiversity connectivity or provide a major staging/feeding area for migratory birds, an overwintering area for hibernating animals, or a spawning/nursery habitat for dependent species or offer other elements of critical habitat?

IV. Property Stewardship

Long-term stewardship costs may include annual site monitoring, property maintenance (e.g. sign replacement, fencing restoration, property taxes, liability insurance, staff time, and any required habitat management.

The Trustees may provide funding for the establishment of an endowment fund for long-term stewardship of the property. This funding is limited  for up to 10% of the fair market value of the property and to a maximum amount of $300,000 per project. Eligibility for this funding requires the beneficiary to identify the  exceptional circumstances that make the specific amount of endowment funding requested necessary.

Property burdens – A legal obligation or restriction affecting a property’s use or value, in the form of an agreement, covenant, or easement, e.g. gypsum rights.

V. Required Attachments

Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute (AACI) Appraisal – For a simple purchase, donation of land or easement, or a split-receipt combination:

• A statement of opinion for properties valued under $10,000
• One (AACI) fair-market appraisal is required for properties with a fair-market value over $10,000 and equal to or less than $1,000,000.
• Two AACI fair-market appraisals, or one AACI appraisal and a Statement of Fair Market Value (issued by Environment Canada’s Ecological Gift Program) are required for properties exceeding $1,000,000. 
• For an easement, the terms and conditions of the easement

Site Visit Report & Property Maps

• Elucidate key elements of Section III Significance of the Property
• Property maps should show:
  • the property in the provincial context
  • the property in the eco-regional context
  • the property locally situated, e.g. county  or bay
  • a detailed map including ownership of adjacent properties and any applicable natural heritage designations

VI. Optional Attachments

Stewardship Statement – Where an interim stewardship statement is not submitted with an application, a Stewardship Statement must be submitted within one year of the notice of award, per the clause 2.4 of the Financial Administration of NSCSLLT Funding policy.

VII. Project Budget

Per the Trust Indenture, funding for the securement of eligible properties is available as follows:

1. Up to 50% of the value of an eligible property valued at less than $250,000;
2. Up to 60% of the value of an eligible property valued at $250,000 or more, but less than $1,000,000;
3. Up to 70% of the value of the property valued at $1,000,000 or more.

Staff Costs may include: Landowner contact, travel expenses for site visits, maps, photos.