GUYSBOROUGH COUNTY, N.S. – The province’s Nature Trust is joining with the local community in celebrating the permanent protection of new areas around the St. Mary’s River on Aug. 9.

The river spills into the Atlantic Ocean along the southeast coast of Nova Scotia.

The new sites have been created in partnership with local landowners. They’re designed to protect the river’s floodplain forests .

The Nature Trust says these plans also aim to protect the watershed, threatened species and Atlantic Salmon populations.

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust was formed in 1994 as a charitable organization. Their mission is to protect Nova Scotia’s outstanding natural legacy through land conservation.

The celebration is open to the public at the St. Mary’s River Association Interpretive Centre. Following the announcement, there will be a guided hike around the area.