European impact

When European settlers arrived in Nova Scotia, the use of the land changed dramatically.

Land was cleared for farms. Animals were hunted for food, their furs, and products that could be manufactured from their bodies. Large numbers of trees were felled for timber for the infant forestry industry. Local sawmills were set up to process the timber. Minerals were discovered and mines were opened.

In the early 1900s tourism began to develop. People began using the land for leisure pursuits such as hunting, fishing, walking and canoeing.

All of these activities affected the land. The once-rich fishing industry, for example, has reported dwindling fish stocks in recent years. Quotas are being set to preserve fish populations.

Today, sustainability is being studied. Industries such as fishing and logging are being responsibly monitored and managed to preserve biodiversity.

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