Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens (Past Project)

The Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens are sandy areas that are  low in nutrients, slightly acidic, and dry. While these conditions make it tough for some plants to grow, the same conditions are perfect for certain rare and unique species. These sandy areas were left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago!  While we have some understanding of how these ecosystems form and some of the things that live there; we've had less success coming up with a name.  Different people around the world have different names for the same ecosystem, including Sand Barrens, Atlantic Coastal Heathland, and Sandplain Heathland! 

 

The terms barrens and heathlands are often used interchangeably.  Heathlands are extensive areas dominated by plants called heaths.  Heaths are a group of related plants that belong to the family Ericaceae. Plants in this family are typically found in acidic, infertile soils. Some of the more well-known plants in this family include blueberries, cranberries and rhododendrons. 

 

The Atlantic Coastal Plain is a region of relatively flat land found along the Atlantic Coast from Florida to Southern Maine, extending into Nova Scotia. This land is covered in sediments that have collected over millions of years from coastal marine waters and rivers draining from the Appalachian Mountains.  At the end of the last glacial period (about 10,000 to 14,000 years ago), the sea level was about 100 metres lower than it is today, exposing a  land bridge connecting southwest Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. This land bridge allowed for wildlife to migrate overland. As a result, we can still find rare species in Nova Scotia that are also found in similar habitats in New England. The term Sandplain Heathland is used to describe sand barrens within the Atlantic Coastal Plain region.

A lack of awareness of the existence of the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens is a key challenge to getting people engaged in stewardship and conservation efforts. To help address this, we've created an Introduction Guide available online as a PDF or in hard-copy while supplies are in stock. If you would like to receive a hardcopy, get in touch!

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View the PDF

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We would like to thank all of the collaborators who contributed to the guide, and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables and Environment and Climate Change Canada for providing funding for this work. 

Compared to other ecosystems, relatively little research and survey work has taken place in the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens. We are still working with our partners to develop an accurate map of where the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens can be found. 

 

We need help "ground truthing" the predictions that have been made through the mapping work completed by the NSCC's Applied Research Group. Ground truthing is a term used to refer to information provided by direct observation (i.e. empirical evidence) as opposed to information provided by inference.

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Using iNaturalist to record species observations...

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If you live in an area that may be part of the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens, you can contribute to ongoing research by documenting the wildlife (plants, lichen, mosses, animals) around your property using iNaturalist. 

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There are several species that are commonly associated with the Sand Barrens profiled on the iNaturalist project page and found on this webpage. We would like you to document as many of these species on your property as possible. 

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If you are willing to take it a step further, you can try to document as many different species on your property as possible using iNaturalist. It is ok if you do not know the identity of the species you are making an observation for. iNaturalist will make some suggestions, and there is a community of naturalists who will help with identification based on the photos you submit. 

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How to determine if your property is in the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens

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You can use this map link to zoom in, explore, and determine whether your property falls within the area predicted to be part of the Sand Barrens. We are hoping to collect data from as many properties in the yellow "sandy- well drained soils" and "peat" areas as possible. Observations from the surrounding areas are also valuable.