Nature Trust of New Brunswick Celebrates Grand Opening of Keiko & Errol Nature Preserve at Ross Island 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 July 2024

TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF WABANAKI PEOPLES/GRAND MANAN, N.B.—The Nature Trust of New Brunswick was proud to gather along the shoreline at the Keiko & Errol Nature Preserve at Ross Island on Saturday, July 6 to celebrate the official grand opening of this sanctuary forever protecting 373 hectares (921.5 acres) of ecologically significant wetlands, coastal forest and rugged coastline. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a reception at Castalia Marsh Retreat. 

"The Keiko & Errol Nature Preserve is a testament to the power of community and the importance of protecting our natural heritage, resulting from one of the largest fundraising campaigns we’ve ever undertaken,” said Stephanie Merrill, CEO of the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. “This irreplaceable island will forever remain an ecological wonder, providing a safe haven for wildlife and a place of tranquility and wonder for generations of people to enjoy.” 

Cynthia Stacey, President of the Nature Trust, highlighted the collaborative effort which made the preserve a reality. "This preserve was made possible through the generous support of hundreds of New Brunswickers and donors across Canada, North America and Europe—a reflection of the world-renowned beauty of the Bay of Fundy and its islands,” Stacey said, adding that organizations such as MapleCross Foundation, Echo Foundation, and the Gosling Foundation, along with funding from the governments of Canada and New Brunswick, also contributed to its acquisition. 

Larger than Central Park in New York City, the Keiko & Errol Nature Preserve at Ross Island protects significant wetlands, coastal spruce and fir forest, and rocky shoreline featuring iconic and gleaming white rock outcroppings. The island’s rocky shores act as a nursery for fish and crustaceans, supporting sea dogs, porpoises, and other mammals of the Bay of Fundy. The salt marshes provide essential spawning grounds and stopover sites for migratory birds and rare species like the red-breasted merganser, red knot, great cormorant, and semipalmated sandpiper.  

Combined, the preserve’s interior forest, saltmarsh habitats and shoreline are recognized as areas of exceptionally high marine productivity and ecological value. 

Located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Wabanaki Peoples, the land holds particular significance for the Peskotomuhkati People, who for thousands of years used Grand Manan and its nearby islands for seasonal fishing and hunting.   

"With climate change and nature loss posing unrivalled challenges, the need for protected areas like Ross Island has never been greater,” Merrill said. “Habitat like this plays a crucial role in the broader ecosystem, supporting everything from sustainable fisheries to the magnificent whales of the Bay of Fundy. Celebrating and protecting these areas is essential if we are to rise to the challenge of the biodiversity crisis and give nature a chance to recover and restore." 

About the Nature Trust of New Brunswick

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is a charitable land conservation organization dedicated to conserving and stewarding private land and inspiring New Brunswickers in protecting the province’s unique natural heritage. Since 1987, we have conserved more than 12,000 acres of ecologically significant land and coastline across 83 nature preserves, safeguarding stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems while ensuring the preservation of rare and endangered species. 

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Media contact 

Jon MacNeill  
Communications Manager  
Cell: 506-238-3539 | Office: 506-457-2398  
jon.macneill@ntnb.org