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This is a list of protected areas of Nova Scotia.

National parks of Canada are protected natural spaces throughout the country that represent distinct geographical regions of the nation. Under the administration of Parks Canada, a government branch, national parks allow for public enjoyment without compromising the area for future generations, including the management of Canadian wildlife and habitat within the ecosystems of the park. There are two formal national parks in Nova Scotia, with one managed as a reserve.

• Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• Kejimkujik National Park - this park is composed of two sections. The main park is inland, with a seaside adjunct for day use only located near Liverpool.
• Sable Island National Park Reserve

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System is a program administered by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve river heritage.^[1]

• Shelburne River
• Margaree River-Lake Ainslie River System

A National Wildlife Area is a conservation status for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". These areas are managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

• Boot Island National Wildlife Area* (1.44 km²; 0.56 sq mi)
• Chignecto National Wildlife Area* (4.10 km²; 1.58 sq mi)
• John Lusby National Wildlife Area* (10.20 km²; 0.077 sq mi)
• Sand Pond National Wildlife Area (5.32 km²; 2.05 sq mi)
• Sea Wolf Island National Wildlife Area (0.41 km²; 0.16 sq mi)
• Wallace Bay National Wildlife Area (5.83 km²; 2.25 sq mi)

Protected areas administered by Canadian Wildlife Service

• Big Glace Bay Lake (240 ha; 590 acres)
• Kentville (200 ha; 490 acres)
• Port L'Hebert (350 ha; 860 acres)
• Port Joli (280 ha; 690 acres)
• Sable River (260 ha; 640 acres)
• Amherst Point (429 ha; 1,060 acres)
• Sable Island (2,350 ha; 5,800 acres)
• Haley Lake (100 ha; 250 acres)

As of January 2016^[update] there were 68 wilderness areas in Nova Scotia.^[2] They are regulated by the Wilderness Areas Protection Act under the responsibility of Nova Scotia Environment and are areas where resource extraction, development, use of vehicles and similar activities are prohibited. Hunting, trapping and fishing are permitted.^[3]

• Alder Grounds Wilderness Area
• Boggy Lake Wilderness Area
• Bonnet Lake Barrens Wilderness Area
• Bowers Meadows Wilderness Area
• Canso Coastal Barrens Wilderness Area
• Clattenburgh Brook Wilderness Area
• Cloud Lake Wilderness Area
• Economy River Wilderness Area
• Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area
• French River Wilderness Area
• Gabarus Wilderness Area
• Gully Lake Wilderness Area
• Jim Campbells Barren Wilderness Area
• Lake Rossignol Wilderness Area
• Liscombe River Wilderness Area
• Margaree River Wilderness Area
• McGill Lake Wilderness Area
• Middle River Wilderness Area
• North River Wilderness Area
• Ogden Round Lake Wilderness Area
• Pollets Cove-Aspy Fault Wilderness Area
• Portapique River Wilderness Area
• Scatarie Island Wilderness Area
• Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area
• Sugarloaf Mountain Wilderness Area
• Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area
• Terence Bay Wilderness Area
• The Big Bog Wilderness Area
• Tidney River Wilderness Area
• Tobeatic Wilderness Area
• Waverley–Salmon River Long Lake Wilderness Area
• White Lake Wilderness Area

As of January 2016^[update] there were 70 nature reserves in Nova Scotia. They are ecological sites regulated by the Special Places Protection Act, an Act which also protects archaeological, historical and palaeontological sites. They are areas of special natural ecosystems, plant and animal species, features and natural processes. They are areas that provide educational or research field areas but where recreation is restricted.^[4][5]

• Abraham Lake
• Bornish Hill
• Duncans Cove
• Great Barrens and Quinan Lakes
• MacFarlane Woods
• Panuke Lake
• Ponhook Lake
• Quinns Meadow
• River Inhabitants
• Roman Valley
• Rush Lake
• Sloans Lake
• Spinneys Heath
• Sporting Lake
• Washabuck River

• Blandford
• Brule Point
• Chignecto
• Hackmatac Lake
• Liscomb Game Sanctuary
• Martinique Beach
• Melbourne Lake
• Shubenacadie
• Spectacle Island Game Sanctuary
• Sunnybrea
• Upper Clements
• Waverley

• Abercrombie
• Antigonish
• Debert
• Dewey Creek
• Eastern Shore Islands
• Hibernia
• Maccan River
• Manganese Mines
• Minas Basin
• Pearl Island
• Scatarie Island
• Shubenacadie
• Tobeatic

Private Protected Areas are owned by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Nova Scotia Bird Society and the Bowater Mersey Paper Company.

• List of provincial parks in Nova Scotia
• List of National Parks of Canada
• List of Canadian provincial parks
• List of parks in the Halifax Regional Municipality

• Parks Canada official site
• Nova Scotia Provincial Parks official site
• HalifaxTrails.ca - Halifax Parks and Protected Areas