Groups watching Irving land sale in N.S.

Some environmental groups and outdoor enthusiasts in southwestern Nova Scotia are cautiously watching the largest land sale in the province's history.

Forestry company J.D. Irving Ltd. has listed 70,000 hectares for sale on a real estate website. The parcel of wilderness spans Yarmouth, Digby and Annapolis counties, andis close to twice the size of the nearby Kejimkujik National Park.

Rick Jacques, trails co-ordinator for the Annapolis Valley Trails Coalition, told CBC News he's concerned about the sale.

"It's certainly a large hunting and fishing area, and that's always gone on with whatever land management company or forestry company that was there," he said.

Jacques said he's worried about who will buy the land, which encompasses a 600-kilometre trail network, 69 lakes and four or five river systems.

"There is some concern that it will be sold to a foreign interest...." he said. "We're concerned it may go to private-type developments, where it is listed in their literature as being able to be cut into large lots and encompass entire lakes, and we're concerned about having access in the future for Nova Scotians."

The land parcel also includes the historic site of New France, known as Electric City, home of North America's first electric paper mill.

Mary Keith, spokeswoman for J.D. Irving, said the company no longer runs a saw mill in the area and wants to focus on its forest lands in New Brunswick.

Keith told CBC News thatthere is nothing built into the sale that would protect traditional land uses.

"At the present time, the land is unrestricted in terms of the sale," Keithsaid. "Obviously there are traditional things, like mineral rights, that are vested with the province.The province is certainly aware of the sale and have certainly been kept up to date as to this issue."

Jacques and his group are calling on the provincial government to purchase the parcel of land, or to somehow protect the current activities and access to the land.

Bidding on the property closes April 2.