Addressing ownership, motivation and capacity in relation to nature conservation: Experiences from Brier Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

Nature conservation on Brier Island, Nova Scotia has experienced ongoing management challenges that have affected the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC) Brier Island Nature Preserve (BINP) since 1989. These ongoing management challenges, such as illegal dumping and environmental degradation from motorized recreation, persist despite NCC management programs and participation by the some members of the community. This thesis identifies community-based factors (i.e. ownership, capacity, motivation) that contribute to the persistence of these management challenges. Based on obstacles and opportunities evident in the data, recommendations have been developed to bolster community ownership of conservation. Enhanced ownership is necessary because of the strong place identity that the community has developed in relation to the Island. Potential opportunities for enhanced community-based capacity are investigated through five capital streams (nature, social, human, institutional, and economic). Community motivation for conservation may also be fostered through a focus on the cultural landscape of Brier Island.