Committed to the conservation, enhancement and stewardship of habitat across Newfoundland and Labrador

A significant quantity of wetland, upland, and coastal habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species exists within the Town's boundary. Three areas have been identified as Conservation Areas: Business Pond, Queen's Meade and Cape Freels. Business Pond includes Business Pond itself, and the adjacent riparian habitat. The terrestrial habitat is typical of the transition between the Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens and the North Shore Forest, and is dominated by conifers. These Conservation Areas are popular birding spots, as of 2023 there were 25 recently recorded species in New-Wes-Valley (Business Pond), and 124 species species in Cape Freels. These areas are focal points for outdoor recreation for the local community and the region. The Cape Freels Conservation Area includes some tidal marine flats (Pinchards Bight), a tidal sand bar connecting Cape Island to the land, and Cape Island. While the ocean/marine environment is not included in the CA and outside of the municipal planning boundary, the intent of including these tidal, land-based areas within the Conservation Area is to demonstrate the connectedness between the land and the sea,