Realizing Land Equality—Redefining the “Highest and Best Use” for Our Future
If food sovereignty is about what we grow and climate resilience is about how we adapt, land equality asks: where and for whom do the roots take hold? In rural Nova Scotia, land shapes every possibility—from farming and housing to gathering, creating, and restoring community. Yet, for too long, decisions about land have centered on a single question: What is the most profitable use of this land? This “highest and best use” mindset, focused on dollars above all, has created real barriers: high cost, concentrated private ownership, rural fragmentation, dispossession, and exclusion.
But a new story is taking root—one that redefines “highest and best use” to reflect equity, sustainability, and reconciliation. Across the province, people are working together to make the land a source of thriving for all. Community Land Trusts pool resources to protect farmland, forest, and homes for generations yet to come. Cooperatives share tools and skills, lowering barriers for new and diverse farmers. Land Back initiatives, supported by settlers and allies, are returning stewardship to Mi’kmaq communities, recognizing land not as commodity but as living inheritance and heavy responsibility. Sustainability projects help landowners restore wetlands, woodlots, and soils. Local governments are revisiting zoning and permitting to nurture multigenerational living and vibrant communities, not just the bottom line.
True “highest and best use” is about healing relationships—with the earth and each other. When we center equity and reconciliation, we protect clean water, cultural practices, vibrant traditions, and the right for everyone to find their place. Land equality is not just a dream—it’s a movement. Led by Indigenous peoples for millennia, and now joined by rural Nova Scotians who reject exclusion, we can build a land system rooted in justice, sustainability, and shared responsibility.
Let’s challenge old definitions, honor diverse voices, and ensure the land truly serves all. The future grows brighter when the land nourishes us—together.
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