The Nova Scotia government has introduced new legislation calling for a property tax exemption on private land used for conservation.

The proposed Conservation Property Tax Exemption Act would make landowners eligible for an exemption, encouraging them to protect their land by taking away the financial disadvantage from a property tax perspective, the province said in a release Wednesday.

Municipalities where such land is exempted would get provincial grants in lieu of the taxes that would otherwise be owed.

“We are removing a significant barrier to private land conservation to encourage owners of ecologically significant lands to protect them,” said Environment Minister Mark Parent in the province’s release. “This will help us reach our goal of protecting 12 per cent of Nova Scotia by the year 2015.”