By Barry Dorey and Amy Smith / Staff Reporters

Conservationists thought they had won the battle to protect Prospect High Head, an ecologically sensitive area near Peggys Cove.

But the apparent sale to developers of an important parcel of the property threatens the pristine land just weeks after residents and politicians toasted a deal to protect it.

Ottawa donated 100 hectares to the Nature Conservancy of Canada in March and the agency was negotiating with a private landowner for another 50 hectares.

But Wednesday, word of the sale leaked out, prompting New Democrat Bill Estabrooks to ask in the legislature what the province can do to stop a possible 35-lot subdivision.

"Developers with deep pockets have gobbled up... this exclusive piece of Nova Scotia coastline," the Timberlea-Prospect MLA said. "It is valued and treasured by all."

Sam Rogers, spokesman for Friends of High Head, said the community feels blindsided by the sudden sale of land around a favourite hiking spot.

He said the conservancy had been negotiating with the owner in good faith, despite the nearly $500,000 price tag, but "they turned around and sold it to someone else."

"The people have spoken loudly on this for the past 15 years, people are very keyed up on this," said Mr. Rogers. "There will be war down here."

Natural Resources Minister Ernie Fage said the area is high on the preservation list. His staff is investigating the possible sale.

"Certainly if a piece of property indeed has been sold, you can't block that sale," the minister said. "That doesn't mean you don't work with the new owner to see if that piece of property can become part of that reserve."

Mr. Estabrooks said the nature reserve has access by Indian Point Road. He said the province should refuse any upgrading of the road leading to the property.

It is one of two ecological areas in Nova Scotia known as granite barrens. The other is near Canso.

It includes a number of bogs and crowberry barrens, glacial erratics and granite outcrops.

Among other things, the barrens' ecosystem helps purify groundwater before it flows back into the ocean.