Kawartha Land Trust announces 50 protected properties during 25th anniversary year

During a milestone anniversary year, Kawartha Land Trust has another reason to celebrate. The announcement of two new protected properties, bringing its total nature reserves to 50, comprising more than 9,100 acres across Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County.

With thanks to the generosity of land donors, individual donors, and funders, more natural spaces in the Kawarthas and the ecosystem services they provide to communities are conserved for future generations. Both new nature reserves are home to wetlands that contribute to the health of the waters in their respective regions, and each contains a wildlife corridor that allows native species to travel to connected habitats.

KLT’s Penryn Forest was permanently protected through a generous partial donation of the land from the MacLean and Rieger families, individual donations, and funding from the Government of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund. Additional support for this conservation project was received from the Melissa Spearing Memorial Fund in memory of renowned Seed Biologist Melissa Spearing, who was from Bethany.

“Ontario is proud to support projects that protect the natural beauty and ecological health of communities like ours for generations to come,” said Laurie Scott, MPP Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Brock, in a press release. The permanent conservation of Penryn Forest is a tremendous milestone not only for the Kawartha Land Trust as they celebrate 50 properties, but for all of Kawartha Lakes. I want to thank the MacLean and Rieger Families, Kawartha Land Trust, and all partners involved for their commitment to safeguarding this special landscape.”

More than half of this 213-acre property on the Oak Ridges Moraine is made up of mixed and deciduous forests and 68 per cent of the land is deep habitat. The protection of this property also preserves habitat that supports several species at risk, including Wood Thrush, Midland Painted Turtle, and Black Ash.

KLT’s Pierce-Vigneux Nature Sanctuary, located in Selwyn Township in Peterborough County, was generously donated through the Ecological Gifts Program to Kawartha Land Trust by Penelope Pierce and Paul Vigneux. Additional funding was received from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Canada Nature Fund and individual donors.

This 96-acre wildlife haven is home to black bear, moose, fish, coyote, and a wide array of birds. There have also been documented sightings or recordings of at-risk species including Western Chorus Frog, Eastern Milk Snake, Evening Grosbeak, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, and Golden-winged Warbler.

KLT’s Pierce-Vigneux Nature Sanctuary connects at one corner to the charity’s first donated property, Dance Nature Sanctuary (est. 2006), conserving existing connected habitats.  The extensive wetlands on both properties contribute to the health of the waters in their respective regions.

The protection of the important ecosystems on these two nature reserves further contributes to a healthier and more sustainable future for residents and visitors to the Kawarthas.

“The ecosystems work as connected systems that contribute to the health of our region, providing important benefits to local communities,” said John Kintare, executive director.  “Conserved lands like Penryn Forest and Pierce-Vigneux Nature Sanctuary help keep our lakes and streams healthy, reduce flooding during severe weather, improve the air we breathe, and support wildlife, including pollinators that are essential to certain kinds of local food production.”

Kawartha Land Trust protected its first property, Schipper (Gamiing Nature Centre), through a Conservation Easement Agreement in 2002 and received its first donated property, Dance Nature Sanctuary, in 2006.

Through community support, KLT, the regional land trust serving the Kawarthas, has been able to conserve more than 9,100 acres of land for future generations since its founding in 2001.

“During this milestone year, we could not be prouder to be a part of such an amazing community of supporters who care about nature and the future of nature in the Kawarthas,” said Kintare. “We’ve had an incredible 25 years and look forward to the next quarter century of conserving and caring for nature for the benefit of all.”