FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 March 2008

Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ontario government conserve globally rare habitat across the province

Waterdown, ON: The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) joined the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and other conservation partners at an event in Waterdown on March 3, 2008 to celebrate the accomplishments of a long-standing partnership that has successfully protected more than 55,000 acres (22,000 hectares) of natural heritage lands across Ontario, valued at more than $45 million.

Donna Cansfield (centre front) and NCC's James Duncan (right) pose with partners at the recent event (photo by NCC)

After working together for more than a decade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Nature Conservancy of Canada renewed their partnership in 2006 through a five-year agreement to secure ecologically sensitive private lands in Ontario. The partnership, now wrapping up its second year under the current agreement, builds on a shared commitment to identify, secure and care for significant natural areas in Ontario.

"The dynamic partnership with the government of Ontario has delivered and continues to deliver the long-term conservation of many of the province's unique natural treasures," said James Duncan, Associate Vice President, Conservation for NCC’s Ontario Region. "It has allowed NCC to do what we do best to work directly with private landowners across Ontario to build a network of protected areas that conserve unique and rare habitat across the province."

The partnership supports several programs with a range of conservation goals, including expanding Ontario's system of parks and protected areas, supporting the acquisition of significant natural lands by other Ontario partners and conserving important wetlands. Through the partnership, NCC and MNR have secured a wide variety of habitat types and landscapes, from globally rare alvar and prairie habitats on Manitoulin and Pelee Islands respectively, to critical wildlife corridors in the Frontenac Arch near Kingston. The partnership has also protected critical habitat for threatened and endangered species such as the globally rare Lakeside Daisy and the Acadian Flycatcher — an endangered bird.

When it comes to protecting Canada's natural habitats, acquiring land is just the beginning. NCC takes pride in ensuring the conservation values found on those lands today are maintained or enhanced for the long term. NCC's management goals for NCC-owned lands acquired under the MNR-NCC partnership are to preserve and enhance the quality of the existing habitats, and to restore natural communities where needed. Biological inventories are conducted and property management plans are developed to ensure our actions are focused, efficient and coordinated with other conservation efforts.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is a non-profit, non-confrontational organization that takes a business-like approach to land conservation and the protection of biological diversity. Its plan of action involves partnership-building and entering into creative conservation solutions with any individual, corporation, community group, conservation organization or government body that shares its passion. Since 1962, NCC and its supporters have protected nearly two million acres (809,371 hectares) of ecologically significant land nationwide.

-30-

For more information please contact:

Laura Mousseau
Communications Officer, Ontario
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Office: 1-877-343-3532 x235
Mobile: 519-830-7770
ontario@natureconservancy.ca

James Duncan
Associate Vice President, Conservation, Ontario
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Office: 1-866-281-5331 ext. 22
Mobile: 519-200-8835
ontario@natureconservancy.ca