Lake Ontario shoreline in Prince Edward County donated for conservation

The newly established Prince Edward County South Shore Nature Reserve is located in the Eastern Lake Ontario Coast Natural Area. It contains a rich mosaic of coastal wetlands, forests, streams, sand beaches and globally rare habitats, such as alvars and sand dunes.   

Widely considered a biodiversity hot spot of global significance, this area features shoreline on Lake Ontario that is important for migratory birds and butterflies to stop, feed and rest. The property also supports various turtle and bat species thanks to its unique and varied habitats.  

Now part of a larger connected network of protected lands and waters on the eastern Lake Ontario coast, these conservation lands help to create a resilient landscape. The Blanding’s turtle, a species found on the property and listed as Threatened on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) is better able to move freely between feeding, breeding and wintering areas across this landscape, aiding in the species’ recovery.  

This conservation project was made possible by the generosity of the Dacombe family as well as private donors and foundations. The property was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land. 

This project showcases how NCC is accelerating the pace of conservation in Canada. Over the next few years, the organization will double its impact by mobilizing Canadians and delivering permanent, large-scale conservation. In the face of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change, nature is our ally. There is no solution to either without nature conservation. When nature thrives, we all thrive. 

Quotes 

“After being the guardians of this land for over 50 years, it gives my family and I a sense of peace knowing it will remain undeveloped forever.” – Ann Dacombe 

“It has been an honour and a privilege to work with the Dacombe family to make this generous donation happen. This thoughtful and forward-thinking gift represents a tremendous legacy that benefits the planet and future generations. It is also an important addition to the growing network of conservation lands on the south shore of Prince Edward County.” –  Mark Stabb, Program Director – Central Ontario East, Nature Conservancy of Canada

“With the Ecological Gifts Program, our government is progressing toward our goal of conserving 30 percent of land and water by 2030. In partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Dacombe family, we are protecting vital habitats along Lake Ontario’s shorelines and supporting migratory birds, butterflies, and species at risk, like the Blanding’s turtle. Protecting land is essential in halting and reversing biodiversity loss, recovering species at risk, and protecting wildlife and the environment for generations to come.” – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change