Nature Conservancy of Canada to accelerate conservation through Greenlands Conservation Partnership
Nature across Ontario will benefit from historic investment in private land conservation opportunities
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is pleased that more natural spaces in Ontario will be protected in the province thanks to funding from the Government of Ontario.
The Province has announced an additional commitment of $14 million to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program, representing the single largest fund to secure private land for conservation in Ontario. This investment will be leveraged by NCC and Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) partners to deliver nature conservation for the benefit of people, communities, nature and wildlife. NCC and OLTA are committed to matching this investment with funds from individuals, foundations, corporations and other levels of government to accelerate the pace of conservation across the province.
The announcement was made near Bancroft, Ontario, at NCC’s Hastings Wildlife Junction Nature Reserve. Participating were:
- Ric Bresee, Member of Provincial Parliament, Hastings-Lennox and Addington
- David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Loyde Blackburn, Mayor, Township of Madoc
- Mike Hendren, Regional Vice President, Nature Conservancy of Canada – Ontario Region
- Alison Howson, Executive Director, Ontario Land Trust Alliance
- Patricia Koval, Vice-Chair of NCC's Ontario Board and President of the Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation
This funding is welcome and urgently needed. The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our communities and our natural world. NCC has committed to doubling its impact for nature conservation by 2030, in line with federal goals to protect 30 per cent of our lands and waters by the year 2030. This goal can only be achieved by working together across all sectors of society.
Quotes
"We’ve seen widespread success over the last three years by working in partnership with organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance to increase our impact and create opportunities to protect nature. That’s why we’re increasing our investment in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program. Together, we’re protecting sensitive natural areas and ensuring a healthy environment Ontarians can enjoy, now and in the future.” – David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
“The Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program is a catalyst in helping bring individuals, corporations, foundations and other levels of government to the conservation table. It really takes everyone to deliver effective conservation for today and for future generations. With this funding, we will be able to move quickly to conserve and restore key natural spaces across Ontario that support species at risk, clean water, provide recreational opportunities and help our communities be more resilient to the impacts of climate change by storing carbon, and mitigating floods and droughts.” – Mike Hendren, Regional Vice President, Nature Conservancy of Canada – Ontario Region
Facts
- Since 2020, Ontario has invested $38 million to leverage private contributions to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.
- The Greenlands Conservation Partnership has contributed to more than 30 important conservation projects delivered by NCC across Ontario. Combined, over 164,700 hectares has been protected, including:
- Hastings Wildlife Junction near Bancroft, conserving over 10,000 hectares of critical habitat for wide ranging species, such as black bear and elk, located in the Algonquin-to-Adirondacks wildlife corridor.
- Boreal Wildlands, the largest private land conservation project in Canada’s history. Located near Hearst, it is a vast 144,000-hectare network of lakes, rivers, streams, peatlands and forests and is crucial for wildlife movement in northern Ontario.
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.
We often work where others cannot, removing roadblocks to conservation and supporting transformational projects for the sake of nature and people.
Since 1962, our evidence-based planning framework has helped to bring people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares, coast to coast to coast. In Ontario, more than 243,000 hectares have been protected. With nature we build a thriving world.
The Greenlands Conservation Partnership helps conserve ecologically important natural areas and protect wetlands, grasslands and forests that help mitigate the effects of climate change. Through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership, a total of $38 million has been invested to date by the Ontario Government. Additional match funds are raised from other sources, such as individual donations and foundation support through the NCC and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, and other levels of government.
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