Conservation project strengthens biodiversity and benefits communities
Norfolk County, ON (November 25, 2025) – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has protected a 23-hectare property in the heart of Norfolk County, closing another key gap in one of Ontario’s most ecologically significant landscapes. The Upper Big Creek project strengthens a growing network of connected conservation lands that help safeguard clean water, support biodiversity and contribute to more resilient communities in southwestern Ontario.
The newly conserved property provides habitat for wildlife and numerous species at risk and strengthens habitat connectivity between NCC lands and the St. Williams Conservation Reserve Nursery Tract. The land features thriving Carolinian forest, deep ravines and almost one kilometre of two tributaries of Big Creek, which flows into Long Point Inner Bay on Lake Erie. Its varied habitats support rich biodiversity that is characteristic of the region, including Carolinian species like sassafras, sycamore and black oak.
The conservation of the Upper Big Creek property brings tangible benefits to nearby communities. Its forests and wetlands help clean our air and water, reduce the impacts of flooding and provide habitat for pollinators that support local agriculture. By protecting and caring for these lands, NCC is helping to strengthen the resilience of the broader landscape, contributing to a thriving future for nature and people.
This project was made possible by the support of many individuals, foundations and partners including the Government of Canada through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund.
Quotes
“This project isn’t just about protecting rare species, it’s about building a healthier, more resilient Norfolk County. By securing this land, we’re safeguarding clean water, reducing flood risks and creating a stronger natural network that benefits people and wildlife.” — Jill Crosthwaite, Program Director – Southwestern Ontario, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“The Government of Canada is proud to support the protection of nearly 23 hectares of Carolinian Forest in Norfolk County. In collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and other partners, we are safeguarding species at risk and conserving forests that clean our air and water, reduce flood risks, and store carbon, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and helping mitigate climate change.” — The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Facts
- The property is in the Upper Big Creek Block, within NCC’s Southern Norfolk Sand Plain focal area. NCC has conserved 2,462 hectares in the region and restored more than 890 hectares of land to thriving native habitats.
- The Southern Norfolk Sand Plain is one of Canada’s most biodiverse regions, supporting many rare and at-risk species and some of the best remaining Carolinian habitat.
- The project fills a gap between existing conservation lands, safeguarding mature, interior forest habitat that is important for many species such as Louisiana waterthrush (threatened).
- The project is within the Long Point World Biosphere Region Area of Cooperation and the Norfolk Forest Complex Important Bird Area, highlighting the global significance of this property and the area.
Contact
Brianne Curry
Communications Manager, Ontario Region
Nature Conservancy of Canada
C: 519-520-1340
brianne.curry@natureconservancy.ca
About
Since 1962, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has brought people together to protect the lands and waters that sustain us all. As an environmental charity working hand in hand with communities, Indigenous Nations, governments and businesses, we deliver nature-based solutions at a scale no one else can. Our conservation work safeguards clean air and water, stores carbon and reduces the risks of floods and wildfires — protecting our health, strengthening local economies and building more resilient communities. Together, we unlock nature’s power, so life can thrive. Learn more at natureconservancy.ca.
Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) is a $1.4 billion, ten-year fund (2021–2031) administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada to help conserve, restore, and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands, in order to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The NSCSF will focus on three main objectives: (1) conserving carbon-rich ecosystems at high risk of conversion to other uses that would release their stored carbon; (2) improving land management practices to reduce their greenhouse gas emission-causing impacts on Canada’s ecosystems; and (3) restoring degraded ecosystems. Overall, these projects will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration, while also providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being.