Project in Stone Mills builds on conservation impact in the Napanee Plain
Stone Mills, ON (March 10, 2026) – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has protected 53 hectares at Varty Lake in Ontario’s Napanee Plain area. The project safeguards close to 800 metres of shoreline as well as marsh and forest habitats that filter water, store carbon, and support wildlife, and with benefits that extend to communities in the region and beyond.
The project reflects a true partnership. Motivated by her family’s commitment to nature, Napanee-area resident Susi Reinink worked with NCC to protect the land in perpetuity, thanks to a donation of the property through Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program; a gift to the community and to generations to come. Funding support from the Government of Ontario Greenlands Conservation Partnership program and philanthropic partners also helped make this project possible. Together, they have protected an important and ecologically sensitive site that will continue delivering benefits for water, wildlife and nearby communities.
Located about 20 kilometres northeast of Napanee, the site is one of the last undeveloped private shoreline properties on the picturesque Varty Lake. Its habitats offer refuge for species like bald eagle, common loon, eastern wood-pewee and Canada warbler, as well as a shoreline wetland that filters water and contributes positively to the water quality of Varty Lake. Set within the Napanee Plain, a landscape recognized for limestone landforms and high biodiversity, this project builds on more than three decades of conservation work in the area by NCC and partners.
The Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land. The project also received funding support through the Government of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, and numerous private donors.
Quotes
“Susi Reinink and family have made a tremendous contribution to the local community through this conservation project, which now forever protects a natural shoreline property that will contribute to the health of Varty Lake for generations to come. Protecting shorelines is a priority for NCC and other conservation partners. We hope this project inspires others to create a similar conservation legacy.” – Mark Stabb, Program Director – Central Ontario East, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“The process to secure part of our beloved farm to stay forever green has been a lengthy, but very rewarding one. It has been a pleasure to work together with NCC to make this happen. Our wishes have been acknowledged, respected and implemented, which resulted in a valued collaboration in stewardship.” – Susi Reinink and family
“Thanks to the generosity of property owner Susi Reinink through the Ecological Gifts Program, and the support of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the protection of this 53-hectare shoreline property, along Varty Lake, represents a meaningful contribution to conserving this natural area.” – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
“This generous donation is a powerful example of how individuals can make a lasting impact on our natural heritage and protect the places that define our communities. By conserving the 53-hectare property along Varty Lake, we are safeguarding wildlife and clean water, and ensuring that this important landscape continues to benefit people and nature for generations to come.” – The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
“The protection of over 130 acres (53 hectares) of land at Varty Lake is a wonderful addition to Ontario’s network of protected shoreline. I am proud to partner with conservation leaders like the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Susi Reinink and her family. Working together, we are preserving Ontario’s natural heritage for future generations.” – Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Facts
- Habitats found here: Forest, open and shrub alvar, marsh, and late‑cycle conifer plantation, plus treed seasonal swamp. The property also includes almost 800 metres of shoreline.
- Why it matters: Supports wetland and forest habitat, protects intact shoreline, helps with lake water quality and contributes to regional natural connectivity across the landscape, strengthening local resilience.
- What NCC will do with the land: The property will be managed for conservation. Over the coming year, NCC staff will get to know the land and work to create a long-term management plan that ensures the species and habitats here continue to thrive for generations to come.
- Together with its partners, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has protected 1,500 hectares in the Napanee Plain, an area that features limestone plain alvars, grasslands, forests and wetlands. The Napanee Plain supports a variety of wildlife and is of particular importance for grassland birds.
Find photos and video of Varty Lake here.
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 Ecological Gifts Program provides a way for landowners in Canada with ecologically sensitive land to protect nature and leave a legacy for future generations. Made possible by the terms of the Income Tax Act of Canada and the Quebec Taxation Act, it offers significant tax benefits to landowners who donate land or a partial interest in land to a qualified recipient. Recipients ensure that the land’s biodiversity and environmental heritage are conserved in perpetuity. To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit https://www.canada.ca/ecological-gifts.
The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is the single largest provincial fund to secure private land in Ontario. This unique program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, leverages non-governmental dollars to acquire, restore and manage privately owned natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands and forests. For every dollar of provincial funding provided, grant recipients match it with a minimum of $2 from other conservation partners, including individual donors, foundations and other levels of government. Since 2020, the Ontario government has invested $58 million into the program, which has helped to protect over 437,000 acres (177,000 hectares) of private land across the province — more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.
Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) focuses on providing community, knowledge sharing and support to land trusts across Ontario. It empowers and supports highly effective, well-governed land trusts that engage their communities to protect forests, wetlands, nature, and water sources and provide natural climate solutions. OLTA builds capacity through training and educational programs, connecting land trusts to each other, resources, and their communities, leading and supporting on-the-ground conservation work, sharing knowledge and best practices, reducing financial barriers to land conservation, promoting organizational excellence, providing access to current research and acting as a voice for land trusts among the public, governments, and other rightsholders. Our impact is Ontario-wide through 51 connected charities and communities. OLTA’s local land trust members currently collectively own and steward over 2,000 natural areas and green spaces across Ontario, with the leadership of thousands of supporters and volunteers annually. To support your local land trust, visit OLTA.ca.
Contact
Brianne Curry
Communications Manager, Ontario Region
Nature Conservancy of Canada
brianne.curry@natureconservancy.ca