KAWARTHA LAKES-The Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) has added two new protected properties to its portfolio, a 73-acre property in Douro-Dummer and a 39-acre property in Kawartha Lakes, bringing the charity’s total protected lands in the Kawarthas to more than 5,350 acres.
In Kawartha Lakes, KLT’s newest Conservation Easement Agreement, created between the organization and Steven and Ali DeNure, ensures the permanent protection of a 39-acre natural paradise on the shores of Balsam Lake. The easement was supported by funding from the Government of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership.
The majority of the property is part of the Corben Creek Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and contains a mixed swamp that is home to Balsam Fir, Eastern White Cedar, Aspen, and Black Ash, an Endangered species in Ontario.
“The Ontario government commends the Kawartha Land Trust, the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and the DeNures for securing this natural habitat for endangered hardwood and other precious swamp life,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
“We’ve seen that investing in the protection of natural areas, like the provincially significant wetlands at Balsam Lake, can play an important role in conserving Ontario’s natural diversity, while mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership, we will continue to work with partners to protect and promote more healthy, natural spaces.”
When asked why he wanted to conserve the land, Steven DeNure, a KLT Trustee, noted that he had seen increased development on the lake and he wanted to preserve the wetlands and creek entrance.
“Planning permission had been granted to develop this property into a number of lots and we reversed that potential development when we acquired the properties in 2003 and 2004,” said DeNure.
KLT is thankful to the DeNure family for their commitment to protecting the land they have loved and cherished fordecades.
“For over twenty years, Kawartha Land Trust, with the support of its volunteers, donors, and supporters, has worked to protect important ecosystems in the Kawarthas,” said John Kintare, KLT’s Executive Director.
“While there is much more work to be done to ensure the protection of the region’s natural and working lands for the benefit of current and future generations, I’m glad to be able to share this great conservation news with the community.”
A new 73-acre Forbes Lane Property, located in the heart of Douro-Dummer, was purchased through donor support and funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF).
The property’s size and proximity to lands conserved by other conservation organizations in the region means that a significant amount of the land is considered interior forest, habitat that is relied upon by species like the Wood Thrush, a species of Special Concern in the province.
The conifer swamp on the property is part of the Dummer Lake South Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) Complex, contributing to the overall health of the regions’ waters.
