The Bruce Trail Conservancy has managed to protect more land along the trail on the Bruce Peninsula.
Chief Executive Officer Michael McDonald revealed a landowner, who had long allowed trail access, decided to sell, and donations, including a substantial one form the Maplecross Fund, made the purchase a reality.
"The MapleCross Nature Reserve at Hope Bay is the realization of decades of cooperation between a dedicated landowner and the Bruce Trail Conservancy, together with the efforts of our exceptional volunteers and staff, the thoughtful generosity of our donors, and a meaningful investment from the federal government," said McDonald. "The result is an incredible gift to the people of Ontario that will be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come."
That means another 463 acres along the Bruce Trail is protected with the new MapleCross Nature Reserve at Hope Bay.
McDonald pointed out that the conservancy has now permanently protected 70.6 per cent of the trail, which is over 900 km long.
"Meaning that it stays there forever. Currently, we still have around just over 600 individual spots along the trail across landowners private land," stated McDonald. "Those are beautiful relationships and the Bruce Trail has always been built on that premise where communities are coming together to help the trail exist. And so when you're out there hiking the bush trail we should all be thankful to the many landowners who allow this to happen."
McDonald added the creation of this nature reserve protects an ecological corridor containing dense interior forest, a declining habitat in Ontario. He called the land critical for area-sensitive bird species, such as American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler and Ovenbird, as well as mammals like the elusive Fisher and Black bear.
"And for those that don't know, the black bear population that's up there and the Bruce Peninsula actually is is genetically different species, and they're actually pretty threatened," said McDonald. "So we're very happy that large swaths of land like this one that we just protected, are really important habitat for those beautiful creatures."
He called it a precious ecosystem that also boasts cliff and talus features, which are uncommon in Ontario and provide sheltered habitats for many rare bats and snakes. And he stated that for over 60 years the Bruce Trail Conservancy has been the only charitable organization working to preserve sensitive Escarpment lands, while making them accessible for the people of Ontario by way of the Bruce Trail.
"We're one of the only charitable organizations that allowing for free public access to nature and I think that's so important these days, that it doesn't cost anything to be able to go out and enjoy the Bruce Trail," he explained. "But that being said, our whole organization is fueled entirely by volunteers. And we need support for that work. And obviously, we're just talking about the land that we're protecting. So we do have members and donors and volunteers that all come together to make this happen, but we would love it if people thought about becoming a member of the Bruce Trail, or donating towards helping us to protect land."
Environment and Climate Change Canada has also approved a five-year, $6.6 Million Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund grant for the Bruce Trail conservancy. The funding has supported the purchase of the MapleCross Nature Reserve at Hope Bay, and three additional nature reserves recently created in the Owen Sound area: Mossy Gorge Nature Reserve, Woodford Karst Nature Reserve, and Cattail Marsh Nature Reserve. Combined, these newly protected areas make up over 700 acres of preserved habitats and secure over 4 km of the iconic Bruce Trail.
"The Niagara Escarpment forms the backbone of unique and protected nature areas across southern Ontario, from Queenston on the Niagara River, through Milton, to Tobermory at the top of the Bruce Peninsula. With the help of the federal government's $6.6 million grant to the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the Bruce Trail Conservancy is preserving another 463 acres of critical habitat on Georgian Bay. Canada is committed to protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030, for the benefit of nature-loving citizens, our biodiversity, and the health of the planet," said Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Milton.
McDonald added the creation of the MapleCross Nature Reserve at Hope Bay will also conserve critical natural systems that help mitigate the effects of climate change. The entire property sits on a karst foundation, which contains natural sinks for carbon dioxide and plays an important role in water purification. The new nature reserve will be stewarded by the dedicated volunteers of the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club.