Sturgeon Bay Forest is now under the protection of Nature Conservancy Canada.
The organization announced the acquisition of the lands near Wiarton on April 22, after the property was purchased in late 2023.
Midwestern Ontario Program Director Esme Batten says the 65-hectare land features forests which provide habitat to many species as well as an important ecosystem.
“It’s adjacent to existing conservation lands, building on a corridor of protected area,” says Batten. “Right now we are completing what we call our baseline inventory and our property management plan. Through those two documents, we go out into the field with our team of biologists and identify the key things we want to protect and any threats that might face them.”
She says they will be on the look out for invasive species like garlic mustard and picking up garbage in the area.
Batten says the species which call the forest home include black bears as well as a number of different plants. The area also forms a pathway for migratory birds.
Black Bear (Photo by Leta Pezderic)
“We really love to expand existing conservation areas and work with other conservation organizations like the Bruce Trail Conservancy to really build an area of connected habitat and that is really important along the Niagara Escarpment,” says Batten.
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Photo by Alexander Jardine)
She says as a conservation organization and charity focused on the long term stewardship of the land, for every property they protect, they raise funds for stewardship endowment.
“It enables us to invest in the long term stewardship of the land that we own to make sure that we can steward them in perpetuity in a really good way. The total cost, including all the funds needed to do that work and care for the property was $466,000,” says Batten.
This is the latest piece land in the region to fall under the protection of Nature Conservancy Canada after the organization announced its purchase of a 24-hectare piece of land near Tobermory last April.
In addition to also now conserving 40-hectares on Cockburn Island, west of Manitoulin Island, the organization says it now protects over 35,000 hectares of land across the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island Archipelago region.
“We are really grateful to have the support of many private individuals, governments and foundations who do the conservation work that we do,” says Batten.