Nature Conservancy of Canada protects more than 18 km of Manitoulin Island shoreline
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced Tuesday one of its largest-ever single-property acquisitions in Ontario, valued at $16 million.
Covering 7,608 hectares, the Vidal Bay Forests and Shoreline property protects 18.5 kilometres of shoreline on Manitoulin Island, on the north channel of Lake Huron.
"Now secured, Vidal Bay connects with adjacent conservation lands to form a protected area of more than 248 square kilometres of forests, wetlands and shoreline, the largest of its kind south of the Canadian Shield in Ontario," the NCC said in a news release.
"Vidal Bay provides an excellent example of the scale of the work needed to tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis."
The group said that conserving an area of this size helps local populations of American black bears and gray wolves move almost unimpeded across western Manitoulin Island. Large-scale wildlife corridors like this provide local species with the uninterrupted habitat they need to survive and thrive, according to the NCC.
"NCC looks forward to continuing to learn more about the property and celebrating this incredible conservation achievement with donors, partners, supporters and the local community in the future," the release said.
Funding for the acquisition was made possible by donors, including area residents, cottagers and organizations, as well as funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lafarge and Manitoulin Transport.
The project was funded in part by the Ontario government, through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership, as well as by funding provided by the Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund.
Manitoulin Island is the territory of several First Nations, including Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, M’Chigeeng First Nation, Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, Sheguiandah First Nation, Sheshegwaning First Nation and Whitefish River First Nation.
“Opportunities to protect large, intact natural spaces in Ontario, like those found at Vidal Bay, are incredibly rare," Esme Batten, NCC's co-ordinator of conservation biology for the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula, said in the release.
"The conservation of Vidal Bay not only protects habitat for the animals and plants that depend on it, but its forest and wetlands also clean our water and air while providing a place for people to connect to nature now and for generations to come.”
The NCC said intact forests and wetlands are essential to carbon storage, as well as air and water filtration.
"The forests, wetlands and alvar habitats found on the Vidal Bay property store 8.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, sequestering 22,645 tonnes each year," the release said.
"Habitats found on the Vidal Bay property support many Species at Risk Act-listed species, including mottled duskywing (endangered), lakeside daisy (special concern), Hill’s thistle (threatened), eastern wood-pewee (special concern), eastern ribbonsnake (special concern), wood thrush (threatened), least bittern (threatened) and Blanding’s turtle (endangered)."
In July, the NCC worked with the Manitoulin Nature Club to complete a virtual Vidal Bay BioBlitz to help inform the baseline inventory of species and habitats on the property.
The NCC’s next step is to develop a property management plan, which will identify conservation priorities and explore how people can be welcomed to this property for passive recreational uses.
The NCC is a Canadian not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect 14 million hectares across Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.