The Race to Conserve Land at Cabot Head

Tobermory, ON – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) now has less than one month to get funding in order to complete a key acquisition at Cabot Head on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. The project protects essential habitat for migratory bird species such as Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk and Yellow-rumped Warbler, and wide-ranging mammals such as Fisher.

“We need to raise $88,000 from supporters before the waiver date of October 20th in order to leverage funds from federal and provincial government programs and complete the purchase,” said John Grant, NCC’s Midwestern Ontario Program Manager. “We have recently received generous support from Nuclear Waste Management Organization and the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, along with gifts from individuals, all of which have helped propel us toward our funding target. We need more individuals to follow their lead in order to ensure the protection of this globally significant area.” The total project cost is almost $1 million.

“The Crawford property is a spectacular grouping of landscapes on the upper Bruce Peninsula,” noted Owen Sound Field Naturalist President, Fred Jazvac. “From the towering cliffs above Georgian Bay, to the limestone shores of Gillies Lake, the property represents a unique complex of uncompromised landforms and rare species. Together, they establish this property as a particularly important example of the Niagara escarpment region – one of southern Canada’s most ecologically significant and vulnerable natural treasures – and it must be preserved.”

This project represents a two-ninths interest in a 954-acre (386-hectare) site and will bring conservation ownership of the site to five-ninths. NCC has been in contact with the various owners for several years, with the goal of acquiring the remainder as each owner is ready to sell. This complex conservation project is a testament to NCC’s perseverance in working with willing landowners to protect the best sites across Ontario and the rest of Canada.

Ontarians can help protect this priority habitat by making a gift towards the project. To help protect this globally rare landscape and leave a natural legacy for future generations, please contact NCC’s Ria Nicholson at 1-800-465-0029, extension 235, or via email at ria.nicholson@natureconservancy.ca.

World-renowned for its diversity of orchids and ferns, the Bruce Peninsula is one of the best hotspots for biodiversity in the Great Lakes. The peninsula supports an abundance of globally rare species and habitats, including alvars, sand beaches, fens and meadow marshes. The Northern Bruce Peninsula is one of the most intact natural landscapes in Ontario south of the Canadian Shield, and presents a rare opportunity to conserve a large, functional ecosystem in southern Ontario.

  • The Government of Canada’s Natural Areas Conservation Program is a $225 million investment to assist non-profit, non-government organizations to secure ecologically sensitive lands to ensure the conservation of our diverse ecosystems, wildlife, and habitat. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has been entrusted to lead the program and has committed to raising matching funds for each federal dollar received.
  • To help conserve Ontario’s biodiversity, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ Land Securement Program provides funding to support the securement of significant natural heritage lands by non-government partners. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has committed to raise matching funds for each provincial dollar received. This purchase was also supported by the ministry’s Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, which promotes voluntary conservation efforts to protect and recover species at risk and their habitats in Ontario.
  • The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s leading land conservation organization.  Since 1962, NCC has helped to protect more than 2 million acres (800,000 hectares) of ecologically significant   land nationwide.

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Contacts:

Ria Nicholson
Major Gifts Officer – Midwestern Ontario
Tel: 1-800-465-0029, ext. 235
Email: ria.nicholson@natureconservancy.ca

John Grant
Program Manager – Midwestern Ontario
Tel: 1-877-343-3532, ext. 225
Email: john.grant@natureconservancy.ca


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