GBA - Summer 2019

5 ≥ www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Summer 2019 T his April, the Georgian Bay Land Trust announced its largest-ever conservation project: the Tadenac Conservation Initiative. Supported by Canada’s Nature Fund, the project protects 5,400 acres of a pristine wilderness area south of Twelve Mile Bay that contains some of the highest biodiversity in the region. The Tadenac Conservation Initiative was selected to receive $967,000 during the first round of funding, a choice which speaks to the value of the habitats in question, and to the national significance of the Georgian Bay region.  The Tadenac Conservation Initiative enshrines the largest private landholding on the Georgian Bay coast as a permanent sanctuary for nature, effectively protecting one of eastern Georgian Bay’s largest undisturbed natural areas. It provides terrestrial and aquatic habitat for at least thirty-two species at risk including the Blanding’s turtle, Algonquin wolf, little brown bat, and fifteen provincially rare plant species. It also includes nesting habitat for waterfowl and critical fish spawning, including nursery areas used by endangered lake sturgeon. Conserving this area is essential to establishing a protected habitat corridor along the Georgian Bay coast, an accomplishment that will greatly aid the survival of large mammals and migratory birds. Habitat corridors are also integral to climate change resiliency, and there is evidence that coastal corridors will be especially valuable as species are forced to shift their ranges. The land and lakebed included in the Tadenac Conservation Initiative is protected by conservation easement and remains privately owned, with regular ecological monitoring to be undertaken by the Georgian Bay Land Trust. The initiative’s primary purpose is to provide a sanctuary for biodiversity that will also provide opportunities for conservation-focused research. To this end, the landowners have established a foundation with a $1 million endowment to support ongoing scientific research in this remarkable area – an incredible legacy for future conservation knowledge. The Georgian Bay Land Trust is extremely grateful to the Nature Fund and everyone involved in making this conservation vision a success. Canada’s Nature Fund was launched in 2018 as the mechanism through which the federal government would fulfill its commitment to protect 17% of Canada’s land and inland waters by 2020. Additional funding was provided by the Echo Foundation and the McLean Foundation, along with support from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, whose extensive past field work provided an indispensable foundation for the project. A Permanent Sanctuary for Nature by Bill Lougheed, Executive Director, Georgian Bay Land Trust ENVIRONMENT