Ontario moves to protect wetlands by Lake Simcoe

Ontario moves to protect wetlands by Lake Simcoe

Ontario announced new protected wetlands near Lake Simcoe on Sunday.
The land, acquired through the province's Natural Spaces Program, will add 25 hectares to the Beaver River Conservation Area.
"The Natural Spaces Program is helping to protect Ontario's environmentally significant natural heritage lands for the benefit of future generations," Lincoln Alexander, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust, said in a press release.
"Acquiring these properties will help to keep this large wetland area relatively intact and ensure that its natural heritage features are conserved."
Under the Natural Spaces Program, landowners can voluntarily contribute their land to conserving the environment.
The program covers all of southern Ontario's land below the Canadian Shield. While 90 per cent of the area is privately owned, it's still home to greatest diversity of plants and animals in the province.
"The Beaver River Wetland Complex is one of the most environmentally significant areas in Lake Simcoe's watershed," Virginia Hackson, Chair of Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, said in a press release.
"We can now protect these wetlands so they can continue to improve water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and offer recreational opportunities for residents and visitors."
The Lacey property features 15 hectares of marsh, swamp, and thicket. The Norrie property consists of 10 hectares of mixed forest and swamp.
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority contributed half of the funds required to purchase the two properties in Durham Region.
As part of the Natural Spaces Program, the provincial ministry of natural resources granted $6 million to the Ontario Heritage Trust to acquire and protect natural heritage properties.
Under the program, the Trust has approved 47 applications, representing 1,566 hectares of land across southern Ontario, with a total property value of approximately $9.6 million