Georgina
November 05, 2008 07:44 PM
Two conservation easement agreements covering over 81 hectares (201 acres) of undisturbed environmentally sensitive forest were secured by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
These agreements will guarantee these ecologically sensitive areas in Georgina to be preserved in perpetuity.
The Deer Park (54.6 hectare and New Forest (26.7 hectare) properties are both within 300 metres of Lake Simcoe in the Roches Point area.
The landowners have requested the two protected areas be jointly referred to as the Arnold C. Matthews Nature Reserve.
“We wanted to protect these lands forever and encourage other landowners in the Lake Simcoe watershed to work with the LSRCA to take similar steps with their properties,” said Jack Gibbons, speaking for the owners of the Deer Park and New Forest properties. “We’re hoping that more landowners in the Roches Point area will sign easement agreements and add their lands to the Arnold C. Matthews Nature Reserve.”
Authority representatives are pleased with these agreements and what they mean for the health of Lake Simcoe and its watershed, said Authority chairperson Virginia Hackson.
“These agreements ensure that these lands will always provide habitat for wildlife, as well as vital forest cover needed to combat air and water pollution.”
In a conservation easement, landowners retain ownership and responsibility for all maintenance and taxes, while the conservation authority is responsible for monitoring the restrictions set out in the easement.
The agreements are a partnership between the fractional owners of the properties, the authority, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Regional Municipality of York.
The properties are also designated as environmental protection areas under the Town of Georgina’s Official Plan.
The conservation easements are together valued at almost $1.3 million.
The landowner groups have also agreed to provide an endowment fund for each property towards the annual monitoring requirements.
In recognition of their contribution to the environment in the Lake Simcoe watershed, the conservation authority honoured both ownership groups at its annual Conservation Awards ceremony last week.
Kevin Kennedy, Land Securement Officer spoke about the conservation authority’s intentions for the land.
“We plan to maintain the land in its current natural state, and ensure that it is preserved in perpetuity,” he said.
The conservation authority has secured more than 1,200 hectares (roughly 3,000 acres) of land.
These include lands for flood control, wetlands, managed woodlots, passive recreation and outdoor recreation.
The majority of lands held are undeveloped and environmentally significant areas.
Lands are secured through the financial support of the conservation authority’s regional, municipal and provincial partners, combined with donations from private sources and other non-governmental organizations.