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TOWNSHIP OF RIDEAU LAKES – Thanks to the generous support of private landowners who value conservation, as well as contributions from the community, corporate donations, and provincial and federal grant programs, Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) has successfully established a new 76-acre Nature Reserve near Elgin. Notably, this is RWLT’s second Nature Reserve created in 2025.
Anonymous landowners made this generous donation of land, ensuring that 76 acres of ecologically valuable forest, wetland, and meadow habitat are now permanently protected. This initiative guarantees that the property, which includes the most northerly occurring stand of Pitch Pine reported in Ontario, will remain undisturbed, continuing to support a variety of associated plants and wildlife. Pitch Pine is ecologically significant in Ontario as it is restricted to the Frontenac Axis and cannot be found elsewhere in the province. It is also considered a nationally imperiled species according to NatureServe’s Global Conservation Status Ranks. Its presence is a valuable indicator of the area’s rich natural biodiversity. The unique features of the property make it an ideal candidate for native seed collection, supporting forest biodiversity projects, and for environmental education. RWLT is excited to collaborate with community groups and educational institutions to facilitate learning opportunities for youth in the coming years on this special property. With the completion of this initiative, RWLT now conserves 24 Nature Reserves in the Rideau Corridor, totalling 1,475 acres.
This project was supported in part by the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, facilitated by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA). The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is a collaborative effort that brings together land trusts, conservation organizations, and local communities to achieve lasting environmental sustainability.
“I’m pleased that our government’s investment in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership has helped the Rideau Waterway Land Trust establish its second new nature reserve this year,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “These partnerships are supporting the great work land trusts like the Rideau Waterway are doing with private landowners to create new opportunities to protect nature. I commend everyone
involved with this project, which ensures more of our spectacular natural environment will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”
“This new nature reserve will permanently protect 76 acres of ecologically significant land. That’s nearly the size of 38 Canadian football fields — an incredible area set aside for conservation and environmental education,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, we are helping conservation organizations preserve more of Ontario’s natural spaces and expanding opportunities for people to connect with nature, while supporting tourism in our own backyard.”
The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is the single largest provincial fund to secure private land in Ontario. This unique program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, leverages non-governmental dollars to acquire, restore and manage privately owned natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands and forests. For every dollar of provincial funding provided, grant recipients match it with a minimum of $2 from other conservation partners, including individual donors, foundations and other levels of government. Since 2020, the Ontario government has invested $58 million into the program, which has helped to protect over 430,000 acres (174,310 hectares) of private land across the province – more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.
Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) is a registered charity dedicated to preserving ecologically significant lands within the Rideau Corridor, in perpetuity. Their interest area includes the Rideau River Watershed and part of the Cataraqui River Watershed, which are both located within the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized biosphere region in Canada. The Rideau Canal is a designated National Historic Site, Canadian Heritage River, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
RWLT works with property owners and community organizations from Kingston to Ottawa to acquire and protect critical lands for the benefit of the community and future generations. They also provide recreational access to nature through two community-use lands: Rock Dunder Nature Reserve and James H. Fullard Nature Reserve. If you are interested in learning how you can support their conservation efforts, or for more information, email info@rwlt.org.
RWLT would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all donors, supporters, and granting organizations for making these successful projects possible. Nature has a future because our community cares!
