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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!