Articles
Haliburton Highlands Land Trust Acquires Dahl Forest
Posted: January 12, 2010
On December 23, 2009, the Dahl Family formally passed the stewardship torch to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust when title of the Dahl Forest was transferred from the landowners, Peter Dahl and his sister Nana McKernan to the Land trust. Peggy Dahl, the family matriarch, was instrumental in encouraging the transfer of ownership.
The Dahl Family is making this generous donation under Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. It is an enduring gift to the people of Haliburton County and the province of Ontario.
Under the Ecological Gifts Program, the Dahl Family will retain a life interest in the property. This will allow them to continue to live in the family home and help maintain the conservation reserve as they have for over 50 years.
The Dahl Forest is approximately 500 acres and straddles 2.7 km of the Burnt River in Haliburton County south of Gelert. William Dahl bought the property in the early 1950s. At that time it was abandoned farmland with depleted soil, crisscrossed with collapsed barbed wire fences where cattle scrounged for what little feed remained on the land. In the years following, the family planted more than 100,000 trees in plantations covering about 40 per cent of the property. The remaining acreage was left to regenerate naturally and has returned to wilderness. The ecological significance of the Dahl Forest is evident in the diversity of species and habitats found on the property. The property has been a model of conservation planning and the Land Trust is looking forward to continuing the excellent stewardship of the Dahl family.
The Land Trust’s conservation goals for the Dahl Forest are to protect and maintain biodiversity; protect habitat and potential habitat of Species at Risk as well as locally or regionally rare species; promote water quality and riparian habitat through the protection of shorelines and wetlands; promote succession from plantations to forests; monitor and promote forest health; promote ecology and conservation education; and provide non-motorized recreational opportunities. The Dahl Forest property will remain as a natural conservation reserve, with access by permission of the Land Trust only. Access will be restricted to non-motorized recreational activities such as hiking, skiing and birding.
The Land Trust has established The Dahl Forest Endowment Fund to ensure that it has the ability to carry out its conservation goals in perpetuity. Presently it has $20,200 in the fund. The goal is to raise $60,000 so that the yearly interest will cover the annual expenses for the property. This strategy has worked well for the Trust’s first property acquisition, Norah’s Island on Kennisis Lake. The goal there was $50,000. It now stands at $53,000 and has provided sufficient yearly interest to cover the annual expenses such as insurance, signage, monitoring, and taxes.
The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust was very fortunate because the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association took responsibility for raising the Endowment Fund for Norah’s Island. Since there is no community association near the Dahl Forest the Trust is relying on the generosity of people and organizations that wish to see the Dahl Forest protected as a conservation reserve in perpetuity to contribute generously to the endowment fund. If you would like to ensure that this ecological gift is maintained and wisely stewarded, please contribute to the Dahl Forest Endowment Fund. The Trust can issue charitable tax receipts for all donations. The Trust is also looking for volunteers to help maintain the property.
Donations can be made on-line or cheques can be mailed to Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, P.O. Box 792, Minden, Ontario K0M 2K0. To volunteer or for more information contact Sheila at 705-754-2532.
Please be a part of the green solution and support conservation in the place you call home.
The Land Trust would like to thank lawyers, Paul Peterson and David Shapiera; surveyor Paul Wilson; appraiser, John Mulvihill; Jane Tousaw of the County; and Elinor Kernohan of the Township of Minden Hills for their help in making this land transfer happen.
Last Updated: Jun 29 2010 12:10:30 am.
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Photo: Lyn Winans
Did You Know...
that there are 21 Species at Risk in the Haliburton County. These species include American Ginseng, Peregrine Falcon and Five-lined Skink. Find out more about Species at Risk.
