Understanding the importance of good stewardship on private lands within the Highlands Corridor, HHLT initiated a Partners in Conservation (PIC) program in 2021. Thanks to a generous, multi-year grant from Environment & Climate Change Canada, Habitat Stewardship Program, we were able to produce Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) plans that support good stewardship and the protection of biodiversity for 8 landowners.
HHLT is pleased to announce that as of January 1, 2023, we have 12 Partners in Conservation within the Highlands Corridor. All of our partners are under MFTIP plans that focus on the wise stewardship of land and waters and provide guidance on how to protect important wildlife habitats. The HHLT Partners in Conservation now protects 1578 ha of land in the Highlands Corridor.
A further 243 ha is protected by HHLT which owns two properties within the corridor: Dahl Forest and the Fred and Pearl Barry Wetland Reserve. In addition, HHLT owns and manages two properties within the buffer of the Corridor: Barnum Creek Nature Reserve and Smith Forest, representing another 232 ha protected.
The Kawartha Land Trust owns, manages and protects a 42-ha property, Vincent Woods, within the Corridor and joined us in our goal of protecting the Corridor.