The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust engages in activities and projects that align with our core objectives. Here are the projects currently under way.
Ecological Corridors
Grant Funder: Parks Canada – National Program for Ecological Corridors
Category: Conservation Planning, Capacity Building, Research & Education
End Date: December 31, 2025
Grant Amount: $822,809
This project will enable the Land Trust to enhance connectivity between three provincial parks, build climate change resilience and maintain biodiversity in Central Ontario. It will advance the protection of ecologically significant lands and waters within the Highlands Corridor through the acquisition of private land and the promotion of good stewardship on private land through the Land Trust’s Partners in Conservation program. Funds will also provide an opportunity for the Land Trust to build relationships with Williams Treaties First Nations to explore Indigenous stewardship values and build partnerships.
HHLT Strategic Plan Implementation
Grant Funder: Ontario Trillium Foundation – Resilient Communities Fund
Category: Conservation Planning & Capacity Building
End Date: July 2026 Grant Amount: $193,200
Through the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities fund, the Land Trust will be able to increase the capacity of the organization through hiring a Land Stewardship Manager. The position is aimed at helping implement two major priorities of HHLT’s 2023-26 strategic plan: to be a healthy organization and have strong programs and partnerships. This position will ensure that all our volunteers are supported, ensure that stewardship activities are successfully completed and help to pursue new land acquisition opportunities.
Barnum Creek Nature Reserve
Grant Funder: Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA)
Category: Property Maintenance and Stewardship
End Date: December 2025
Grant Amount: $6,875
This grant will allow the Land Trust to hire a local business to help with property maintenance at Barnum Creek Nature Reserve to maintain the property for multiple Species at Risk. The Nature Reserve offers a range of habitats that support numerous species at risk (SAR). The focus of this grant is to maintain the 40-acre open grassland area at Barnum Creek, which is rare and vital habitat type in Haliburton County. While Haliburton County has an abundance of forests and wetlands, open fields and grasslands are becoming increasingly rare due to limited agricultural activity in the region
2025 Barnum Creek BioBlitz
Grant Funder: TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Category: Research and Education at Land Trust properties
End Date: June 30th, 2025
Grant Amount: $5,000
Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment the Land Trust will be hosting a 24-hour event where participants will have the opportunity to engage in an ongoing species inventory. Additionally, HHLT will have scientists and naturalists lead educational events and guided tours. We plan to host six events aimed at engaging a diverse audience. This will ensure that all community members, regardless of background or interest, find valuable and insightful information at the event.
2025 Barnum Creek BioBlitz
Grant Funder: Haliburton County Development Corporation
Category: Research and Education at Land Trust properties
End Date: June 30th, 2025
Grant Amount: $5,000
This grant will enable the Land Trust to host our second Bioblitz at the Barnum Creek Nature Reserve. A Bioblitz is an immersive, community-driven event in which scientists, naturalists, volunteers, and local residents work together to identify and document all species within a designated area, within 24 hours. A focus of this grant was to support local business and therefore, all materials purchased for the events will be from local business such as signage, food, and advertisements.
Invasive Species
Grant Funder: Invasive Species Centre- Invasive Species Action Fund
Category: Monitoring and control of invasive plants on Land Trust property
End Date: Feb 6, 2026
Grant Amount: $2,650
This grant will enable the Land Trust to improve our capacity to monitor our properties for invasive plants. Funds will be used to cover expenses for ongoing monitoring of a Japanese knotweed outbreak near Smith Forest, pay for signage, offer a Partners in Conservation workshop and to monitor for invasive plants on our trails and boundary walks
Invasive Phragmites
Grant Funder: Invasive Species Centre- Invasive Phragmites Control Fund
Category: Invasive phragmites monitoring and control on and near Land Trust properties
End Date: Feb 6, 2026
Grant Amount: $2,185
This grant will enable the Land Trust to monitor and control for invasive phragmites on and near our properties. Fund will cover the costs of a field day digging out invasive phragmites near the Barry Wetland Reserve including gear and permit fees. It will also cover the costs of aquatic monitoring of the Burnt River through Smith Forest and Dahl Forest and open wetland areas of the Barry Wetland Reserve.