NEWS RELEASE
COUCHICHING CONSERVANCY
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The Couchiching Conservancy has increased land protection thanks to two donors, Sandy Agnew and Lynne Melnyk.
The 39.5-acre property, nine kilometres north of Hillsdale, was originally protected under an easement agreement in 2004 and has now been donated outright to the conservancy.
An easement is a legal entity that allows landowners to ensure their land is protected from development and still permits them to sell later if they wish, but keeps the easement on the title. Since the couple did not want to sell, donating the property to the conservancy was a natural choice that further protects the landscape.
The property was once used for farming prior to their purchase in the ’90s, but by working with Forests Ontario to plant native trees and the conservancy community science programs to identify the plant and animal species present, Sandy and Lynne have worked hard to help it return to its natural state.
It features meadows, mixed forest and a wet meadow lowland, which is important habitat for beavers, aquatic birds and amphibians. Notably, it’s in the Hogg Creek watershed. Conserving more undeveloped land on floodplains enhances our area’s ability to manage severe storms resulting from the warming planet.
The conservancy’s executive director, Dorthea Hangaard, shared, “Protecting land under an easement and possibly later as a nature reserve is a multi-year process and Sandy and Lynne’s heartfelt and incredibly generous donation helps our mission to protect the natural areas of the Couchiching region for future generations.”
The Couchiching Conservancy, established in 1993, protects almost 15,000 acres of land in Orillia, Severn, Ramara, Oro-Medonte, Kawartha Lakes, Tay and Muskoka, preserving the environment for over 60 species at risk in our area. They steward almost 60 wildlife havens, 10 of which have public trails. They are able to do this with over 300 local volunteers. To become involved or find out more about their work and community science projects, visit www.couchichingconserv.ca.
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