Kawartha Cottage SUMMER 2019

KAWARTHA LAND TRUST
“Current science suggests that
at least 30 percent of a region’s
natural cover must be maintained
to retain ecological functions.”
Diversity (developed in Nagoya, Japan in 2010) to
protect 17 percent of a region’s natural landscape.”
KLT prioritizes lands for securement that have
significant ecological features such as: long natural
shorelines along lakes and rivers; prairie remnants;
alvars and limestone features; Oak Ridges Moraine;
unique topographical features such as drumlins,
eskers, and hilltops; large woodlands; major corridors,
along with other landscapes and linkages.
Kawarthas Naturally Connected
The organization identifies significant properties
and works with landowners to protect them in
perpetuity. Through a recent grant from the Ontario
Trillium Foundation there will be a focus on four
areas of special interest: East of Kawartha Highlands
Provincial Park and surrounding Stony/Clear/
White Lakes; Gannons Narrows; the Balsam Lake
conservation corridor north to the Queen Elizabeth II
Wildlands Provincial Park; and Fleetwood Creek near
Bethany.
By Joanne Culley
The Kawarthas Naturally Connected (KNC)
initiative is a program that identifies and maps
environmentally important areas to reveal
connected natural heritage systems of wetlands,
forests, rivers, meadows and lake corridors.
The KNC project involved more than 25 area agencies
and organizations who worked together to identify
and map a network of connected natural features.
Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) was the lead partner for
this program that has identified more than two dozen
key areas in the City of Kawartha Lakes and the City
and County of Peterborough.
The natural heritage system mapping is available
online for all to review and use in securing and
stewarding regional and local lands. KLT uses the
KNC mapping tool to address the urgent need to
conserve and enhance significant and vulnerable
natural heritage features in our region.
Kawartha Land Trust currently protects 17 properties
totaling 4,101 acres and assists in the management
of five additional properties including one owned by
Trent Severn Waterway – Parks Canada, according to
Tara King, KLT Development Manager.
“Current science suggests that at least 30 percent of
a region’s natural cover must be maintained to retain
ecological functions,” King says. “Canada and Ontario
are committed, through the international Aichi
Biodiversity Targets of the Convention on Biological
KLT is a registered charity and non-governmental
organization dedicated to conserving the natural
environment and enhancing quality of life in the
Kawarthas by accepting donations of land and/or
interests in land and engaging the community in
support of this work to ensure that these lands are
cared for, in perpetuity.
KLT’s mission is: “Caring for lands entrusted to us
and helping others protect the land they love.” They
conduct their work with a staff of four, a board of
directors, and a team of over 110 volunteers.
The Kawartha Land Trust is located in The Mount
Community Centre, 1545 Monaghan Rd. in
Peterborough. To learn more or to make a donation,
please visit www.kawarthalandtrust.org, call
705-743-5599 or email info@kawarthalandtrust.org.
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