History

The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy is a charitable land trust, started in 1997. Its volunteer board members come from Grimsby to Gore Bay. Our mission is to create nature preserves allowing for sustainable, low-impact recreation. We work closely with landowners, government and community groups, and other environmental organizations to attain our goals. We are proud to report that, with the assistance of landowners and donors, we have protected 225 Nature Reserves with over 23,000 acres of land, including:

• Habitat of rare and endangered species – 70
• Lake Huron shoreline – 18.2 km
• Escarpment slope – 13.5 km
• Trails currently open – 70.9 km
• Total value of land and rights to land – $15,000,000+
• Annual Ecological services protected – $27,600,000+

Most of the above land is now owned by Escarpment Conservancy, but about a quarter are owned by private landowners, who have placed conservation agreements on title preventing aggregate extraction, loss of farmland, severances, etc. We work from Caledon to Manitoulin and throughout Grey and Bruce counties. Our work, along with the work of other land trusts, is making a major contribution towards Ontario’s Biodiversity Initiative goal to protect 17% of our land by 2020, consistent with the International Biodiversity Initiative now signed by 168 countries. Our focus areas include:

• Niagara Escarpment (including Manitoulin Island)
• Huron shore (north of Goderich, islands and including Manitoulin’s shores)
• Saugeen Valley

Check out our preserves to find out if we are working in your area!