Wetlands are among the richest and most diverse habitats, especially when located along an active river and mixed with drier woodlands. That’s what makes the Black River Wildlands so special. This mosaic of open marshes, majestic soft maple swamps, and coniferous wetlands is interspersed with clay and sand deposits, rock outcrops, and organic soils. This exceptional variety of landforms and vegetation provides habitat for a great diversity of wildlife as well. It is home to Species at Risk, creates natural flood control, connection to other protected areas and more. We first began talking publicly about the Black River Wildlands when we successfully campaigned to protect a 730-acre tract with more than 4 kilometres of river running through it. We named that property The Ron Reid Nature Reserve to honour the lifetime conservation achievements of The Couchiching Conservancy’s first president and executive director. But the Black River Wildlands are so much more than a single property. It was first identified by the Conservancy as an area of interest in 1994 and The Heather and Alec Adams Nature Reserve and Alexander Hope Smith Nature Reserves 1 and 2 all fall into the zone. But with the creation of a new natural heritage analysis in 2018, the Black River Wildlands stood out. Teeming with wildlife and containing the right mix of crown land, park land and potential conservation land to facilitate a natural corridor, it has been identified as one of the prime areas of focus for The Couchiching Conservancy over the next 5-10 years. The preservation of this corridor would be one of the southernmost links to a broad swath of wild space that connects Algonquin Park in the north, the Kawartha Lakes and Carden to the south-east and Georgian Bay to the west with Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park as a central node.

The creation of wildlife corridors has become more urgent in the face of a rapidly changing climate. The reality has been reflected in The Couchiching Conservancy’s approach to updating its natural heritage acquisition strategy. Working with partners over the last two years we have developed the document Identifying Priority Sites in Simcoe County for Conservation Securement. It identifies several high-priority zones within the Conservancy’s coverage area. Through this process, it became clear the importance of the Black River Wildlands region. Mapping was done of Species at Risk occurrences, connection to existing protected areas (with land trusts, Conservation Authorities, parks, etc), waterways, forest cover and more. Consideration was also given for highest threats, protections in place, fragmentation and more. Corridors of protected wilderness matters. These are the bridges for species to move. Corridors reduce fragmentation, which has a big impact on species survival. A UN report that concludes a million species are threatened with extinction, and the fact that many Canadian provinces could become ‘climate refuges’ for animals heading north to escape rising temperatures. We are working towards creating the starting point of the wildest spaces left in Ontario, connecting to Algonquin Provincial Park.

This campaign will run over a number of years. In Stage One, there were two parcels to focus on, and there are other parcels identified for potential protection in the future. An estimated $1.2 million is needed over the course of the campaign, which could protect a land base worth an estimated $4.5 million. Your donation to the campaign helps to power this work. We are sharing specific details on each property, including the costs associated with protecting it, but there is a bigger picture. A larger connected corridor to work on. When you donate, please keep in mind a landscape of connected wilderness, laced with clean lakes, lush wetlands teeming with life. Together, we are a powerful community for good – for green – for blue – and all colours, all species in between. That is what we are working towards with your help.