March 25, 2025. Orillia, Ontario
Couchiching Conservancy one of the first certified Land Trusts to achieve national recognition for conservation leadership
The Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) announced the first Canadian land trusts to achieve Conservation Excellence Certification, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada’s land conservation sector.
The six certified organizations represent conservation leadership from coast to coast:
- Couchiching Conservancy, Ontario
- Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, Ontario
- Kawartha Land Trust, Ontario
- Nature Trust of New Brunswick, New Brunswick
- Ontario Farmland Trust, Ontario
- Southern Interior Land Trust Society, British Columbia
“This certification represents a watershed moment for land conservation in Canada.” said Lara Ellis, Executive Director of the Centre for Land Conservation. “These six organizations have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation excellence. Their certification signals to donors, partners, and communities that they operate at the highest levels of professional practice and conservation impact.”
Protected natural areas are essential to the quality of life of Canadians, providing wildlife habitat and places for recreation, connecting people with nature in their communities, conserving vital biodiversity, and serving as natural carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change impacts.
Recent polling shows that accreditation programs like the Conservation Excellence Certification strongly influence donor confidence, with 90% of Canadian donors reporting increased confidence in third-party certified organizations.
“The trust of our donors is the biggest asset we have,” said Couchiching Conservancy Executive Director Dorthea Hangaard. “We know we make a promise to every person who entrusts us with their land or their money and we are deeply dedicated to keeping that promise. The Couchiching Conservancy has worked hard to pursue and maintain the highest standards and we are honoured to have an independent body confirm our efforts.”
The Conservation Excellence Certification Program, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), philanthropic foundations, and individual donors, promotes conservation excellence through third-party evaluation of conservation impact, governance, and organizational sustainability against nationally adopted standards and practices.
Additional land trusts are currently undergoing assessment, and the program aims to enroll up to 40 land trusts across Canada by March 2026.
This program has been made possible due to financial contributions from Environment Climate Change Canada, the McLean Foundation, Power Corporation of Canada, the Echo Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation.
The public is invited to join The Couchiching Conservancy at their Annual General Meeting on Saturday, March 29 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at Hawk Ridge Golf Club. Doors open at 1:00pm. It offers a chance to review achievements, discuss future plans, elect leaders, and ensure transparency, fostering community engagement and shared decision-making. There will be a premiere viewing of a new short documentary, Wild Routes: Traversing Minesing to Matchedash. The documentary follows Conservancy Biologist Toby Rowland on a three-day trek. The goals of the trek were to understand how wildlife would navigate this region, see the quality of habitat, and barriers wildlife would face. You can view the documentary trailer here: https://youtu.be/6rCzzZN6eak?feature=shared
The full documentary will be available on the Conservancy’s YouTube channel after the meeting.
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BACKGROUNDER
About the Conservation Excellence Certification Program
- The program is made possible through the support of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Power Corporation, the Michael Young Family Foundation, and donors from across Canada
- Certification is based on Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices (CLTSPs)
- Organizations are evaluated on conservation outcomes, governance, sustainability practices, strategic planning, and financial management
- Recent polling shows 90% of Canadian donors have increased confidence in third-party certified organizations
- Certification is valid for four years, with the option to renew
- Certified organizations receive authorization to use the Conservation Excellence Certification Trustmark
- A public registry of certified organizations will be maintained on the CLC website
About Land Trusts in Canada
- Over 140 regional and community land trusts operate across Canada
- Land trusts are non-profit charitable organizations focused on conserving private property through donation, acquisition and conservation agreements
- Land trusts have protected over 112,000 hectares of Canada’s terrestrial land mass
Links
About the Centre for Land Conservation
The Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) was established in 2019 as a national think-tank that advances whole landscape conservation and stewardship through certification, policy, and research. For more information: www.centreforlandconservation.org
About: The Couchiching Conservancy
The Couchiching Conservancy is one of the leading regional land trusts in Ontario. A non-government, charitable organization, it has helped protect over 14,000 acres of important natural habitat in the Lake Couchiching region since 1993. Through land securement, stewardship, and community engagement, we work to preserve biodiversity and promote the benefits of natural spaces in Orillia, Ontario. Wherever possible, the lands are accessible to the public for responsible enjoyment of nature.
Contact
Tanya Clark
Fundraising & Engagement Manager