CAPE CHIN, ONTARIO. The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy is proud to announce the creation and permanent protection of Wildhaven Nature Preserve, a 100-acre landscape of exceptional ecological value located in the Cape Chin area of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula. The preservation of the land at Wildhaven strengthens a vital corridor linking the Otter Lake, Cherry Hill, and Ira Lake wetlands, a region of national and provincial conservation significance.
Nestled just southwest of Otter Lake, Wildhaven is a landscape shaped by the unique geology of the Niagara Escarpment. The property features rolling grasslands, karst formations, seasonal sinkhole ponds, mixed forest, and lively wetlands, creating a striking mosaic of habitats that support a remarkable diversity of life.
Wildhaven is more than scenic; it is biologically vital. The open meadows provide critical nesting habitat for Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks, both listed as Threatened Species in Ontario. In the surrounding forests, Black Bears den through the winter and emerge in spring with their cubs to forage across the property’s rich terrain. Amphibians and pollinators thrive in the wetland and meadow systems, which help maintain the Peninsula’s biodiversity.
The preserve’s western boundary connects directly to the Otter Lake, Cherry Hill, and Ira Lake Wetland Complex, a Provincially Significant Wetland and important ecological anchor for the region. Protecting Wildhaven ensures safe passage for wildlife within this connected network, a crucial link in a wildlife corridor stretching from Georgian Bay to Lake Huron.
"Wildhaven is exactly the kind of place that defines the Bruce Peninsula, rugged, diverse, and alive with wildlife," said Beth Gilhespy, CEO of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. "By securing this land, we are protecting not just one property, but creating connections that allows species to move freely and ecosystems to remain resilient in the face of change."
“Adding over 100 acres of protected land at Wildhaven strengthens the Bruce Peninsula’s natural heritage,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are grateful to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy and its supporters for their dedication to preserving Ontario’s most ecologically valuable areas. Thanks to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, these forests and wetlands will remain intact for years to come.”
The protection of Wildhaven Nature Preserve marks another important milestone in the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy’s Wild Future Campaign, advancing the organization’s mission to safeguard Ontario’s most sensitive and vulnerable landscapes for the children and wildlife of tomorrow.
This success would not have been possible without the collective dedication of a passionate community of supporters, along with critical funding from the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.
About the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy
The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to preserving Ontario’s most sensitive and vulnerable landscapes since 1997. To date, the organization has safeguarded over 10,117 hectares (25,000 acres) of natural habitats, providing critical refuge for numerous species at risk.
The Wild Future Campaign is the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy’s multi-year, multi-property conservation initiative aimed at rapidly protecting high-value natural lands across the Niagara Escarpment and Great Lakes region. The campaign envisions large-scale habitat networks, climate-resilient landscapes, and more opportunities for people to connect with nature. The creation of Wildhaven Nature Preserve represents another milestone toward that goal.
To learn more about the Wild Future Campaign, visit escarpment.ca/about/campaigns/wild-future-campaign.
Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program
The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is the single largest provincial fund to secure private land in Ontario. This unique program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, leverages non-governmental dollars to acquire, restore and manage privately owned natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands and forests. For every dollar of provincial funding provided, grant recipients match it with a minimum of $2 from other conservation partners, including individual donors, foundations and other levels of government. Since 2020, the Ontario government has invested $58 million into the program, which has helped to protect over 430,000 acres (174,310 hectares) of private land across the province – more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.
About Ontario Land Trust Alliance
Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) focuses on providing community, knowledge sharing and support to land trusts across Ontario. It empowers and supports highly effective, well-governed land trusts that engage their communities to protect forests, wetlands, nature, and water sources and provide natural climate solutions. OLTA builds capacity through training and educational programs, connecting land trusts to each other, resources, and their communities, leading and supporting on-the-ground conservation work, sharing knowledge and best practices, reducing financial barriers to land conservation, promoting organizational excellence, providing access to current research and acting as a voice for land trusts among the public, governments, and other rightsholders.
Our impact is Ontario-wide through 56 connected charities and communities. OLTA’s local land trust members currently collectively own and steward over 2,000 natural areas and green spaces across Ontario, with the leadership of thousands of supporters and volunteers annually. To support your local land trust, visit: www.OLTA.ca.
Media Contact:
Beth Gilhespy
Chief Executive Officer
Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy
escarpment.ca
