Nature Conservancy of Canada protects home of rare species on Bruce Peninsula

A plan to protect a portion of the Bruce Peninsula that is home to rare species is moving ahead, partly due to support from Bruce Power.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is taking ownership of a 24-hectare piece of land near Tobermory.

The organization purchased the Baptist Harbour Alvar property on the Peninsula in late 2022. That will help protect one kilometre of shoreline along Lake Huron and support several alvars, which are naturally open and flat habitats with little or no soil. The rocky harsh ecosystems provide habitat for a distinctive set of rare or at-risk species. Various plant and animal species, including over 230 bird species, the American black bear, and the Massasauga rattlesnake call the area home.

Bruce Power provided $20,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to support the Baptist Harbour Alvar Project.

“The Saugeen Bruce Peninsula is a very special place that supports extraordinary biodiversity, and the alvars, forests, and wetlands at Baptist Harbour Alvar are no exception,” said Esme Batten, Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Program Director of Midwestern Ontario. “While significant for nature, these forests and wetlands also clean our air and water to ensure people can continue to thrive.”

Since 2015, Bruce Power has provided a total of $240,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to support land conservation and conservation planning efforts.

“Bruce Power remains dedicated to environmental conservation and restoration throughout our local communities and in the greater Ontario region,” said Lyndsay Reid, Bruce Power’s Director of Environment and Sustainability. “This conservation project will foster a sustainable ecosystem by preserving and supporting the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula’s important wildlife habitats and  local biodiversity.”

Read original story from Midwestern Ontario News – BlackburnNews.com