Land Trust, Easement, Conservation, and Stewardship

The Conservancy works with private landowners who are interested in conserving the natural and cultural heritage features of their properties. Donations of land or conservation agreements entitle the landowner to what can often be significant tax benefits. A conservation agreement outlines conditions or restrictions initiated by the landowner and is registered on the land title so that future owners continue to protect the natural or cultural values of the property.

The Conservancy conducts site visits, explores the conservation options that might suit each landowner and refers interested parties to appropriate agencies and professional advisors.  Conversations with the Conservancy about possible securement approaches sometimes continue over several years.  The Conservancy assists land owners by providing:

• Free consultation and advice on conservation and land trust options, tax benefits and stewardship initiatives;
• Long term management and succession planning;
• Overall information required for understanding the different conservation options available, and
• Assistance in understanding and meeting government requirement and processes for executing these options.

See the Landowners page for more information about the various approaches to long-term conservation of private property and for information about tax incentive programs associated with stewardship activities. The Conservancy is a member of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and the Canadian Land Trust Alliance.

Cultural Heritage Conservation

Cultural heritage is an integral part of the ecological, social, and economic fabric of the landscape. At the Conservancy, we are building networks to help document and conserve the rich heritage features of the Kawarthas. As part of this work we are also helping to build capacity in the region by organizing workshop that may assist in strengthening organizational capacity and furthering local cultural heritage conservation goals.

A core component of our work is centered on building a database of cultural heritage features. The cultural heritage database and mapping project aims to identify and compile data on the cultural heritage of the Kawartha bioregion.The project also seeks to make available heritage information to different stakeholders to foster heritage appreciation and protection and to achieve informed planning and a sustainable future for the bioregion. The bioregional boundary, as referred to by the Conservancy, includes the Peterborough County and the City of Kawartha Lakes and a buffer that includes the Oak Ridges Morain to the South.

As part of this project, the Conservancy has been collecting and mapping heritage related data for the past two years. The database contains more than 4000 points of interest and associated photographs. This includes ghost town buildings, barns, bridges, cemeteries, processing plants, churches, fences, houses, ruins, and schools. Our objective is to develop database sharing agreements with other organizations in the region and share the information so that we can together enhance conservation of cultural heritage sites and keep alive the stories of our past. The Conservancy’s cultural heritage program is generously funded by the Metcalf Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Information/Data Management, and Mapping

The role of the Conservancy’s Information and Mapping Services program is to provide geographic support and services with a focus on identifying heritage conservation priorities, assessing sites, and monitoring achievements. This program is supported by establishing a common bioregional vision of the Kawarthas and connecting landscapes.

Geographical information system (GIS) and mapping services offer a solution for managing change and supporting conservation decision-making. The Kawartha Heritage Conservancy is a member of the Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange created by Land Information Ontario of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). The exchange allows government and non-profit organizations with similar interests to easily and appropriately share and exchange digital land information.

We have worked with data, staff, and students from Fleming College, Trent University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, the Natural Heritage Information Centre (OMNR), Couchiching Conservancy and The Land Between Collaborative. Data collection and analyses, such as for heritage and agricultural features, help inform decision making and enhance presentations. The Conservancy can leverage its human and technological resource capacity to assist organizations with their data collection, organization, management, presentation, and mapping needs. The Conservancy’s Information and Mapping Services Program is generously funded by the Metcalf Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Other Initiatives

Species at Risk: Habitat Stewarship Project

The Habitat Stewardship Project, funded by Environment Canada, was completed in June 2010 and involved collecting data on species at risk sightings, particularly birds and reptiles, in the Kawartha bioregion.  Data was collected, managed, and mapped using ESRI ArcGIS.

Outreach and Research

Outreach and research are Integral to all of the Conservancy’s programs. We have worked with Trent University, Sir Sanford Fleming College and Ryerson University faculty and students on a variety of cultural and natural heritage projects around the bioregion. Some of the projects involving Trent students have been facilitated by the Trent Centre for Community-Based Education. The Conservancy’s operating principles include using the best available science and local knowledge to identify priority locations for its conservation work.

The Conservancy has advised the City of Peterborough, North Kawartha Township, Trent University and local Conservation Authorities on their use of the federal Ecogifts Program, tax incentives, donations and conservation agreements.  Such advice helps to secure donations of significant sites, including two Natural Areas recognized by the City of Peterborough.

Multi-organizational Partnerships

The Conservancy is a founding partner of the Large Woodlands Conservation Cooperative, an organization that works with woodlot owners whose properties together make up large, relatively unfragmented forests in south-central Ontario.

The Conservancy is one of 30 conservation and environmental organizations involved in the Caring for the Moraine Project – Ganaraska Hills Area.  Funded by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, the partners assist landowners on the Moraine with stewardship and conservation activity.

The Conservancy is also part of the Kawartha Region Team of the Waterway Wildlife partnership.  With the support of the Trent-Severn Waterway a number of conservation and stewardship organizations are working together to raise awareness of wildlife at risk and their habitats in the vicinity of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Please see our Partners page for more details on these initiatives.

Past Projects:

Please click on the title "Past Projects" to see our past work.

 

• Our Work
• Conservancy Programs
• Properties
• Land Strategy Summary