Announcing: Muskoka Conservancy Protects 597 Acres in Fraserburg
We’re excited to share some big conservation news!
Muskoka Conservancy has officially acquired MapleCross–Fraserburg Nature Reserve, our second-largest protected area to date. Located in the hamlet of Fraserburg just east of Bracebridge, this 597-acre (242-hectare) property is now protected in perpetuity.
The newly protected reserve includes a mix of upland forests and wetlands that provide important habitat for several species at risk, including Midland painted turtle, Eastern wood pewee, and black ash. Approximately 17 per cent of the property is wetland and peatland—critical ecosystems that store carbon, support biodiversity, and help mitigate flooding.
Historically used as a hunt camp, the land will now be stewarded for conservation and community benefit. As part of our long-term stewardship plans, Muskoka Conservancy intends to develop trails that will welcome the public and help connect people with nature.
A Growing Conservation Legacy
With the protection of MapleCross–Fraserburg Nature Reserve, Muskoka Conservancy now safeguards:
• 62 properties
• Over 6,700 acres of land
• 1,100 acres of wetlands
• 85,000 feet of natural shoreline
This project came together quickly and would not have been possible without strong collaboration and generous support. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Canada, through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, as well as the Kenneth M. Molson Foundation, MapleCross Foundation, the Government of Ontario's Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA), the Echo Foundation, and the Chisholm-Thomson Family Foundation.
As Executive Director Scott Young shared: “We were blown away by the support we received. Thanks to everyone who rallied around this project — we couldn’t have done it without you.”
Thank you for being part of the community that makes conservation like this possible.
Read the full press release here (PDF).
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