PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
In 2006, the Ministry of Natural Resources signed five-year partnership agreements to secure important natural areas with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.
These agreements enable the ministry to support the efforts of partners across Ontario, including land trusts, conservation authorities, non-government organizations and municipalities.
Through the ministry's partnerships and competitive funding programs, each partner matches or exceeds the funds provided by the ministry to buy properties. In some cases landowners donate all or part of their land. Landowners may also volunteer to have conservation easements places on the title to their land. A conservation easement is voluntarily donated or sold by the landowner. It consists of a legally binding agreement attached to the land title that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on the land while it remains in private hands.
The management and long-term stewardship of the lands is carried out by the partner involved, the Ministry of Natural Resources or local partners such as conservation authorities. The partners also contribute their science and land management expertise and work with the ministry to identify priority areas, negotiate land purchases and ensure long-term conservation.
KEY PARTNERS
Nature Conservancy of Canada: A non-profit, non-advocacy organization that takes a business-like approach to land conservation and the preservation of biological diversity. Since 1962, the organization and its supporters have protected close to more than 800,000 hectares of ecologically significant land nationwide.
Ducks Unlimited Canada: A private, not-for-profit, Canadian organization. Since 1938, it has conserved, restored and managed wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and people. The organization undertakes habitat conservation, research, education and fundraising activities.
Ontario Land Trust Alliance: A registered charity with a mandate to encourage the land trust movement throughout Ontario.
FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR 2007-2008
The ministry has allocated $5.62 million for land securement in the 2007-2008 fiscal year:
$5.47 million has been granted to the three key partners:
- $4.219 million to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Greenlands, Ontario Parks, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture and Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem programs
- $1.07 million to Ducks Unlimited Canada for the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture program and Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
- $180,000 to the Ontario Land Trust Alliance for the Ontario Land Trust Assistance Program.
The Ministry of Natural Resources Land Securement Program
Land securement includes buying lands, acquiring the title to lands through donations, or holding conservation easements or agreements. In 2006, the ministry’s various land securement programs were consolidated to allow for a more strategic and coordinated approach. The consolidated program currently includes:
- Ontario Parks Program: Acquires lands to expand existing provincial parks and conservation reserves, or create new ones
- Eastern Habitat Joint Venture: Secures and enhances wetlands and associated habitats for migratory birds and includes conservation agreements with private landowners
- Greenlands Program: Includes both direct securement of properties that are joint priorities for the ministry and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and a competitive funding program for other agencies known as the Greenlands Challenge
- Ontario Land Trust Assistance Program: A competitive funding program that assists land trusts with securement costs
- Landbird Conservation Program (an expansion of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture): Secures and enhances significant upland bird habitats
- Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem: Secures lands to further the vision of a healthy, prosperous and sustainable Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem for present and future generations.
Eligibility Criteria for Land Securement Program
To be considered for the land securement program, proposed properties must meet a range of criteria. Some examples of criteria are:
- Creating new, or adding to existing, conservation lands such as provincial parks or conservation areas
- Advancing the mutual objectives of the ministry and its conservation partners
- Containing ecosystems that are representative of Ontario’s natural heritage regions
- Having significant biodiversity attributes and ecological functions that contribute to the long-term environmental health and sustainability of Ontario
- Protecting significant elements of the province’s natural and cultural heritage (for example, Great Lakes ecosystems such as wetlands).
- Helping to maintain Ontario’s biodiversity
- Being part of a long-term strategic and landscape-level conservation plan.
