Muskoka Conservancy is proud to announce that it has acquired its second-largest protected area to date.
MapleCross-Fraserburg Nature Reserve is a 597-acre (242-hectare) nature reserve comprised of upland forest and various wetland ecosystems in the hamlet of Fraserburg just east of Bracebridge.
Historically a hunt camp, the MapleCross-Fraserburg Nature Reserve provides habitats for several species at risk. As part of its long-term plan, Muskoka Conservancy intends to create trails to welcome the public.
This brings the total number of properties protected by Muskoka Conservancy to 62. Muskoka Conservancy now protects lands totaling more than 6,700 acres (2,710 hectares), with 85,000 feet (2,600 metres) of natural shoreline and 1,100 acres (445 hectares) of wetlands.
This project was made possible by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund. We are also grateful for the financial support provided by 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.
About the reserve:
• Size: 597 acres (242 hectares)
• 17% wetland and peatland. Peatlands are important carbon sinks, acting as sponges to assist in flood mitigation.
• Species at risk include Midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), Eastern wood pewee (Contopus virens), and black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
“This project came about quickly and we were blown away by the support we received,” said Scott Young of Muskoka Conservancy. “Canada, Ontario, and the nature conservation community really stepped up. Thanks to everyone who rallied around this project! We couldn’t have done it without you!”
“Securing the 597-acre MapleCross-Fraserburg property is a welcome addition to Ontario’s network of protected lands,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “I would like to thank the Muskoka Conservancy and their supporters for their efforts to make this impressive acquisition possible. Through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, we are ensuring these valuable ecosystems remain protected for generations to come.”
Project Support:
The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique partnership that supports the creation and recognition of protected and conserved areas through the acquisition of private land and private interest in land. To date, the Government of Canada has invested more than $500 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $1 billion in contributions raised by Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the country’s land trust community leading to the protection and conservation of more than 840,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.
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 437,000 acres (over 177,000 hectares) of private land across the province – more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.
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 OLTA.ca.
Muskoka Conservancy
Muskoka Conservancy is a charitable land trust dedicated to protecting the natural landscapes, wildlife habitats, and scenic beauty of Muskoka and the surrounding areas. Working with private landowners and community partners, the Conservancy permanently protects ecologically significant properties to ensure they remain wild and resilient for generations to come.
From the Muskoka Conservancy
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On behalf of Scott Young and the Muskoka Conservancy team, thank you, everyone, for your enthusiasm about the MapleCross-Fraserburg Nature Reserve and for your support for the work we do.
We do plan to create hiking trails in MapleCross-Fraserburg Nature Reserve in the future, so that nature lovers can enjoy this protected area.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for more news. You can also contact us at [email protected] if you want to get involved with the Conservancy (we are volunteer-powered) or to join our email list.
Thank you again!
This is great news. I’ve been a resident at the end of Fraserburg Road for decades. There is no other place in Muskoka like it. These lands need protection from future development. It’s a paradise to the north ,east and south of the Fraserburg Road. Its full of wetlands, creeks, lakes, and the South Muskoka River. All wetlands surrounding the Kowpakwakog River from Eco Lake to the South Muskoka River in Fraserburg is an ecosystem full of aquatic life. All these areas need to be a protected wildlife sanctuary, including Bigwind Lake Provincial Park.
Kudos to to Muskoka Conservancy for every square meter put aside, free from obliteration by development. I heard on the radio that walking trails would be cut through the area, though that seems ironic for a newly conserved space. Still better than obliteration.
This is incredible, heart warming and so very important for countless species.
Thank you to the members of the conservancy for believing in the importance of helping to save the creatures who are trying to live in spite of the human footprint.
Thanks for your passion and commitment!
This is amazing! Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved.
Is there a map of exactly where this is located?