Mulmur land pledged to escarpment corridor

The Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA) is one step closer to its goal of establishing a connected ecological corridor spanning the Southern Georgian Bay region.

Executive director Jarvis Strong says a Mulmur landowner has pledged a 152-acre parcel between Ruskview and Black Bank to the land trust.

“We’re referring to it as the Black Bank Highlands,” said Strong. “It’s an area in the Pine River watershed previously cleared for pastureland that is now a mix of mature forest, dense White Cedar swamp, and a thriving meadow.”

He said the property is home to several species at risk including grasshopper sparrow, red-headed woodpecker, snapping turtle, eastern milksnake, northern brook lamprey, bobolink, eastern wood-pewee and eastern meadowlark.

The parcel is connected by a road allowance with the nearby Bruce Trail, and will eventually house a public trail allowing more access to nature and more land protected.

The wildlife corridors will allow animals to move freely across the landscape, and linked habitats including forests, wetlands and shorelines, help to fend off climate change. The human-nature connections support long-term stewardship, preservation and recreation. Ultimately, the corridor will link protected spaces such as provincial parks across Southern Georgian Bay and restore wetlands and other aquatic features that offer essential habitat for biodiversity.

The land will not be officially transferred to the ECA land trust until a $100,000 stewardship endowment fund is in place to cover management costs, taxes, maintenance and the like. Thus far, Strong says more than $60,000 has been raised.

The ECA has a goal of adding five nature preserves and/or conservation easements this year. Strong says there are significant tax advantages for donations of ecologically valuable land. “There is a capital gains exemption of up to 100 per cent, with up to 10 yearsto apply the credit. For someone who purchased land 40 or 50 years ago this can be a huge win,” he said.

As it strives to develop an ecological corridor, the ECA is trying to be very collaborative with the Bruce Trail organization and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. He says their goals are well aligned, but the ECA is more local in focus. The Black Banks Highlands will offer something new to local nature enthusiasts, many of whom have hiked the Bruce Trail and the Creemore Nature Preserve multiple times.