Investment Supports Major Conservation Project Through Greenlands Partnership Program
The Ontario government is investing $2 million to help protect more than 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares) of boreal forest, wetlands and peatlands in northern Ontario, advancing one of the largest private land conservation initiatives in the province’s history.
The funding, announced by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, will support the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC) Taiga Forest and Peatlands project through the province’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership program. The investment forms part of Ontario’s broader strategy to preserve ecologically significant landscapes while supporting healthier communities, tourism and long-term economic growth.
The latest commitment brings Ontario’s total investment in the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program to more than $60 million since its launch.
Government Highlights Environmental and Economic Benefits
Ontario officials say the funding reflects the province’s commitment to protecting environmentally important lands through partnerships that maximize public investment. Under the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, every provincial dollar is matched by at least two dollars from non-provincial partners, increasing the overall impact of conservation projects.
“We are proud to be working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect such an expansive area of the boreal forest in northern Ontario,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Through this investment, we are supporting one of the largest private land conservation projects in Ontario’s history and helping preserve a globally significant boreal landscape that will continue to provide environmental and community benefits for generations.”
The $2-million allocation was included in the 2026 Ontario Budget and is intended to support the long-term conservation of one of Canada’s most ecologically important natural regions.
Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, said the project demonstrates how collaborative funding can strengthen environmental protection while delivering value for taxpayers.
“Our government’s $2 million investment reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship by helping protect one of the largest private land conservation opportunities in the province’s history while benefiting communities across northern Ontario,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Leveraging the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program to maximize this investment will deliver lasting environmental benefits while helping keep this globally significant landscape a valuable asset for future generations.”
### Boreal Forest Recognized as Globally Significant Ecosystem
The Taiga Forest and Peatlands project focuses on conserving a vast section of Ontario’s boreal forest, one of the world’s largest forest ecosystems. The region includes extensive wetlands and peatlands that play a critical role in storing carbon, protecting freshwater resources and supporting wildlife biodiversity.
Nature Conservancy of Canada Welcomes Provincial Support
The Nature Conservancy of Canada said the provincial investment will help secure long-term protection for a landscape that delivers significant environmental benefits locally and globally.
“Protecting the Taiga Forest and Peatlands means safeguarding one of the most powerful natural systems that we have for storing carbon, protecting water and strengthening northern communities,” said Dana Kleniewski, the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s regional vice-president in Ontario. “Ontario’s leadership and support from other partners enables us to act at the scale that nature needs. Together, we are protecting a globally important landscape that will continue to deliver real value for people and nature.”
The organization has been working to conserve ecologically significant lands across Ontario through partnerships with governments, donors and conservation organizations.
Greenlands Program Continues to Expand Conservation Efforts
Since its introduction in 2020, Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership program has become the province’s largest initiative focused on conserving privately owned lands. According to the government, the program has helped protect more than 637,000 acres (approximately 258,000 hectares) across Ontario—an area exceeding four times the size of the City of Toronto.
Officials said the latest investment builds on that progress by accelerating the protection, restoration and long-term stewardship of critical natural landscapes throughout the province.
As part of its broader environmental strategy, the Ontario government said it will continue working with organizations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve important ecosystems for future generations while supporting sustainable economic opportunities in northern communities.
Key Facts
- Ontario is investing $2 million in the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Taiga Forest and Peatlands project.
- The project will protect more than 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares) of boreal forest, wetlands and peatlands in northern Ontario.
- The funding was included in the 2026 Ontario Budget.
- Ontario has now committed more than $60 million to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program.
- Since 2020, the program has helped conserve more than 637,000 acres of ecologically significant land across the province.
- The Greenlands Conservation Partnership requires every provincial dollar to be matched by at least two dollars from non-provincial partners, expanding the impact of conservation investments.