Historic Federal-Provincial Partnership Expands Protected Areas, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Across Ontario
KAWARTHA LAKES, Ontario — Ontario and the federal government have completed a three-year, $10-million conservation agreement that has permanently protected nearly 48,000 acres of forests, wetlands and ecologically significant landscapes across the province while expanding access to parks, trails and outdoor recreation.
The initiative, jointly announced in 2024, has resulted in the creation of 12 new provincial parks and conservation reserves, the expansion of 50 existing protected areas, and improved public access to hiking trails and natural green spaces. Provincial officials say the project strengthens biodiversity protection, supports tourism and enhances outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy said the partnership represents a significant milestone in preserving the province’s natural heritage.
“By working together, Ontario and Canada have permanently protected a combined area that is nearly twice the size of the City of Guelph,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By creating more parks and strengthening trail connections, including links to iconic routes like the Bruce Trail, we are helping more people experience Ontario’s natural landscapes while protecting biodiversity, supporting local tourism and ensuring people can enjoy these spaces for generations to come.”
The agreement forms part of broader conservation efforts aimed at expanding Ontario’s protected areas system while contributing to Canada’s national biodiversity commitments.
Federal Environment, Climate Change and Nature Minister Julie Dabrusin said the collaboration demonstrates progress toward long-term conservation goals.
“Our government is committed to protecting the nature that Canadians rely on, and this partnership shows that commitment is delivering,” said The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature. “Over three years, we helped Ontario protect tens of thousands of acres of forests and wetlands and open up more of the outdoors for families while putting in place faster ways to safeguard land. This is exactly the kind of progress A Force of Nature—our strategy to protect nature—is built to accelerate as we work to protect 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.”
Protected Areas Expanded Across Ontario
Among the projects completed under the agreement is a 72-acre (30-hectare) expansion of Emily Provincial Park in the City of Kawartha Lakes. The addition increases protection along the Trent-Severn Waterway by preserving biologically significant shoreline marshes, wet woodlands and sections of the Pigeon River.
Major Conservation Projects Include Bruce Trail and Wetland Protection
Other significant expansions include:
- Hockley Valley Provincial Park, where an additional 314 acres (127 hectares) of the Niagara Escarpment have been protected, including portions of the Bruce Trail and two provincially significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest.
- Ivanhoe River Clay Plain Conservation Reserve, which gained 7,139 acres (2,889 hectares) of protected land, including old-growth forest and sections of a free-flowing river.
- Bass Lake Provincial Park, where new protected lands include the waterfront and a provincially significant swamp-marsh wetland complex while creating additional opportunities for hiking and bird-watching.
Officials said strengthening trail connections, particularly to the Bruce Trail, will improve recreational access while supporting conservation objectives.
Investment Supports Canada’s 30×30 Conservation Goal
The agreement also contributes to Canada’s commitment under the Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30 percent of the country’s lands and waters by 2030.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, a $3.8-billion investment designed to advance conservation while supporting economic growth through collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments, industry and private landowners.
Ontario has also expanded its own conservation efforts in recent years. Since 2020, the province has invested $60 million through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership, helping protect nearly 639,000 acres of privately owned land.
The province currently manages 344 provincial parks covering approximately 20 million acres and 306 conservation reserves encompassing almost four million acres. Altogether, Ontario’s protected and conserved areas now total nearly 30 million acres, making the network more than three times the size of Vancouver Island.
Conservation Groups Welcome Long-Term Partnership
Environmental organizations and conservation partners welcomed the completion of the agreement, highlighting its long-term environmental and recreational benefits.
Secretary of State (Nature) Nathalie Provost said:
“Protecting nature is one of the best investments we can make for our environment, our communities, and future generations. Through our partnership with Ontario, we have permanently protected nearly 48,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and other important ecosystems while expanding opportunities for people to connect with nature. Together, we are making meaningful progress toward Canada’s commitment to conserve 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 and advancing the goals of A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature.”
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock MPP Laurie Scott said the expansion of Emily Provincial Park demonstrates how conservation projects can both protect valuable habitats and improve public access to nature.
Additional support came from conservation organizations including the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Bruce Trail Conservancy and The Schad Foundation, all of which credited the federal-provincial partnership with strengthening land conservation efforts, protecting sensitive ecosystems and expanding recreational opportunities for future generations.
The governments of Ontario and Canada said they will continue working with Indigenous communities, conservation organizations and other partners to identify future opportunities to expand protected areas while supporting biodiversity, sustainable tourism and public access to Ontario’s natural landscapes.