The federal government has purchased a 95-acre property in Northern Bruce Peninsula to add to the Bruce Peninsula National Park.
In a news release, Parks Canada says the property is mostly vacant forested land bordering a small lake, with a provincially rare fen wetland. The purchase price for the property has not been disclosed.
The land acquired by the government is home to several species at risk, including the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Round-leaved Ragwort and Dwarf Lake Iris.
“Bruce Peninsula National Park is home to many endangered species, offers spectacular opportunities for Canadians to connect with their natural heritage, and holds cultural significance to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation,” says Minister of Environment and Climate Change Johnathan Wilkinson in a statement. “The acquisition of this property will help Parks Canada continue its important work helping vital ecosystems and contributing to the recovery of species at risk.”
Future plans for the property will be guided by Bruce Peninsula National Park’s Management Plan. Parks Canada says it’s currently undertaking a process to renew the park’s management plan, and public and Indigenous consultations will be an important part of this process that will help shape the future of the park, including this new property.
The Government of Canada announced in its 2018 budget it’s investing more than $1.3-billion through the Nature Legacy initiative to work with partners to increase Canada’s network of protected areas, respond to the impacts of climate change and provide safe havens for wildlife.
The Canadian Government has made several purchases since the establishment of the Bruce Peninsula National Park in 1987 to add over 14,180 acres of land to the park.
In 2018, the government purchased the 3,272-acre Driftwood Cove property in Tobermory for $22.5-million.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
