The Bruce Trail Conservancy celebrates a major conservation and recreation win

TORONTO, July 18, 2018 /CNW/ - The Bruce Trail Conservancy is celebrating a monumental conservation and recreation achievement today. Parks Canada, with financial support from the Bruce Trail Conservancy, has reached an agreement to acquire the 3,272-acre Driftwood Cove property at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. "We are pleased to be supporting Parks Canada in this acquisition," noted Bruce Trail Conservancy Chief Executive Officer Beth Gilhespy. "Permanently protecting this expansive, ecologically-sensitive land in the public domain is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The acquisition of the 3,272 acres at Driftwood Cove preserves important species at risk habitat, safeguards critical biodiversity, ensures permanence for the Bruce Trail and creates even greater opportunities for people to explore the natural beauty of our unique Niagara Escarpment landscape."  

For more than 50 years, 8 kilometres of the Bruce Trail have passed through the Driftwood Cove land, a stunningly beautiful stretch of the Bruce Trail that has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to Canada since 1967, thanks to generous permission from the private landowners.  With only 65% of the Bruce Trail permanently secured, the 700 private landowners from Niagara to Tobermory who allow access to their land for the Bruce Trail are critical to the connectivity of Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath. The Bruce Trail Conservancy thanks the landowners of Driftwood Cove who were so willing to share the beauty of their land for so many years. 

The Bruce Trail Conservancy has had a strong partnership with Parks Canada since Bruce Peninsula National Park's inception in 1987.  "Our financial commitment to the acquisition of Driftwood Cove substantially builds on our 30-year partnership with Parks Canada, and is a testament to our own growing capacity for land preservation and Bruce Trail securement thanks to the dedication of our members, donors and volunteers" notes Gilhespy. "Since 1974 the Bruce Trail Conservancy has been responsible for the preservation of almost 12,000 acres of Niagara Escarpment landscape, and we are pleased to be supporting Parks Canada's acquisition of these additional 3,272 acres at Driftwood Cove."

SOURCE Bruce Trail Conservancy