A stunning area just south of Bancroft, containing tens of thousands of acres of forests, wetlands, and undeveloped lakes, has gained a unique kind of recognition.
The Ontario Conservation Accelerator has announced the largest protected area owned by an individual in Ontario, and in Canada. The designation of “protected area” is the same as that given to a provincial park or a private nature reserve, and acknowledges that this land will be set aside from development and managed for its conservation values for the long term.
The property is owned by Ben Samann who refers to his sole-ownership company Land’escapes as simply “The Park”, covers a massive 26,300 acres (10,643 hectares), which is approximately the size of two Frontenac Provincial Parks or seven Sandbanks Provincial Parks.
The Park has been recognized by both the Governments of Ontario and Canada as protected, and entered into Canada’s Protected and Conserved Areas Database. This database tracks the country’s progress toward Canada’s target of protecting 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. In Ontario, 10.9% of Ontario’s land is now formally recognized as protected or conserved.
Samann acquired the site in 2021 from a U.S.-based forestry company, with a vision to conserve, restore, and conduct leading edge research on the site. In coordination with conservation partners such as the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, Blazing Star Environmental, and the University of Guelph the land has undergone detailed management planning and inventory, which has revealed several amazing finds including:
– 20 completely undeveloped lakes
– 13 species at risk including Canada warbler, and Blanding’s turtle
– 5,000+ acres of pristine wetlands
– Wide-ranging mammals including moose, bear and elk
The property also aims to play a tangible role in reconciliation with First Nations, with lands being available to access for Indigenous people upon request to Land’escapes’ Indigenous Engagement Coordinator.
The announcement was made at a media event and property tour, along the shores of one of the property’s stunning undeveloped lakes, involving representatives from the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, Land’escapes, and a variety of other conservation partners and supporters.
The formal recognition of protected and conserved areas, without the need for a conservation entity or government to acquire title or rights to the land, is an innovative conservation tool that is significantly accelerating the pace and scale of conservation in Ontario and Canada. The Ontario Conservation Accelerator applauds Ben Samann for his conservation ethic and the myriad ways in which he and the team at Land’escapes are ensuring that this significant land remains in its current state, supporting a variety of habitat types and wildlife, for the long term.
“The Ontario Conservation Accelerator is proud to partner with Ben Samann in recognizing his stunning and biodiverse property in Central Ontario. The idea of even one undeveloped lake is astounding to most people in southern Ontario, and this property contains twenty of them! We’re deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada for their crucial support in making this important project possible. It’s an honour to be on the land today celebrating this extraordinary achievement alongside so many dedicated partners and supporters.” – Kristyn Ferguson, Managing Director, Ontario Conservation Accelerator
“It’s really lovely to work with a property like this, to get to explore and enjoy its natural beauty, while having its role in the conservation landscape recognized. The team at the Ontario Conservation Accelerator have been a huge resource for this property, from general advice to moral support to taking on the task of working directly with the Government of Ontario to have the land recognized as protected. The whole team is exceptional at identifying the best tools for conservation, on paper and in practice, and seeing through the finer details to make good things happen. The turtles on the property thank them wholeheartedly!”
– Ben Samann, Owner, Land’escapes
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the leadership and dedication of individual land stewards like Ben Samann, whose commitment to conservation is helping safeguard Ontario’s natural heritage. Our government is proud to support this work, which is a wonderful example of the great things that are possible when individuals, communities, and governments work together. I commend Ben and all the partners involved on this inspiring model of environmental stewardship that will benefit generations to come.”
– Minister Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
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