Wild AboutNatuRe 2014

DISCOVER & CELEBRATE THE HIGHLANDS’ NATURAL HERITAGE

Enviro-Heroes of the Highlands

Protecting Our TurtlesAll Eyes On

Norah’s IslandGifting: The

Ultimate Satisfaction

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Wild AboutWild AboutNatuReNatuRe

WELCOME!A Message from Our Executive Director

As the first Executive Director of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, I am amazed by the huge commitment the volunteers have made to establish the organization.

In this edition of Wild About Nature, you will read about the four unique parcels of land that have been donated for future generations and the countless volunteer hours connected to the management of each of them. As well, you can read about the Enviro-Heroes nominated by each of Haliburton County’s four municipal councils. Our big news item of the year is the enormous volunteer effort that has gone into the turtle monitoring program. Read all about it on pages 12 and 13!

On behalf of Dianne Mathes, chair of the Land Trust, and all the directors I want to extend a warm thank you to the volunteers who contributed to the third edition of Wild About Nature magazine, and also to Parker Pad & Printing Ltd. for donating design and printing services.

This year, we are pleased to thank and welcome our advertisers as members of the Land Trust – please consider supporting them throughout the year.

Larry O’Connor

Executive DirectorHaliburton Highlands Land Trust

1 Director’s Welcome Message

3 Enviro-Heroes

5 Save a Dollar - Save a Forest

6 Dahl Forest a Hub Of Activity

7 Keeping An Eye On Norah’s Island

8 Barry Wetland

9 Smith Forest: Under the Microscope

10 Healthy Species Mean Healthy Properties

12-13 Making Our Roads Safer for Turtles

14 A Friendly Encounter With a Snapper

15 Many Rewards for Land Trust Volunteer

17 Map of The Land Trust’s Properties

18 Youth Rangers Make a Difference

19 Membership Information

20 Giving It All Away

A big thank you to our sponsors and advertisers for making this publication possible and supporting the work of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.

SPONSORS

Parker Pad & Printing Ltd. Inside Front

The Highlander 4

ADVERTISERS

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Barry Devolin, MP Inside Back

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Glenside Ecological Services Limited 16

Haliburton Appraisal Services Inc. 11

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Laurie Scott, MPP 16

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The Mother Daughter Team - Century 21 14

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2

CONTENTS

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ON

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ER

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3

Algonquin Highlands – Walter Ozog

A full-time resident in Algonquin Highlands since 1992, Walter Ozog has donated thousands of hours of his time to the community as a volunteer. Walter is currently the president of Ski Friends of the Frost Centre. In his involvement with the group for the past 14 years, Walter has helped fundraise and keep the trails going since 1997. Although the township’s trails department has looked after the operations of the ski trails for the past two years, the Ski Friends continue to help out when needed.

Walter is also an active cross-country skier, cyclist, member of the Haliburton Highlands Trekkers, and supporter of local charities.

Dysart et al – Mark Brohm

Mark Brohm is Dysart’s landfill manager, also affectionately known as the “Lord of the Landfill.” Mark was chosen for his efforts in the community and youth education needed to extend the life of the landfills in Dysart.

During the past couple of years, Mark has become the community face of recycling. In 2012 he made his film debut in “Trash Talk,” an educational video promoting local landfill and recycling programs. The piece has been a great success as a communication tool that is being used to engage local high school and public school students, the Haliburton Village BIA, Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association, lake associations and even summer camps.

Mark leads tours at the landfill, lends his side profile to e-waste signage and this year he even accepted the role of Frost Fest ambassador, greeting visitors by his moniker.

Highlands East – Mikaela Kauffeldt

High school student Mikaela Kauffeldt began her environmental activism in Grade 7 while attending Wilberforce Public School. That year she entered the Go Green Challenge sponsored by the Environment Committee of Highlands East with an award-winning video. Last year, while in Grade 8, she organized an Earth Week clean-up with the assistance of the Environment Committee.

At just 12 years old, Mikaela is this year’s youngest Enviro-Hero.

Minden Hills – Paul MacInnes

Paul MacInnes has worked tirelessly over the past year producing important works like the “Poop Talk” video and its sequel, “Ribbon of Life.” As chair of the Coalition of Haliburton County Property Owners’ Associations, he partnered with a group of dedicated volunteers and U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research to organize an extensive Shoreline Assessment Program that will see over 2,500 properties examined and rated this summer in Haliburton County.

Paul and the volunteers also put together a very successful Lake Stewards conference. The content of the conference was engaging and has created an opportunity for further education in lake water testing for our lake stewards. Raising awareness about the need for more proactive septic system management (Poop Talk), preservation of natural shorelines (Ribbon of Life) and lake water testing methodology will have huge environmental benefits.

What does it mean to be named an Enviro-Hero?

Since 2008, individuals, businesses and organizations have received this unique distinction for their strong commitment to protecting and preserving the natural environment of the Haliburton Highlands.

Enviro-Heroes make a difference in a variety of ways including education, stewardship, healthy living, “green” business or the arts. Although the impact of their contributions are being felt now, their good work will certainly make a difference for future generations to come.

The Land Trust is proud to recognize and celebrate the following individuals, who were nominated by members of council in their community. Each recipient received their award at the Land Trust’s Wild About Nature Gala held on Sept. 28, 2014 at the Bonnie View Inn.

AND THE 2014 ENVIRO-HEROES ARE ...By Mark Arike

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By Mark Arike

Staff writer

Two communities in Haliburton County have

raised over $16,000 for cancer research by

participating in the annual Terry Fox Run.

The events, which were both held on Sept.

14, raised $12,094 in Minden and $3,950 in

Haliburton.“Since 1994, Minden has embraced Terry

[Fox] with all their hearts,” run organizer

Dianne Peacock told those who attended the

21st annual event.

Over the years, Minden has raised almost

$217,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.

“And remember, with 83 cents of every

dollar going directly to research, that means

you’ve contributed over $182,000,” Peacock

said.A total of 139 participants, including

walkers, runners and cyclists, travelled

along a 10-kilometre route that started at

the community centre. Seventy volunteers

participated in the event, including seven high

school students who received community

service hours for helping out. Cancer

survivors and those currently battling the

disease stood out from the crowd with red

Terry Fox Run shirts.

Live entertainment was provided by local

band The Maclay Experience.

Part of the funds raised included $1,625 in

proceeds from a silent auction that featured

54 items donated by local businesses and

individuals.“As a committee we really never set a goal

as whatever we bring in is more money for

cancer research,” Peacock wrote in an email

to The Highlander.

Terry Fox’s legacy lives on in the Highlands

See “Attendance” on page 21

TheHighlanderHaliburton County’s independent newspaper

...because everyone has a story...because everyone has a storyOnline.caHighlander Highlander HighlanderREAL ESTATE GUIDE Highlander

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5

SAVE A DOLLAR - SAVE A FOREST

Money should not be the first thing that motivates us to take good care of our world. Still, $349.25 sure helps the medicine go down. That’s how much MFTIP saved me on my 2014 tax bill.

Just in case you think that last sentence was written in Magyar, perhaps I should explain that MFTIP stands for Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, which rewards woodlot owners for good stewardship. It’s surprising how many Haliburton woodlot owners have not heard of MFTIP, have only a vague notion of it or simply can’t be bothered.

A MFTIP property is assessed at a fraction of its actual value through a process so convoluted that I would try to explain it to you if only I could figure it out myself.

To be clear, only your forested land (perhaps including minor bits of swamp or old fields) gets this treatment. Your buildings, including your house, are assessed at their current market value. It takes at least 9.8 acres of trees to qualify.

Your woodlot is valued for its current use, not its market value. Thus, my 50 acres are assessed at $17,500 instead of the $63,500 they’d be tagged with outside the MFTIP program. That reduced assessment is then taxed at one-quarter of the usual residential rate.

After a little more tinkering by the taxman that I don’t understand, my overall assessment (land and cabin combined) shrinks by $39,000. Apply the mill rate to that difference and I get a tax saving of $349.25.

Of course, I have only 50 acres. Though each case is different, savings should increase with your acreage – imagine how much MFTIP takes off the books of Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve, which owns 80,000 acres.

What you have to do in return is submit an acceptable plan for taking care of your woodlot and then carry it out. Your plan might include something as specific as encouraging habitat that favours some creature classified as a species at risk.

Or you might try to modify the composition of the forest – let the sun shine in on your oak saplings, for example – or make trails for hiking and bird-watching.

Sapsucker Ridge is managed to produce maple syrup and the firewood needed to boil the sap in March and keep our cabin warm all winter. Managing right for syrup and fuel achieves other goals. For example, sap-gathering trails are perfect for hiking. Just ask Jiggs.

Unless you are an expert yourself, you probably should hire one to prepare the plan for you. The plan is good for 10 years, though there must be a progress report after five.

My expert cost me less than two years of my tax savings; the next eight years will, in effect, be free.

What you get from the expert, if you pay attention, is a better understanding of your forest, of what’s there and how it all fits together.

Sapsucker Ridge has been in some version of MFTIP since it was called the Managed Forest Tax Rebate program, when you paid your taxes to the township and then got a refund from Queen’s Park.

Bob Rae suspended the Rebate program in 1993, but what Jiggs insists on calling the Common Scents Revolution restored it and then turned it into MFTIP, which downloads the tax cuts to the municipalities.

Either way, the tax break rewards land-owners who take good care of their woodlots. That, and Haliburton’s tree-cutting bylaw (which many counties don’t have), should leave our world in better shape for the next generation.

(This is an abridged version of a column that first appeared in the Minden Times on July 16.)

By Neil Campbell

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– Neil Campbell

6

DAHL FOREST A HUB OF ACTIVITY

The Dahl Forest has been a busy place in recent times. Over the past year, Peter Dahl, son of the original owners William and Peggy Dahl, and a group of volunteers have been working hard to look after the land and ensure its legacy lives on.

Peter and his wife Jan McLennan are now living in a private residence at the Dahl Forest. Although we ask that you respect their privacy, they love to see people walking the trails. Peter is always quite willing to share stories about the forest and his life growing up there.

Although it was sad for Peter to see them removed, two old homestead buildings were demolished at the Dahl Forest for safety reasons. The buildings were used by Peter’s family until they built their present home. Norm Rondeau removed the buildings and was able to save a large amount of the reclaimed wood for furniture making.

Peter and his friend Gary Howard do an enormous amount of work maintaining the trails at the forest. We appreciate the fact that both Peter and Jan are actively involved with its management.

In the fall of 2013 a work party spent the morning clearing the trails at the forest. Peter and Gary went ahead cutting and trimming treas. A crew of volunteers made up of the forest monitors followed behind clearing debris and trimming shrubs. Then we all enjoyed a barbecue lunch.

In July a group of Junior Rangers spent the day clearing windfalls off the trails.

We have a dedicated group of volunteers at the Dahl Forest who twice a month monitor the trails and report any concerns or issues. In partnership with U-Links Centre for

Community-Based Research, environmental checklists are being developed which will help us assess the health of the forest. A training program will introduce the checklists to the monitors.

We thank the following monitors - past and present - for their dedication to the forest: Sheila Ziman, Dave Bathe, John Sloan, Ray Laughlen, Wendy Kidd, Anne-Marie Borthwick, Joan Duhaime, Bill Lewis, Gus Janca, Gina and Jim Stanley, Dave Tranter, Jan McLennan and Chris Whittemore.

If you’re interested in becoming a Dahl Forest monitor contact the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust at 705-457-3700 or admin@haliburtonlandtrust.ca

The Dahl Forest is a valuable place for us to hold educational programs. In December, a stargazing event was held during the Geminids meteor shower. Two local astronomers, Brian Mould and Joe Russo, shared their knowledge of the night sky. Although the moon prevented us from seeing shooting stars, we used telescopes to see three of Jupiter’s moons and another galaxy.

In June Dan Busby led us through the forest and taught us birding by ear techniques. Even though the 26 of us had to fight off a hoard of mosquitoes, we were able to identify many birds by their calls and songs thanks to Dan.

In July 32 people accompanied Ed Poropat on a butterflies and dragonflies walk.

This past October Pat Burchell hosted a mushroom walk to help identify some of the 500 species of edible and poisonous mushroom that are at the forest.

By Chris Whittemore

7

KEEPING AN EYE ON NORAH’S ISLANDBy Andi Rodgers, NIMC member

Volunteers feel a brilliant joy of being with people that share a common interest. On Kennisis Lake you will find that. I have had incredible success seeing first-hand the depth of connection people find with one another when they volunteer in an area of importance to them.

Friendships develop, programs are initiated, connections are made and laughter is almost always heard.

Our volunteer program, Eyes On The Island, was initiated by the Norah’s Island Management Committee (NIMC) of the Kennisis Lake Cottages Owners’ Association and the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. Norah, as the island is affectionately known, had seen a bit of disturbance in the last few years with a fire, tree removal and rubbish left behind by campers. We felt that consistent monitoring would help prevent this from happening in the future.

Our goal was to have enough volunteers interested in watching the island on a monthly basis that would only require one or two visits per year. The response from individuals was overwhelming. These devoted volunteers would arrive and scout the island, inspecting for anything out of the norm.

Visiting Norah is never a hardship as she is a unique, beautiful, serene place to embrace. An itemized checklist was developed of things to observe and a volunteer schedule formed. After a visit they would fill out a report and send it back to us to review. I am pleased to say that since the launch

of the program in 2013 all is calm. The summer months seem to be the most crucial with many more visitors; two inspections are done during those active months. Early spring can be a challenge for a visit with the ice softening, but often the winter months are the most spectacular.

What has developed are volunteers watching Norah with a concerned eye outside their scheduled time.

Our first official meet and greet was held July 2014 at the home of one of our volunteers who just happened to have front row seats to Norah: a stunning setting across the water from her. It was delightful to put faces to the volunteer names that up until now had only connected by email. In no time at all we became aware that we all felt the benefit of the program and keeping the natural environment of Norah just that – natural. Tremendous ideas were brought forward with interest, which we are actively working on.

Our goal moving forward is to meet yearly to voice opinion while adding a social element to our group with a future barbecue. The program is a new venture and as with all new beginnings there will be some adjustments to be made. How inspiring to work with people that care about their lake and benefit from the camaraderie that has developed.

I feel very privileged to be part of this. We have a remarkable group of concerned Kennisis Lake property owners who want the island to stay “just as it is.”

8

BARRY WETLAND BOASTS INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITYBy Mark Arike and Matthew Desrosiers

In 2012, former full-time local resident Dennis Barry donated a 100-acre parcel of land to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.

Named after the family, Barry Wetland was the fourth property acquired by the Land Trust.

The property, which is located near South Lake in Minden Hills, was identified as an important wetland complex as part of a project funded by Environment Canada. The project identified 50 ecologically important wetland complexes, of which this property was one.

“That jumped out at us,” said Sheila Ziman, past chair of the Land Trust. “We knew it was a significant wetlands complex. With that kind of complex comes a rich diversity of plant and animal life.”

It’s a confirmed habitat for the Blanding’s turtle, which is a threatened species in Ontario. Other rare species that have been found on the property include the Canada warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, incurvate emerald dragonfly and the brush-tipped emerald dragonfly (common in the province but rare in Haliburton County).

The first documented sighting - in Haliburton County - of a plant known as the coffee tinkler’s weed was made on the property.

“There’s a lot of biodiversity there,” Ziman said. “The other reason the property is of interest to us is that it’s very rich in its habitat.”

Local ecologist Paul Heaven spent plenty of time at the property, documenting what lives on the land and in the water.

“We often get these species that are associated with a more southern climate because of this calcium-rich soil,” Heaven said.

The property is a very unique wetland in that it is classified as a bog.

“Bogs are one of the more uncommon wetland types in the county,” he said, explaining that stagnation in a bog results in deprivation of oxygen. The harsh environment usually means fewer species, but those that are found tend to be rare and unique.

Heaven estimates that less than 10 per cent of the local wetlands are bogs.

Although the exact age of the forest is unknown, Ziman said it has a lot of characteristics of old growth. An old-growth forest is one that has reached a significant age with very little disturbance.

The location of the property is also important, as it sits between pockets of Crown land as well as Snowdon Park and the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, both protected.

“It enhances that block of protected land,” she said. “That’s good because it creates a large protected area [that] helps join other protected areas. It’s part of a large block of protected areas, then you have protected wildlife corridors.”

The Land Trust will be able to protect the land by ensuring it is not developed.

“One of our goals will be just to let it bed. Old growth, there’s very little left in Haliburton County. It will be nice to have that protected,” Ziman said.

Barry donated the property to the Land Trust through the Ecological Gifts Program. Through the program, properties are measured against a set of criteria to determine whether they are ecologically significant.

He and his wife, Margaret Carney, are keen birdwatchers who run the local Christmas bird count. They are also involved with their local land trust in Thickson’s Woods.

“Margaret and I feel it is critically important to ensure long-term protection for the wetland complex,” he said. “We feel that the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust is in the best position to bring this about.”

9

SMITH FOREST: UNDER THE MICROSCOPEBy Larry O’Connor

The Smith Forest, one of the crown jewels of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, was the focus of a grant from Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) earlier this year to develop a Property Management Plan and complete Species at Risk (SAR) Inventories.

These OLTA funds come from Environment Canada as a funder of the Ontario Land Trust Assistance Program. The Smith Forest, which was donated to the Land Trust on Feb. 14, 2011, is recognized as having many of the characteristics of old growth forests and supports several species at risk. This was documented for the initial transfer of ownership in the Baseline Documentation Report (BDR) but that report lacked the detail that the Land Trust needed to consider future uses of the property and ensure its protection.

The Land Trust engaged Glenside Ecological Services Limited (GES) to update and expand SAR inventories on the property, highlight key features from the BDR, conduct a conservation analysis of those features as they relate to the Land Trust’s vision and goals, and then recommend effective actions to meet those goals.

So what does that mean? Well, Paul Heaven of GES made dozens of trips to the Smith Property at many different times of the day, in different seasons during the year. He viewed the property in a canoe to look at the wetlands, taking special note of aquatic vegetation and watching for any turtle activity.

To inventory songbirds he had to be an early riser, as the peak time is between 5 and 7:30 a.m. when the birds are breeding in early June. As you might imagine, a windy or rainy day can cause further challenges to the work. This work has to be

further validated by return visits to the site at different times of the day.

To do inventories targeting certain species at risk requires walking the property multiple times. This type of inventory work needs to be carried out at different times of the year depending on the species. Understanding which species thrive at the Smith Forest helps the Land Trust monitor the health of the forest.

Once the property management plan and SAR inventories are completed, they will be presented to the Lands Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Land Trust’s board of directors. The members of the Lands Committee will review the findings and make recommendations back to the board.

The Smith Forest Management Plan, once created and approved, will become a template for use on all Land Trust properties. Going forward the Land Trust will need to ensure that budgets are developed by individual property management committees using the best information possible. This type of management plan is meant to be an action plan for the next 10 years and to guide the board in its decision-making going forward.

10

HEALTHY SPECIES MEAN HEALTHY PROPERTIESBy Sheila Ziman

A monarch butterfly flies past my window and lands on a clump of pink phlox as I sit down at my computer. My garden includes a number of flowers attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. In the spring, a honeysuckle hums with bees and quivers with the fluttering wings of eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies. During the summer, many other butterflies and moths feast on nearby wildflowers. Turtles bask on a log in a small pond near my house. Hawks soar above the hayfields.

Variety is the spice of life! Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes the variability of native species and the wealth of ecosystems that support them in Haliburton County. Our biodiversity is firmly linked with the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soils we depend upon for our food, and the lands and waters upon which we depend for our natural resources and livelihoods. The Ontario government recognizes the loss of biodiversity in Ontario and is making efforts to conserve biodiversity.

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust’s mission is to protect the natural heritage of Haliburton County for future generations. As of 2014, we own, manage and protect four properties, representing approximately 700 acres of land in the county. A shared goal for all our properties is to protect and maintain biodiversity. But how do we know we are doing that? We have chosen properties because of their ecological sensitivity: the presence of rare or at-risk species or valuable forest or wetland ecosystems. How do we measure the health of our properties?

First we need to have a good understanding of the natural heritage of each property. We have done that by establishing baseline documentation reports. Those reports map and describe the important features of each property and establish an initial inventory of flora and fauna. Our aim is to build on that base of information.

All of our properties are monitored regularly. Currently we monitor for signage, trail conditions and use. We intend to start monitoring for the ecological health of each property.

In 2012-13, the Land Trust initiated a project with U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research to develop a series of checklists for use in monitoring biodiversity on our properties. Twenty-one students from Tom Whillans’ Trent University class produced reports, checklists and support material for a variety

of bio-monitoring topics. These projects focused on monitoring aspects of biodiversity and ecological health for wetlands and forests.

In 2013-14, through our participation in a multi-year research project entitled “Community First: Impacts of Community Engagement,” the Land Trust was able to hire Jessi Dyczko, a Trent University post-graduate student, to review the initial student projects and then develop a background document, volunteer training manuals, checklists and identification guides for amphibians, dragonflies, and mammals (signs and tracks).

We chose these three topics first because they are all indicators of ecosystem health. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to environmental change because of their sensitive skins and their need to inhabit both water and land. Monitoring their populations will help provide information on the health of their habitats. Dragonflies are indicators of wetland health because they are widely distributed in these systems and are also sensitive to an array of stressors. Collecting and identifying their larval shells will help us determine numbers and species at our properties. Certain mammals are indicators of healthy forests so monitoring their presence on our properties is important.

In the summer of 2013, Chris Whittemore, Land Trust director and chair of the Dahl Forest Committee; Sheila Ziman, director and past chair of the Land Trust board; Emma Horrigan, director of U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research; and Dyczko, piloted the amphibian volunteer training manual and checklist at Dahl Forest. As a result of that visit, some revisions in the protocol for monitoring were made. Later in the summer, seven Stewardship Rangers and their leaders piloted the amphibian and dragonfly packages.

Once these checklists are finalized we will train our volunteer property monitors in their use. If looking under old rotting logs for salamanders or trying to identify tracks in the snow appeals to you, please consider becoming a volunteer Land Trust property monitor. We would love to hear from you!

After the checklists have been used and approved, the Land Trust would like to introduce them to the public for use on their own properties.

To become involved, call the Land Trust’s executive director Larry O’Connor at 705-457-3700 or email e.d@haliburtonlandtrust.ca.

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11

We love turtles. And, as it turns out, so do a lot of people in Haliburton County - and beyond!

The Problem

Study after study has shown that one of the greatest threats to turtle survival is the increasing network of roadways that cross and fragment turtle habitats. Most turtles don’t reproduce until they are 10-25 years old, so their reproductive rates are much slower than most animals. This means that every adult turtle that is killed on a roadway slows that rate of reproduction even further, and puts the species at greater risk of dying out altogether. Compound this with the number of turtles who lay their eggs on the sides of roads, leaving their nests vulnerable not only to natural depredation, but even if a nest remains undisturbed until the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are at risk of being killed on the roads, too.

In Haliburton County, five out of six turtle species indigenous to our region are considered “at-risk” by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). Our turtles are in danger. Something needs to be done.

What Can We Do About It?

With all of this in mind, the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust sought funding from the MNR to undertake our own study, this one seeking a solution to the problem. What we plan to do is install a long drift fence adjacent to existing culverts, not to prevent turtles from leaving their habitat to cross the road, but instead to guide them safely under roads. A turtle underpass, if you like.

Armed with data collected from around the county from citizens who have observed species at-risk turtles on and near roadways, wildlife biologist Paul Heaven identified 10 sites around the county where this technique could be effective. Then we put out a call for volunteers to help us gather the necessary data to narrow those ten sites down to three – one test site, and two control sites.

Citizen Science: Incredible Community Effort!

Volunteers came out in amazing numbers! People from all walks of life and all age groups – ranging from eight to 86 – year-round locals, seasonal residents and visitors alike reached out to us, and many of them offered some of their valuable time to become volunteer turtle monitors. In all, over 135 individual volunteers put in nearly 2,800 hours of volunteer time in all kinds of weather, through the height of black fly season, rain or shine, seven days a week, for two months. This is an incredible level of volunteer dedication, and we were amazed and humbled to see how many people cared enough to step up and help out with this important study.

What’s Next?

The next phase of the project involves installation of the drift fencing at our selected site, and then we monitor our three remaining sites again for the next two springs to see how the turtles respond. If our observations demonstrate that this mitigation method is effective at preventing turtles from being killed on our roads, this helps to build the case for rolling out similar mitigation methods across the county, throughout Ontario and beyond.

12

MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER FOR TURTLESBy Heather Deveaux

13

On Being a Turtle Monitor:

“I’ve really enjoyed this and learned a lot. I now tell people at cocktail parties I can ‘sex’ turtles and they never fail to be impressed.” – Catherine Swift

“We have really enjoyed our turtle monitoring duties. It has been a learning experience. Thanks to you and all of the volunteers. You’ve really raised the profile of the Land Trust. We are quite proud to have played a small part in such a great initiative.” – Mac and Carolyn Ellis

Comments From the Community

“I can’t seem to drive home anymore and not find a turtle! I have never stopped to pick up a turtle before and this is two in one week. Yesterday another woman beat me to one as I drove home (I was glad because it looked like a snapper) and an EA in our room also stopped for a snapping turtle yesterday on her way home to Wilberforce. Kudos for the great public awareness campaign!” – Mary Longo

“Thank you to [everyone] for doing a super job and isn’t that terrific that there has been less turtle mortality this year ... I must admit I hardly saw any - alive or dead on the roads.” – Wendy Hampson

NOTES FROM THE FIELD A Turtle Monitor Story

By Karen Oster

Day 2 (virgin naturalist): Perhaps excited and envious about my experiences of the preceding evening, Ray joined me last evening. Having just set up, a woman pulled up in her car, asked if we were “doing turtles.” “Yes ...,” I replied. “Well, there is one down the road ...,” she said, pointing.Sure we thought. It’s a joke or a test for our first naturalist badge.But after using the binoculars, there it was, closer to the other stake ... we ran. It didn’t.OMG ... We were not five minutes into our watch and we get a snapping turtle on the side of the road. We waited; so did it. We spoke softly; it did not. Just looked at us. Did not attempt to cross the road or go back ... but he was pointed across the road. We took out our calipers, (he did not appreciate being measured), we waited, so did it ... still pointing across the road ... hmmm so ...After consulting the Guide, we picked him up at the back of his shell and carried him across the road safely. You would have thought he would be grateful but I think he would have preferred to go it alone. He peed as we carried him safely across the road. As we put him down, carefully putting him in the same orientation from which he came, he demonstrated his thanks by opening his very pink mouth wide, attempting to snap Ray’s rubber-booted toes.With one look back at us, he slid easily down the slope, nary a word of thanks or nod of appreciation.For us, it was amazing. Bird sounds. I have never seen such a huge beaver installation ... lots of frogs ... (and way too much garbage strewn along the road). Experience was awesome ... close and oh so personal.

I STOP FOR TURTLES

Wildlife biologist Paul Heaven, left, and U-Links director Emma Horrigan join

University of Toronto master’s student Robert Liveanu on the side of County

Road 21. Liveanu was one of several local turtle monitors.

Phot

o by

Mar

k A

rike

/The

Hig

hlan

der

14

A FRIENDLY ENCOUNTER WITH A SNAPPERBy Mark Arike

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Snapping turtles often get a bad rap for being mean and nasty creatures, but as Dianne Mathes discovered, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Nine years ago, the current chair of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust was out by the lake when she had her very first close encounter with a member of the turtle species.

“I was probably as nervous as the average person is,” recalled Mathes, who was living in Bancroft at the time.

Mathes was out for her first swim of the summer when she felt something nibbling on her toe.

“Of course I freaked, and got very scared and swam to the dock,” she said.

Mathes believes the snapper was attracted to her silver toe ring, so she removed it and continued swimming. It wasn’t until a month later that she came across the turtle on the morning of her 50th birthday.

“I suddenly noticed that my youngest dog ... was batting at something in the water. I went over and I looked and there was a snapping turtle again. It was huge,” she said.

Surprisingly, the two were engaged in a friendly encounter. The turtle showed no signs of aggressiveness toward Mathes’ dog.

“It’s not snapping and it’s obviously not scared, it’s just sort of there playing. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s sort of different.”

The massive turtle hung around for four days and behaved as if it were a family pet.

“She was completely friendly,” said Mathes, adding that she would feed the turtle and talk to it.

“I came to quite like her.”

The experience completely changed her outlook on snapping turtles.

“My whole reaction to them is different now. I just get really

quiet, I get really still and wait to see what they’ll do.”

Snappers usually aren’t aggressive toward humans unless they are provoked or feel threatened when an encounter takes place on land. They will only snap if absolutely necessary.

Even though her encounter was a positive experience, Mathes recommends to always put safety first and remain calm.

“I think sometimes we just don’t take the time to notice what’s actually going on. We just go into our fear and assumptions, and we don’t really pay attention to what’s happening.”

The snapping turtle is currently categorized as a species of Special Concern both federally and provincially. The species is Haliburton County’s largest freshwater turtle.

15

MANY REWARDS FOR LAND TRUST VOLUNTEERBy Simon Payn

Sometimes it’s the people who are just as important as the wildlife.

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust volunteer Gus Janca spent about 60 hours this past spring walking up and down a section of Gelert Road in a bright orange vest, monitoring turtles.

“I hadn’t considered that people driving by would be as supportive as they were because every session I would have people stop and chat, and a lot of people driving by would give me a thumbs up,” he says.

People really appreciated the Land Trust running the turtle monitoring program.

“We would have people who stopped and told you about their turtle sightings. It made me feel that these people were really buying into the program. They were showing that they were interested in turtles in general and the Land Trust monitoring in particular,” he says.

Janca was one of more than 100 volunteers who took part in the first part of the study, which aims to reduce the number of turtles that die on our roads.

Spending three hours a day for 20 or so days, Janca got to know the local wildlife. He saw two water snakes mating, a bittern, and had a few regular encounters with the nearby wetland’s residents.

“There was a beaver who was quite insistent that it was his territory. At certain times it would swim back and forth through the culvert, and one day it came right out of the pond to eat some vegetation. It wasn’t concerned with me at all and I got fairly close for some pictures.”

Spending time outdoors was one reason why Janca and his wife, Izabel, moved to their home in the Scotts Dam area of Minden Hills permanently 10 years ago, after retiring as

teachers in Oshawa.

With the Land Trust, Janca’s first major activity was as a volunteer monitor at Dahl Forest, the organization’s popular 500 acre nature reserve.

Janca says the Land Trust is doing some very important things: protecting the land, protecting species and providing education.

“I would like to have some of this wonderful stuff around for generations to come. I think we have seen enough in the world where mankind has destroyed things,” he says.

Janca believes that there is still quite a bit of land to protect in Haliburton County.

“A lot of our areas have not been developed – they haven’t been changed or destroyed. Certainly some of that has gone on here but not to the extent of further south,” he says.

As a former elementary school teacher, Janca knows the importance of education.

“I can see that environmental programs make a very big impact on children and I think that as with most things, if material is learned early, it has the biggest effect on a person’s life.”

But volunteering for the Land Trust needn’t be just about protecting the landscape and its wildlife. It can also be a pleasure.

As a monitor at Dahl Forest, Janca takes the opportunity to go on a hike and watch the seasons changing.

“In the spring you notice the leaves coming out and the vegetation coming up from the forest floor, and of course in the fall you are seeing the leaves change.”

And for anyone who is thinking of becoming a volunteer?

Janca suggests they call the Land Trust office and talk to them.

“You’ll find the experience rewarding,” he says.

“There are a number of areas that you could volunteer in – it doesn’t have to involve outdoor activities … It helps one develop a sense of community.”

But perhaps most importantly, as Janca says, when volunteering for the Land Trust you know you are doing something important.

18

2010 ENVIRO-HEROHealthHaliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS)In 2007, the Haliburton Highlands Health Services board’s Sustainability Committee received board approval to proceed with an energy audit. �eir goal: to discover a green energy alternative for heating and cooling, and hopefully free up operating dollars from fossil fuels and direct those funds to patient care. �e HHHS manager of Environmental Services, Peter Fearrey, developed an RFP and worked with the applicants. In the end, a company was selected to carry out the audit and make recommendations. Recently the hospital board gave the go-ahead for the installation of geo-thermal heating/cooling systems at both the Minden and Haliburton sites. It is expected that HHHS will see immediate results upon installation with an expectation of substantial financial savings over the long term. Equally important, HHHS anticipates that it will greatly reduce its environmental footprint. It has shown impressive environmental leadership in our community and beyond.

Jane and Bob HeyesJane and Bob Heyes are enthusiastic supporters of healthy, active living in the natural environment. �rough the Jackrabbit ski program of the Haliburton Highlands Cross Country Ski Club, they introduce children and youth to cross country skiing. Jane has coordinated the activities for 20 years and Bob is involved in ski trail development and maintenance in Glebe Park.As volunteers, Bob and Jane handle registration and promotion, find instructors, build obstacle courses, and of course, provide hot chocolate! By recruiting volunteer instructors and organizing good quality equipment for low-cost rentals, they keep this healthy activity accessible and affordable. Bob’s and Jane’s Saturdays in January and February are devoted to running a program that gives children and youth important skills in a fun and positive way. Proof of their success is in the numbers. Year after year, the Haliburton Jackrabbit program is one of the largest in Ontario.

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Kawagama Lake

Gull Lake

Kennisis Lake

Eels Lake

Drag Lake

RedstoneLake

ElephantLake

Tea Creek

Haliburton Lake

Hay Lake

Madawaska River

Kushog Lake

Halls LakePercy

Lake

RavenLake

Boshkung Lake

Lake of Bays

Louisa Creek

Upper Paudash

Lake

Red Pine Lake

Soyers Lake

Maple Lake

Tea Creek

Bob Lake

Koshlong Lake

BigHawk Lake

MooseLake

Farquhar Lake

Eagle Lake

Lower Paudash Lake

Loon Lake

Esson Lake

St. Nora Lake

MountainLake

GalipoRiver

Little Hawk

Lake

Twelve Mile Lake

Fletcher Lake

Grace Lake

Fishtail Lake

Horseshoe Lake

Deer Lake

Madawaska River

Sherborne Lake

Canning Lake

Miskwabi Lake

Kimball Lake

Glamor Lake

BarkLake

Galipo River South Madawaska

River

Oxtongue Lake

White Lake

BigTroutLake

Moore Lake

Kingscote Lake

CleanLake

HavelockLake

Little Redstone Lake

Tock Lake

Kennibik Lake

CauliflowerLake

Centre Lake

South Madawaska River

Beech Lake

Salerno Lake

Little Kennisis Lake

Pine Lake

ClintoLake

CrownLake

LivingstonLake

Green Lake

Monck Lake

Johnson Lake

Diamond Lake

Contau Lake

Silent Lake

Big East Lake

Kelly Lake

Spruce Lake

Marsden Lake

Davis Lake

York River

Benoir Lake

Hay Creek

Burnt

River

RockawayLake

Madawaska River

Crotchet Lake

Macdonald Lake

BillingsLake

SouthMadawaskaRiver

Wildcat Lake

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Stormy Lake

Pinetree Lake

Irondale River

Nunikani Lake

Head Creek

Troutspawn Lake

Little Boshkung Lake

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Head Creek

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Hay Creek

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PARK

PROVINCIALHALIBURTON FORESTAND WILDLIFE RESERVE

Kashaga

wigamog

L

ake

Haliburton

SILENT LAKEPROVINCIAL PARK

ALGONQUIN

DYSART ET AL

MINDEN HILLS

ALGONQUIN HIGHLANDS

HIGHLANDS EAST

County of Haliburton10 0 105 km

LegendRoads

Highway

County Road

Township Road

Private Road

Forest Access Road

Water Access Road

Rivers

Lakes

Provincial Park

Designed and Produced by the County of Haliburton - Sources: Ministry of Natural Resources - County of Haliburton

Copyright by the County of Haliburton, Minden, Ontario, 2014.This publication may not be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without written permission.

Published by the County of Haliburton, 2014.

Boundary

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Dahl Forest

Barry Wetland

Norah’s Island

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Contours

Rivers

Concession Road

Dahl Forest Access Road

Roads

Lake/River

Forested

Wetland

Open Area

Trail Area

Preservation Area

• All dogs must be leashed. Please clean up after them• The property and trails are for day use only.• Overnight camping, fires, motorized vehicles and hunting are prohibited.• Please do not harvest, harm or harass flora and fauna.• There are private residence buildings on the property. Please take care to avoid disturbing people or property. Use of the bridge is prohibited.

DahlForest

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust

Owned and managed by the

Rules of Use and Enjoyment

Enjoy your visit to Dahl Forest.

Please follow the rules of usebelow to preserve the property's ecosystems and ensure the safety of all visitors.

Dahl Forest TrailsRed Squirrel Creek Trail

Old Farmstead Trail

Black Rock Rapids Trail

Big Bend Trail Loop

Ridge Trail Loop

North Road Trail

River View Trail

Haliburton Highlands Land TrustPO Box 792Minden, ON

K0M 2K0info@haliburtonlandtrust.cawww.haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Donations welcome!

This map uses the Ontario Base Map data and is illustrative only. Do not rely on it as being a precise indicator of routes, locations of features, nor as a guide for navigation.

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92 m111 m

102 m

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za R

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²0 100 200 30050Metres

Legend!( Distance Nodes

" Buildings

!Õ Trailhead

!] Gate and Information

Contours

Rivers

Concession Road

Dahl Forest Access Road

Roads

Lake/River

Forested

Wetland

Open Area

Trail Area

Preservation Area

• All dogs must be leashed. Please clean up after them• The property and trails are for day use only.• Overnight camping, fires, motorized vehicles and hunting are prohibited.• Please do not harvest, harm or harass flora and fauna.• There are private residence buildings on the property. Please take care to avoid disturbing people or property. Use of the bridge is prohibited.

DahlForest

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust

Owned and managed by the

Rules of Use and Enjoyment

Enjoy your visit to Dahl Forest.

Please follow the rules of usebelow to preserve the property's ecosystems and ensure the safety of all visitors.

Dahl Forest TrailsRed Squirrel Creek Trail

Old Farmstead Trail

Black Rock Rapids Trail

Big Bend Trail Loop

Ridge Trail Loop

North Road Trail

River View Trail

Haliburton Highlands Land TrustPO Box 792Minden, ON

K0M 2K0info@haliburtonlandtrust.cawww.haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Donations welcome!

This map uses the Ontario Base Map data and is illustrative only. Do not rely on it as being a precise indicator of routes, locations of features, nor as a guide for navigation.

Dahl Forest

Smith Forest

The Land Trust currently owns and manages these four properties, each of which require active monitoring to ensure proper property use, active habitat protection, and to guard against invasive species.

THE LAND TRUST’S PROPERTIES

17

18

YOUTH RANGERS MAKE A DIFFERENCEBy Emily Turner

Working in the outdoors is a wonderful opportunity for any teenager looking for a summer job, an opportunity offered in 2014 by the Ministry of Natural Resources through the Stewardship Youth Ranger (SYR) program.

Targeting youth in the summer between grades 11 and 12, the SYR program aims to provide both work and education that will expose local youth to opportunities for working, volunteering and being in the outdoors while fostering a sense of environmental stewardship in their everyday lives. It is an eight-week program that runs throughout July and August and hires youth from the local community to work in their own and surrounding areas. There are over 40 teams throughout the province, working in all regions with MNR district offices, Ontario Parks and external partners.

For the past two years, there has been a SYR team based at Balsam Lake Provincial Park, near Kirkfield, which, each summer, employs four youths from northern Kawartha

Lakes who work in both Ontario Parks and surrounding communities doing jobs as diverse as data collection to clearing trails. This year, the team completed a significant number of work projects in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, as well as with several community organizations, including the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust.

The ranger team was able to participate in two projects organized by the Land Trust on two separate properties in Haliburton County: a biodiversity survey in the Dahl Forest and a cleanup of Norah’s Island on Kennisis Lake. Through these projects, the rangers not only learned about the role of land trusts in fostering land stewardship and the unique properties that the Land Trust manages, but they were able to apply skills learned throughout the summer to assist the Land Trust with the work it does.

Through exposure to Land Trust properties, the rangers were introduced to the concept of a land trust and the conservation efforts these organizations undertake.

Native Plants Organics Fresh Flowers Open Year Round

HELP US IN OUR WORK

Membership

Help protect the land you love and become a member today!

By becoming a member, you take a direct role in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of our community by providing the Land Trust with a dependable source of funding. This allows us to take on new projects and develop innovative approaches to land and water conservation, environmental education, healthy outdoor activity, nature appreciation and promote the significant economic value of the environment in the Haliburton Highlands.

Our Members Receive Distinct Benefits – You:

• are eligible to vote at our annual general meeting (AGM)

• become part of your community’s efforts to protect its natural and cultural heritage

• can participate in land conservation projects as they take shape

• can be part of a property management team

• feel a sense of pride and ownership as the future of special natural areas is secured

• will be recognized in the Land Trust’s newsletter

Donations

The Land Trust happily accepts monetary donations as well as gifts-in-kind from individuals, families, businesses, charities, not-for-profit and corporate organizations. Donations and gifts-in-kind over $30 will receive a charitable tax receipt. Monetary donations can be general or directed, as well as donated in memoriam or celebration.

Special Occasion Gifts

Donations in recognition of a special occasion or anniversary are commemorated with personalized cards from the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. Donations “in name” are an excellent way to recognize a person’s commitment to environmental conservation. Recognition of the recipient will also be reflected in the Land Trust’s bi-monthly newsletter.

19

The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust is a charitable organization committed to protecting the natural heritage of Haliburton County for future generations and ensuring a legacy of forests, fields and wetlands and the species that are nurtured there.

The Land Trust works to achieve our mission through land acquisition and protection, identification of significant lands and waters of natural or cultural value, support for stewardship planning of privately owned natural areas, and education and outreach about Haliburton’s environment.

Our goal is to protect the plants, wildlife and clean water of Haliburton County. We do this by working with our community – year-round and seasonal residents, governments, businesses and non-profit organizations – to identify, manage and research areas of interest.

Inspired and committed volunteers, members and donors give time and money to support the mission of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. Because of their generosity, the Land Trust, as of 2012, protects and stewards approximately 600 acres (240 hectares) of land.

Our Mission

Sign up for the newsletter at www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Get Informed!

Membership

Join the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust today!

By becoming a member, you take a direct role in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of our community by providing the Land Trust with a dependable source of funding. This allows us to take on new projects and develop innovative approaches to land and water conservation, environmental education, healthy outdoor activity, nature appreciation and promote the significant economic value of the environment in the Haliburton Highlands.

It’s your donations and membership fees that make the Land Trust’s work possible!

Our Members Receive Distinct Benefits – You:

• are eligible to vote at our annual general meeting (AGM)

• become part of your community’s efforts to protect its natural and cultural heritage

• can participate in land conservation projects as they take shape

• can be part of a property management team

• feel a sense of pride and ownership as the future of special natural areas is secured

• will be recognized in the Land Trust’s newsletter

Get Involved!

Donations The Land Trust happily accepts monetary donations as well as gifts-in-kind from individuals, families, businesses, charities, not-for-profit and corporate organizations. Donations and gifts-in-kind over $30 will receive a charitable tax receipt. Monetary donations can be general or directed (e.g. program funding, stewardship funds) as well as donated in memoriam or celebration (e.g. birthdays, special occasions).

Special Occasion GiftsDonations in recognition of a birthday, anniversary, milestones, and special occasions are commemorated with personalized cards from the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. Donations “in name” are an excellent way to recognize a person’s commitment to environmental conservation. Recognition of the recipient will also be reflected in the Land Trust’s bi-monthly newsletter.

Legacy GivingLegacy giving is a powerful and enduring option that will enable the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust to carry out your wishes beyond your lifetime. A thoughtful and caring gesture that says you value Haliburton’s natural heritage, your gift creates a living legacy for the community and the environment.

By remembering us in your annual giving, insurance policy or your will, you help us build a solid financial base for the future. That allows us to focus on what we do best - protecting the special natural features of this region.

Get Invested!

Informed! Involved! Invested!

Membership Complete and detach to submit with your cheque.

Name:

Address:

City Postal Code:

Telephone:

Email:

❏ Please keep me informed of Land Trust news by email.

Annual Membership Levels

Individuals/Family Members ❏ Individual $30

❏ Family (2 or more) $25 each

❏ Highlands Guardian $100 to $249

❏ Highlands Steward $250 to $499

❏ Highlands Champion $500 to $999 Lifetime Individual/Family Members

❏ Highlands Forever $1000 or more

Corporate Members ❏ Constant Sugar Maple $100 to $249

❏ Sturdy Golden Birch $250 to $299

❏ Great Red Oak $300 to $499

❏ Stately Red Pine $500 to $999 Lifetime Corporate Member

❏ Majestic White Pine $1000 or more

HST included.

Make payment online at www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca or call 705.457.3700

HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST

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$30-99:

Member

$100-499:

Highlands Guardian Member

$500+:

Highlands Champion Member

* HST included.

HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust

Get Informed!Get Involved! Get Invested!

Your generosity allows the Land Trust to prepare for future conservation and land acquisition programs, and have the funds to carry out our mission of protecting the natural heritage of Haliburton County for future generations.

Land DonorsBecome a partner in protecting nature for the long term. Donating your land to the Land Trust will ensure it will be protected forever. We are a qualified recipient agency under the Federal Ecological Gifts Program. Donations of ecologically sensitive land are exempt from capital gains tax – and you receive a charitable tax receipt for the full market value of your property.

GovernanceThe Land Trust is always looking for individuals looking to contribute to our organizational capacity to carry out our mission while growing the Land Trust for the future. Consider joining the board of directors and/or a committee: Communications and Membership, Finance, Fundraising and Grants, Land Acquisition, Governance and Nominations, and Land Stewardship. We always have room for another helping hand!

EducationThe Land Trust regularly promotes and delivers educational programming via workshops, information sessions and presentations. Volunteers with an interest and/or background in environmental education are more than welcome to assist in and/or propose educational outreach initiatives to promote land conservation and the benefits of a healthy environment.

Legacy Giving cont’d StewardshipInspired and committed volunteers, members and donors give time and money to support protecting and identifying significant lands and waters of natural or cultural value in Haliburton County. Because of their generosity, the Land Trust protects and stewards approximately 600 acres of land.

These properties each require active monitoring to assess trail and signage repair or replacement needs, ensure proper property use, oversee active habitat protection and to guard against invasive species. Get involved! Enjoy the natural environment and become a nature reserve monitor today. Get invested! Make a donation to the Stewardship Fund.

VolunteerAs a volunteer, you can play a hands-on role in a wide range of Land Trust projects. The Land Trust relies on the kindness and support of volunteers to successfully plan, promote and present events that raise the profile of the Land Trust, encourage donations and support, and spread the word about the importance of land conservation. Volunteers can assist with event planning, set-up, take-down, event promotion and event support. Events include Wild About Nature – our annual fundraising dinner and auction – frequent outdoor walks, interpretive events at Dahl Forest, and other educational workshops and healthy outdoor events. Check out our website for an up-to-date list of what’s happening.

For more information please visit:

www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca Haliburton Highlands Land Trust P.O. Box 1478, 739 Mountain Street Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0

T. 705.457.3700 Email: admin@haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Donations Donations can be made at any level.

Tax receipts are issued for donations over $30.

Get Invested!Contact us for information about how to make monthly donations, legacy giving, bequests or tribute gifts. admin@haliburtonlandtrust.ca 705.457.3700 Make cheques payable and mail to: Haliburton Highlands Land Trust,P.O. Box 1478, 739 Mountain Street, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0

or make payment online at www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca Members have one vote at the next Annual General Meeting.

Get Informed!Visit www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca

Receive our newsletter and advance notice of special events and workshops.

Get Involved!Yes, I want to volunteer and could help with:

❏ Governance

❏ Events

❏ Stewardship

❏ Education

Specifically, I am willing to:

Charitable DonationNumber 852004233RR0001

Protecting the land we love for future generations

HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUSTHALIBURTON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST

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GIVING IT ALL AWAY

When we meet someone new, every so often the conversation turns to where we live.

Me: “I live on the Burnt River south of Minden ... in the middle of a 500-acre forest property.”

Stranger: “Wow, that must be wonderful! How did you come to own so much land?”

Me: “It is a beautiful place. But we don’t own it anymore. We gave it away to the Land Trust.”

Stranger: “Really ?! ... uh ... gee, that was a nice thing to do.”

At this point the stranger backs away slightly, not wishing to catch what I have.

I try to explain: “It wasn’t such a hard decision to make. My family owned the land for over 50 years and I know every rock and tree on the property. We’ve kept it as a nature reserve all that time and we truly love the place. We could never sell it. If we did it could end up as a cottage development or a motocross park! We agreed that we wanted it to stay as it is, and see it enjoyed by others just like we’ve enjoyed it ... forever.”

Some people understand. Many others don’t.

Only those who love the natural world, and especially those who have come to love a particular piece of it, can understand why you would give away valuable property. For most of us, real estate is a financial investment that can easily be converted to cash; but for some people a property can hold a deep personal attachment that transcends dollars and cents.

For many it surely is not an easy decision. There are plenty of obstacles and uncertainties. Some members of the family might not share your feelings for the land. If you live (or cottage) on the property there may be worries about owning and maintaining the buildings. How do you know the organization you’re donating to will fully respect your wishes? What would happen if they ceased to exist? How long is ‘forever’?

These questions and concerns are all part of the donation process and they all have answers. For some, donating vacant land is a fairly simple process. For others, like my family, the procedure was more complex.

But at the end, there is an intense satisfaction knowing something important has been done. A woodland that my family has nurtured throughout my life will continue to survive and thrive in peace - enjoyed by others - for all time.

Note: Peter would be happy to discuss his experiences with anyone thinking about making a land donation. He can be reached by email at peter@dahlforest.ca.

By Peter Dahl

Terry CarrSales Representative

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With approximately 50,000 books, magazines and DVD offerings, the Haliburton County Public Library provides public library services through eight active branch locations within the Haliburton Highlands.

Visit www.haliburtonlibrary.ca for branch hours and other information as well as 24

hour access to databases and downloadable collections

Branch locations in The Highlands include Cardiff, Dorset, Haliburton, Gooderham,

Highland Grove, Minden, Stanhope and Wilberforce.

Our branches also offer public access computers, free wireless internet and more than 80 databases and online resources, downloadable audio and e-books and more.

Eight Branches in the Haliburton HighlandsTo Serve You!

705-457-2241