Protecting Natural Areas and Counteracting Climat Change

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s leading nature conservation organization. As a private, non-profit organization, it works with individuals, corporations, foundations, Indigenous communities in Canada, other non-profit organizations, and governments at all levels to protect Canada’s most valuable natural treasures – pristine areas that preserve Canada’s wildlife and vegetation. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have protected 15 million hectares of land.

Recognizing the need to engage in environmental protection activities, the Tree and Tomorrow Foundation (TTF) has financially supported projects to purchase valuable natural areas located in the province of Ontario. The forest and wetlands areas located there are crucial for preserving the planet’s biodiversity and slowing down global climate change.

In 2026, the Tree and Tomorrow Foundation made its most significant major financial commitment to the protection of ecologically significant areas, supporting the conservation of the Kabenung Lakes and Forests in northern Ontario. This initiative builds on our ongoing support for Boreal Wildlands, the largest privately led conservation project in Canadian history. Spanning 8,142 hectares, the Kabenung Lakes and Forests encompass 6,445 hectares of forests, 1,666 hectares of lakes, and 31 hectares of wetlands, as well as more than 45 kilometres of rivers. Together, these ecosystems provide valuable habitat for numerous species of migratory birds and mammals. Protecting the Kabenung property represents an important step toward mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity.

In 2025, the Foundation supported the protection of additional valuable natural habitats by contributing to the purchase of an 20 hectares of Baptist Harbour habitat, located on the Saugeen Peninsula in Ontario. These sites are located within the Cape Hurd–Baptist Harbour Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), on the edge of the Barney Lake wetland complex. They also include a section of undeveloped Lake Huron shoreline. Baptist Harbour is an area of exceptional biodiversity – its preserved forests, alvars, and wetlands provide habitat for many rare and endangered plant and animal species, support more than 230 bird species, and protect delicate water systems that filter water flowing into Lake Huron.

Also in 2025, the Foundation continued its support for the protection of valuable natural areas by co-financing the purchase of Hay Island – a 1,187-hectare island located on Lake of the Woods in northwestern Ontario, in a region connecting vast natural areas of Canada and the United States (Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota). The island is located at the intersection of three ecologically significant ecosystems and includes valuable old-growth forests, rocky shorelines, and wetlands that provide important habitats for mammals (black bears, moose), fish, and migratory birds. Protecting these areas enhances natural carbon sequestration and helps connect existing protected areas in the Lake of the Woods region, thus supporting biodiversity conservation and strengthening ecosystem resilience to climate change.

In 2023, the Foundation provided financial support for the purchase of the Hastings Wildlife Junction property. It comprises over 10,000 hectares of forest and wetlands located south of Bancroft, Ontario. Protecting these areas is particularly important for the ecosystem, including for maintaining water quality for both aquatic organisms and local communities. It provides habitat for many animals, including wolves, black bears, moose, martens, and several species of rare birds and turtles. Hastings Wildlife Junction plays an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change and addressing biodiversity loss. The carbon sequestration benefits of these areas help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

In 2022, financial support from the TTF contributed to the purchase of the Boreal Wildlands area. The coniferous forests, marshes, and peat bogs in this area help sequester carbon dioxide from global emissions. In practice, they store the equivalent of CO2 emitted by 3 million cars over their entire lifespan. They also provide habitat for a wide range of species, including bears, moose, wolves, lynx, caribou, and more than 300 species of birds. Without adequate protection, these untouched areas could have been subject to industrial development, to the detriment of Canada, the planet, and humanity as a whole.

Protecting valuable natural areas is one of the most pressing needs and challenges related to the ongoing degradation of the natural environment on a global scale, as well as the resulting loss of biodiversity and accelerating climate change. The Tree and Tomorrow Foundation is proud to be part of these environmental protection efforts.