This year, Long Point Basin Land Trust (LPBLT) proudly marks a significant milestone: 30 years of land conservation and stewardship across one of Ontario’s most ecologically important regions. Since our incorporation in 1996, LPBLT has grown from a small group of dedicated conservationists to a well-respected charitable land trust with an enduring legacy of protecting habitat, partnering with landowners, and connecting people to nature.
Throughout 2026, we’ll also be sharing special features and memories that celebrate the dedication, passion, and achievements of the people and projects that have shaped LPBLT over the past 30 years.
Our Journey
Three decades ago, LPBLT was founded by a small group of dedicated naturalists with a clear vision: to protect the rich biodiversity and habitats of the Long Point Basin area forever. As a charitable, not-for-profit land trust, we work closely with willing landowners, volunteers, partners, and supporters to safeguard natural areas for wildlife and people alike.
Our first conserved nature reserve, the Jackson-Gunn Old-Growth Forest, was conserved in 2004. Since then, the Land Trust has protected 18 nature reserves spanning over 1,262 acres / 510 hectares of forests, wetlands, oak savannas, and other critical habitat types that support a remarkable diversity of species.
Today, LPBLT continues this legacy: preserving landscapes that provide sanctuary to wildlife, protect water resources, and offer opportunities for community members to explore and connect with nature.
What We’ve Accomplished Together
Over the past 30 years, LPBLT’s work has helped:
-
Establish and nurture a network of protected nature reserves, supporting a variety of habitats and species to thrive.
- Provide opportunities for the public to experience and connect with nature, through low-impact activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and guided walks.
-
Protect habitat for species at risk, including through targeted restoration and stewardship work on lands such as Spring Arbour Farm and other key reserves.
-
Engage volunteers and community members in stewardship activities like invasive species removal, habitat enhancement, species monitoring.
-
Grow conservation success through partnerships and innovative projects that expand the reach and impact of land protection.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our many donors, the dedication of volunteers, and the support of landowners and partner organizations who have supported our work.
Looking Ahead to the Next 30 Years
As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to what lies ahead. The Long Point Basin remains a globally significant ecological region, hosting a wide variety of plant and animal life within the Carolinian Zone. But the challenges that come with habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change mean that our work is as important today as it was in 1996.
Thank You for Being Part of the Story
To everyone who has supported LPBLT over the past 30 years: thank you. Your passion for nature and commitment to conservation have made a lasting difference for wildlife and communities in the Long Point Basin!
Here’s to 30 years of protecting what matters most — and to the many more years to come.
Looking Ahead to the Next 30 Years
As we celebrate this milestone, we also look ahead to what lies beyond it. The Long Point Basin remains a globally significant ecological region, home to an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life within the Carolinian Zone. At the same time, ongoing pressures from habitat loss and invasive species to climate change, mean that our work is as vital today as it was in 1996.
Protecting these landscapes for future generations will require continued care, collaboration, and community support.
Thank You for Being Part of the Story
To everyone who has supported Long Point Basin Land Trust over the past 30 years: thank you! Your passion for nature and commitment to conservation have made a lasting difference for wildlife and communities across the Long Point Basin.
As we mark this anniversary, we invite you to be part of what comes next – whether as a donor, volunteer, land steward, or advocate for conservation.
Get involved and help shape the next 30 years:
https://longpointlandtrust.ca/get-involved
