Natural Heritage Woodlands

The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) owns and manages approximately 470 ha (11,625 acres) of which, almost 3845 ha (9500 acres) is forestlands. The LRPCA watershed lies within the heart of the Carolinian Forest Zone, and contains some of the most significant tracts of Carolinian forest. In 1999, a 20-year forest management plan was approved. One of the recommendations of this plan was to establish forestlands, (in addition to Backus Woods) under a special protected category. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) helped guide the LPRCA in undertaking an ecological and physical inventory to find the properties that would be designated as Natural Heritage Woodlands (NHW). In December 2002, the LPRCA designated a total of 1,933 acres (eleven tracts) representing 20% of its 9,500 acres of forest holdings to an natural heritage strategy, now set aside for protecting rare and unique environments. Criteria for the selection and designation of the eleven NHW were determined through examining three categories Size & Shape (i.e. Interior area), Ecological Considerations (i.e. Hydrologic features) and Species/Landform Representation (i.e. Carolinian Species).