“There is so much beautiful natural cover of things like wetlands, undeveloped rivers and rapids. Amazing forests that sort of stretch on for kilometres. And we’ve seen so much evidence of and had direct encounters with wildlife out there. It really is a haven for wildlife.”
Hastings Wildlife Junction. (Photo: submitted/Nature Conservancy of Canada, Chelsea Marcantonio)
The land will be available for public day use like hiking, bird watching and cross country skiing.
“So we’re gonna be undertaking a detailed assessment to figure out where are the sensitive areas that we maybe don’t want to have a trail through, and then where are some of those spots where we can direct you to those incredible rapids along the Crowe River, see vast landscapes, the incredible numbers of wildlife out there.”
Hastings Wildlife Junction. (Photo: submitted/Nature Conservancy of Canada)
Ferguson says the land has been donated by Land’escapes, a company that has plans to operate a private conservation area on an adjacent 26,000 acres.
“The total project costs are around $13 million. We count the donation that the landowner’s making towards our fundraising goal, so that got us really far along. Then we have incredible donors already stepping up to make pledges to help us clear that last 20%, that last, about $3 million.”
Hastings Wildlife Junction. (Photo: submitted/Nature Conservancy of Canada, Chelsea Marcantonio)
