Ontario’s first new conservation reserve in over 10 years is coming to Prince Edward County.
The announcement of the creation of the Monarch Point Conservation Reserve was made at a press event in Point Petre in the County.
In a release, Ontario says the new conservation reserve will protect nearly 4,000 acres along the south shores of Prince Edward County, nearly five times the size of the Toronto Islands.
“We’re facing global challenge but local action. The likes of what we are witnessing today can and will make a difference,” said Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Northumberland–Peterborough South MPP David Piccini in a speech.
“The creation of this conservation reserve is a tremendous achievement for the South Shore Joint Initiative and the many partners, most of whom are gathered here today. On behalf of the County of Prince Edward and our municipal council, congratulations to all of volunteers who worked so hard to make this day a reality.”
MPP David Piccini joined by Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson, president of the South Shore Joint Initiative and councillor for South Marysburg John Hirsch, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith, and Central Ontario Program Manager of the National Conservancy of Canada Mark Stabb. July 31, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
The name for the newest conservation reserve comes from the monarch butterfly, with the site recognized as an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve.
Designation of the conservation reserve will help provide a habitat for a range of species including the at-risk monarch butterfly, migratory birds, reptiles and plants.
Opportunities for the community will still be available to enjoy the area which will include hiking and bird watching.
President of the South Shore Joint Initiative and councillor for South Marysburg John Hirsch says it’s a long time coming for this designation to take place.
“It is a complex process the public might not appreciate … identifying these 4000 acres as a potential conservation reserve,” Hirsch tells Quinte News.
“They had to do ecological studies with biologists to prove the value for purposes of efficiently designating it, so that all took some time and the Nature Conservancy can help with that work. So it’s a process, it takes a long time. You have to have patience and we did.”
The next step will be to set up a management plan to determine the full uses for the area which will include a public consultation process that is expected to launch sometime in late August.
Hirsch says he is under the impression it might take several years to have a management plan established.
“We’re told it usually takes about two years to finalize the management plan,” Hirsch tells Quinte News.
“Certainly in terms of the Social Joint Initiative, we intend to be a partner with Ontario Parks in working on that over the next little while.”
Point Petre on the south shores of Prince Edward County. July 31, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
