On March 9, Ontario Nature announced the acquisition of the 26.7-hectare (66-acre) Sauble Dunes North property, a critical coastal habitat along Lake Huron’s shoreline. This purchase permanently expands the organization’s Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve to a total of 77.78 hectares (192 acres), strengthening an ecological corridor in the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula that connects to adjacent natural areas including Chiefs Point Wetland, Sauble Falls Provincial Park, county forests and other protected properties within the Sauble Falls North Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).
The property consists of fragile coastal dunes, wetland marshes, forested swales and treed swamps shaped by post-glacial processes, forming a globally rare ecosystem that was previously owned by a developer and zoned for rural development, facing imminent threats from residential and road construction.
It provides essential habitats for 24 species at risk, including eastern whip-poor-will (special concern), Canada warbler (special concern), eastern ribbonsnake (special concern), monarch butterfly (endangered), wood thrush (threatened) and black ash (threatened). It also inhabits more than 40 rare species, underscoring its role in maintaining the ecological integrity of the Lake Huron shoreline.
The acquisition was supported by funding from the Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program through the Land Trust Conservation Fund administered by Wildlife Habitat Canada, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment. As well as Conservation and Parks Greenland’s Conservation Partnership program administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and the contributions from over 750 Ontario Nature members, along with key donors like the Echo Foundation and Waterloo Region Nature.
Ontario Nature will integrate the land into its existing reserve management plan, prioritizing long-term protection, habitat restoration, invasive species management and monitoring of species at risk. The organization — a charity representing 9,500 members, 130,000 supporters and 150 member groups — emphasizes its commitment to wild species and spaces through conservation, education and public engagement.
Executive Director of Ontario Nature Andrés Jiménez Monge stated in a press release to The Brock Press that “expanding the Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve permanently protects an extraordinary landscape, home to nationally rare ecosystems and species.” Monge continued, “this achievement reflects- the trust placed in us by our members, donors, First Nations and land protection partners. By entrusting Ontario Nature with this place, they have given us both the privilege and the responsibility to keep widening the corridors of safety that biodiversity needs to endure and recover across this province.”
The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, further stated in the press release, “Sauble Dunes North plays a vital role in supporting species at risk and maintaining the ecological integrity of the Lake Huron shoreline […] through federal investment in this acquisition […] we are advancing conservation outcomes that strengthen biodiversity across the region.”
The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State Nature also noted in the press release, “protecting Sauble Dunes North is a moment worth celebrating for Ontario’s natural heritage, this landscape holds ecological importance, and securing it reflects our commitment to safeguarding the places and species that define the character of this province.” Provost continued, “from sandy shores to wetlands, this remarkable area supports rich biodiversity and strengthens a vital ecological corridor for generations to come.”
“This addition of 66 acres of coastal dune lands is an exciting expansion to a network of protected natural areas on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula,” added Andrew Dowie, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are grateful to Ontario Nature and its supporters for their dedication to preserving Ontario’s rare and sensitive […] ecosystems. By working with conservation leaders through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, we are creating a legacy for future generations.”
Ontario Nature acknowledges 46 treaties and agreements covering the territory and recognizes the inherent rights and responsibilities of Indigenous Nations who have stewarded the land since time immemorial. More details are available on their website and in the Spring 2026 issue of ON Nature magazine.