1,000 Hectares of Forests, Wetlands, and Mesas Protected in Thunder Bay District

The Nature Conservancy of Canada Expands Protected Lands Along Lake Superior

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has announced the protection of an additional 935 hectares of forests, wetlands, and mesas (flat-topped landforms with steep sides) in the Thunder Bay District. This expansion increases the NCC’s conservation efforts along Lake Superior to over 9,000 hectares.

The newly protected area extends the network of conserved lands near Black Bay Peninsula and Big Trout Bay. Known as the Nor’Westers Project, the initiative includes part of the Nor’Wester Mountain Range and features diverse habitats, such as mixed wood and coniferous forests and wetlands. These ecosystems support a variety of species, including moose and at-risk turtles.

The mesas within this area provide critical nesting habitats for at-risk peregrine falcons, listed as a species of special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

“This project strategically protects spaces that enhance existing protected areas, creating contiguous habitat for wide-ranging mammals in the Lake Superior region,” said Kaitlin Richardson, NCC’s Program Director. “It safeguards key areas from deforestation and development, allowing forests and wetlands to sequester carbon while protecting cliff habitats vital for nesting raptors.”

The Nor’Westers Project was made possible through funding from private donors, foundations, the Government of Canada (via the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund), and the Government of Ontario (through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program).