On March 6, 2026, the Muskoka Conservancy announced it has secured 597 acres of land in Fraserburg, Ontario, to create a new nature reserve. Located just east of Bracebridge, the MapleCross-Fraserburg Nature Reserve will provide long-term protection for local forests and wetlands that are home to several species at risk.
This new property is the second-largest area protected by the organization to date and is made up of about 17 per cent wetlands and peatlands. These natural areas are important because they store carbon and help with flood control, while also providing a home for the Midland painted turtle, the Eastern wood pewee bird, and black ash trees.
The project was funded through a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the MapleCross Foundation. Support also came from several private foundations to help the conservancy reach its goal of protecting the local environment.
Scott Young, the executive director of the Muskoka Conservancy, said the group was blown away by the support received from everyone who helped with the project. The land was previously used as a hunt camp, and there are plans to build trails so the community can visit the new protected space.
