St. John's 
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has launched its largest private land conservation effort in Newfoundland and Labrador, following a land donation from Domtar.
Credit: Piers Evans/NCC
The transfer involves more than 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres) of boreal forest, wetlands, and freshwater shoreline along the Southwest Gander River and Gander Lake, near Glenwood and Appleton.
Per the news release, this is the largest land donation NCC has received in its 54 years of conservation work in Atlantic Canada. The project covers four parcels of land, increasing connectivity for wildlife movement in a region where less than three per cent of the Central Newfoundland ecoregion is currently protected.
The properties could link two proposed conservation areas: Rodney Pond Wilderness Reserve and Charlie’s Place, identified by Qalipu First Nation.
Credit: Piers Evans/NCC
The area includes black spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, white birch, and trembling aspen, alongside rivers and streams supporting Atlantic salmon, Arctic char, and brook trout. It is also within the range of the Middle Ridge and Mount Peyton caribou herds.
Species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act are present, including Newfoundland pine marten (threatened), red crossbill (threatened), rusty blackbird (special concern), and blue felt lichen (special concern).
Credit: Piers Evans/NCC
The federal government is backing the initiative through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, which requires matching contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations.
Domtar previously partnered with NCC in 2022, transferring stewardship of 145,000 hectares in Ontario, the largest private conservation agreement in Canadian history.
Once securement is complete, legal hunting and angling will continue, with signage directing ATV users to existing trails.
