Essex County has two new nature reserves, one near Harrow and the other at Point Pelee National Park.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada bought two properties, called Upper Cedar Creek and Hillman Sand Hills.
A quarter-century ago, Orfeo Lucchese bought a farm and woodlot near Harrow. He and his family transformed the land into a vibrant forest, meadow, and wetland. Some trees in the woodlot grew from acorns the Lucchese family planted themselves.
Upper Cedar Creek is 20 hectares surrounded by other conservation lands, including the Marianne Girling Nature Reserve and the Cedar Creek Provincial Park, providing shelter for some of the province's rarest birds and painted turtles.
Hillman Sand Hills is 30 hectares of pristine forest, ancient sand ridges, and low-lying wetlands. Salamanders and other at-risk species find shelter there.
Long considered an environmentally significant site, it's near Point Pelee National Park and the Hillman Marsh coastal wetland complex.
The Conservancy said Wednesday's announced sale ensures the properties are protected in perpetuity.
"Southwestern Ontario boasts some of Canada's highest biodiversity levels, yet is one of the least protected areas in the country," said Program Director Kristyn Richardson. "Orfeo Lucchese's vision and spirit of conservation has helped push back against this loss. He restored these habitats in the heart of a highly-converted agricultural landscape for the benefit of local communities, as well as for that of the plants and animals that live here."
The projects were made possible by funding from the federal government through its Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the provincial Greenlands Conservation Partnership program and private donors.