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Muskoka has long been
known for the natural beauty and relatively unspoiled state
of its environment. The Muskoka Heritage Foundation is
“committed to the preservation and conservation of the
history, the culture, the environment, and the quality of
life that defines the unique identity of Muskoka.” Founded
in 1987 the Muskoka Heritage Foundation is a unique and
vital organization that carries out this mandate through a
Natural Heritage committee, a Built Heritage committee, the
Muskoka Heritage Land Trust, and its newest initiative, the
Watershed Council.”
Private
land stewardships and land trusts are the main thrust of the
Foundation. They currently boast of 340 private landowners
who are voluntarily protecting more than 31,000 acres of
diverse Muskoka Landscape, including 51 miles of shoreline.
It’s an example of the effect one person can have in
preserving their land.
Their
Shoreline Stewardship Awards, administered by the Natural
Heritage committee, are presented to individual property
owners who have kept or restored their property to a natural
state. The Committee has also organized the Naturalize
Muskoka Challenge, a challenge to local businesses and
property owners to ‘green’ Muskoka through the planting
of native trees, shrubs, and ground cover on their
properties.
The
Foundation’s Land Trust program, officially the Muskoka
Heritage Trust, offers permanent protection for exceptional
natural land in Muskoka. The trust protects these natural
heritage assets by acquiring land through land donation,
land purchase and conservation easements. A recent
example is the donation by ClubLink Corporation of 200 acres
of land adjacent to the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve.
The Foundation has formed a management committee to
administer this property, christened the ‘Musquash Road
Nature Reserve’.
The
Foundation’s office, located in downtown Bracebridge, also
serves as a Resource Centre, providing information to
private landowners on ways to conserve the natural and built
amenities of their property.
Their
Built Heritage committee promotes “the preservation and
appreciation of historical structures, sites and artifacts
by providing information and recognizing private stewards.
Property owners are encouraged to protect the heritage
features of their properties. An annual Stewardship
Award program recognizes this commitment.”
The
Built Heritage committee also “encourages partnering and
acts as a forum for cooperation between the many community
groups in Muskoka interested in protecting the area’s
cultural heritage.”
The
Muskoka Heritage Foundation is also involved with a regional
Golf Course Advisory Committee, serving in an advisory
capacity of a four-year study on golf courses on the
Canadian Shield. A booklet entitled “Best Management
Practices and Guidelines for Golf Course Planning and
Development” will be available for download on their
website at www.muskokaheritage.org
in the new year. This same website also has information on
the new Watershed Council and more details on the programs
mentioned above.
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