What Is "Ecologically Sensitive" Land?

Many potential donors wonder if their land is environmentally sensitive enough to donate or qualify as an ecogift. A wide variety of landscapes can be protected to help maintain biodiversity and Canada's environmental heritage.

Donors should begin by talking to a potential recipient to evaluate the environmentally sensitive aspects of their land. While many lands may qualify as sensitive under Environment Canada criteria, not all recipients will accept all lands. For example, a land trust may have a policy in place to accept only lands that are home to endangered species. In this case, a landowner with a wetland or old growth woodland, but without endangered species on the land, may have to find another recipient.

Donors and recipients can also contact staff at Environment Canada for guidance (see Resources). There are criteria specific to Ontario of the types of land that qualify as ecologically sensitive. Many, if not most, properties that contain habitat in a natural state and have been conserved by the landowner will qualify under one of the criteria. (See Specific Categories of Qualified Lands and General Criteria for Other Ecologically Sensitive Lands).