Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust adds flagship reserve to protected lands

The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) has announced the permanent protection of the MapleCross Newlands Nature Reserve, a 125-hectare property in the Madawaska Highlands.

Located south of Matawatchan Provincial Park, the newly protected reserve contains mature forests, rocky ridges, wetlands and creeks that support a wide range of biodiversity. Early surveys have identified at least three species at risk, including the threatened Wood Thrush and the Eastern Wood-Pewee, a species of special concern.

“This is an incredible win for nature in our region,” said Steve Kotze, president of MMLT. “It is thanks to the generosity of our community that we were able to act quickly to protect this property. Together with our partners, we’ve ensured this land will remain a thriving natural landscape.”

The reserve borders several hundred acres of provincial Crown land, creating a large contiguous natural area. The forests, estimated to be 80 to 120 years old, include roughly 10,000 mature sugar maples that provide climate resilience and habitat connectivity.

The Newlands family, who have cared for the land since the 1960s, said they are proud to see it permanently protected. “It is a source of gratitude and pride to have our family name associated forever with this remarkable property, knowing it will be maintained in a natural state by the Trust,” the family said in a statement.

MMLT said there are no immediate plans for public trails. Initial stewardship will focus on biological inventories, annual monitoring, and potential partnerships with universities to support ecological research.

The acquisition was made possible through a mix of community donations and major contributions from the MapleCross Fund, Echo Foundation, and Ontario Conservation Accelerator.

With the addition of the MapleCross Newlands property, MMLT now protects more than 4,000 acres of land across the Mississippi River and Madawaska River watersheds.