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Canadian firm donates 1,800 hectares to reconnect wildlife habitat

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Domtar has transferred more than 1,800 hectares of forest, wetlands, and freshwater shoreline around Gander Lake to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. This acquisition helps remedy a major shortfall in central Newfoundland, where less than 3% of the local ecoregion is formally shielded from development. The initiative aims to enhance wildlife movement by potentially linking the proposed Rodney Pond Wilderness Reserve with Charlie's Place, a site proposed by the Qalipu First Nation. Backed by the federal Natural Heritage Conservation Program, the project also secures key waterways that support Atlantic salmon and Arctic char.

Key points

  • The newly conserved parcels may connect two proposed protected areas, including a site pl…: The newly conserved parcels may connect two proposed protected areas, including a site planned by the Qalipu First Nation.
  • Protected habitats safeguard critical ranges for the Middle Ridge caribou herd and the th…: Protected habitats safeguard critical ranges for the Middle Ridge caribou herd and the threatened Newfoundland pine marten.
  • Canada's federal government is supporting the long-term preservation effort through its N…: Canada's federal government is supporting the long-term preservation effort through its Natural Heritage Conservation Program.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A Canadian forestry company has donated more than 1,800 hectares of forest, wetlands and freshwater shoreline in central Newfoundland and Labrador to support a major conservation initiative around Gander Lake. The donation from Domtar will allow the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to protect four parcels of land along the Southwest Gander River and Gander Lake, near Glenwood and Appleton. The project aims to improve wildlife movement across connected natural habitats while safeguarding important ecosystems in a region where relatively little land is formally protected.

Domtar's 1,800-hectare donation strengthens conservation around Gander Lake

The Nature Conservancy of Canada announced the initiative on October 1, 2025, describing it as the largest land donation it had received during its 54 years of conservation work in Atlantic Canada. According to the organisation's announcement, the donation covers more than 1,800 hectares, equivalent to approximately 4,400 acres, of boreal forest, freshwater shoreline and wetlands.

The land is spread across 4 large parcels situated along the Southwest Gander River and Gander Lake. These properties are close to the communities of Glenwood and Appleton, placing the conservation…

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