On October 10, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks posted a proposal notice on the online Environmental Registry of Ontario titled "Expanding Protected Areas in Ontario". The notice includes proposals for establishing a new Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve on existing provincial Crown lands, and expanding the Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve.
The proposed Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve would cover 1,892 ha (4,675 acres) of provincial Crown land. This proposal covers all existing Crown lands in the area bordered by Osprey - Blue Mountains Townline, Blue Mountains - Euphrasia Townline, 9th Sideroad and the 6th Line, with the exception of the existing Duncan Escarpment Nature Reserve and proposed expansion. (The online posting includes a good map of the affected lands.) Overall, we guesstimate that the Crown lands within this area contain about 35 km (70%) of the Kolapore trails.
The proposed expansion of Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve would include 126 ha (311 acres). The land involved is both to the north of the existing reserve and directly to the east. This proposed park addition contains about 1.5 km of Northwest Passage trail.
Although new protected areas are desirable, there are implications. For example, new non-motorized trails may be permitted in Conservation Reserves, subject to a "test of compatibility". It is not clear how that will be interpreted in our situation. One activity where the policy is clear is hunting - it would be permitted in the Conservation Reserve. We have a variety of questions about how the Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve will be planned and managed.
Nature Reserve policies are both clearer and more restrictive. For example, hunting and biking are not permitted in the Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve, and would not be permitted in the proposed expansion.
In addition to a new set of land management policies, the protected area proposals and (potential subsequent designation) will result in management challenges for the Association. Already we have been told that an application that we submitted several months ago for a short new trail is on indefinite hold. If they become protected areas, the lands will be managed by Ontario Parks, and this may result in additional requirements for trail management.
Information about the proposals can be viewed at ero.ontario.ca under the number 019-9306 (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9306) Other proposed new protected areas in the vicinity are Hoggs Falls Conservation Reserve in the upper Beaver Valley and Len Gertler Conservation Area (Loree Forest). Comments on these proposed new protected areas must be submitted by November 24, 2025
We will post updates as additional information becomes available.