Critical Coastal Habitat Secured Forever Along Lake Huron Shoreline
Media Release
Owen Sound, March 9, 2026 — Ontario Nature is thrilled to announce its successful acquisition of the 26.7-hectare (66 acre) Sauble Dunes North property. This strategic conservation action expands Ontario Nature’s existing Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve and strengthens a vital ecological corridor in the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula, permanently protecting 77.78 hectares (192 acres) of rare coastal dune, wetland.
The protected land, located between the Sauble River and Lake Huron, now connects to adjacent natural areas including Chief’s Point Wetland, Sauble Falls Provincial Park, county forests and other protected properties. Collectively, those protected areas form a continuous corridor within the Sauble Falls North Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Protecting Sauble Dunes North ensures this globally rare coastal dune system — with its mosaic of forests, wetlands and swales shaped by post-glacial processes — remains intact, resilient, and functional for wildlife and future generations.
“Sauble Dunes North plays a vital role in supporting species at risk and maintaining the ecological integrity of the Lake Huron shoreline. Through federal investment in this acquisition, we are advancing conservation outcomes that strengthen biodiversity across the region.” – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
“This addition of 66 acres of coastal dune lands is an exciting expansion to a network of protected natural areas on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula,” said Andrew Dowie, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are grateful to Ontario Nature and its supporters for their dedication to preserving Ontario’s rare and sensitive ecosystems. By working with conservation leaders through the Greenlands Conservation Partnership program, we are creating a legacy for future generations.”
