NCC: Land Lines – Roots of conservation: A legacy of land and learning

October 25, 2024 | by Emily Schulte

Thanks to Phil and Kay Willson’s great generosity, a conservation agreement on their land, in the Rural Municipality of Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in August 2024. A conservation agreement is a set of mutually agreed-upon restrictions placed upon a piece of land. It is compiled into a legal document and registered to the land title, meaning that even if the land is sold, the agreement will still be in effect for future landowners in perpetuity. Now that their agreement is official, it becomes the ninth NCC project to be added in the West Boreal Transition Natural Area.

The Willsons also have recently created a partnership with the One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project. The program partners students from urban areas with rural landowners, with the goal of planting diverse habitats. Through hands-on experience with planting native species, the students get to learn and take part in conservation work that helps support pollinators, prevents erosion, maintains the water cycle and sequesters carbon. This fall and next spring, the Willsons will host students from Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate on a two-day planting and camping trip.

The Willsons’ 124-hectare property is comprised mainly of mixed woodland and contains wetlands, shrublands and tame forage fields that are used for hay. Since purchasing the property in 2006, the Willsons have been working on restoring areas that were historically cleared and cultivated by planting native trees and shrubs, and allowing for the natural growth of the area. Native species, such as jack pine, white spruce and paper birch, are among the thousands of trees that have been planted over the past 18 years.

In 2009, they started a list of all the birds they’ve observed on their land. It may come as no surprise to find that, with over half of the property being mixed woodland, the list consists of nearly 100 different species of birds. With game cameras placed around the property, the Willsons have spotted some larger mammals, such as black bear, moose, elk and beaver. When Phil and Kay took NCC staff on a quick tour through the property, we observed smaller animals, such as birds and squirrels, in the surrounding foliage and two sandhill cranes in the distance, which I managed to capture midflight on my camera.

As we hiked through the property, the Willsons pointed out areas that had been cleared before they purchased it. Remarkably, if they hadn’t shown us where they had restored the land, it would have been impossible to distinguish it from the intact habitat. Their dedication to blending their restoration work seamlessly with the natural landscape is a testament to their deep commitment to protecting the integrity of the area.

The Willson’s dedication to conservation is truly remarkable. By donating their property as a conservation agreement to NCC and partnering with the One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project, they’ve made a lasting positive impact on both the environment and future generations. Their conservation efforts create a legacy of stewardship and education, showing how individual actions can make a big difference.