Good news for Mother Nature!
By Don Gordon
Eric and Marsha Eberhardt of Perth East have teamed up with a local charity, the Thames Talbot Land Trust, to provide permanent protection for the outstanding natural features of their property. In February of 2005, a Conservation Easement agreement was signed by both the landowners and the Land Trust to protect forever the natural and agricultural features of a remarkable 100 acre property north of Sebringville. The site has a conservation history that dates back nearly a century.
The Eberhardt Conservation Easement represents the first formal agreement in the Land Trust's Headwaters initiative; its aim is to protect significant headwater lands of the Thames River, designated a Canadian Heritage River. Trust president, Bernie VanDenBelt remarked, “Eric and Marsha's commitment to conservation will leave a wonderful legacy for future generations.”
In signing this conservation agreement, the Eberhardts are fulfilling the wishes of Hamitage Richardson who entrusted the property to their care. Explained the Eberhardts, “Hamitage entrusted us with his desire to protect the forests and the wildlife, and we are grateful to the Thames Talbot Land Trust for helping us fulfill his dream.”
It was the Richardson family who had begun the work of restoring the site which was, by all accounts, particularly barren at the turn of the century. In 1910, the Richardsons embarked on an 80-year effort that transformed the face of the farm. It is a work that the Eberhardts have faithfully continued. Today, the property stands as a testament to the remarkable stewardship efforts of these two families.
Conservation easements are legal agreements that are relatively new to Canada, allowing a landowner to protect key property features forever while retaining the ownership and use of their property. Future owners of the property must also abide by the agreement as it is registered on the title with the land. Conservation Easements are a flexible and versatile conservation measure. The Eberhardt Easement is divided into distinct zones that recognize present and future land uses including a residential zone and an organic agricultural zone, as well as areas set aside to protect natural features.
The Thames Talbot Land Trust and its members have been working with landowners to protect lands and waters of ecological, agricultural and cultural value since 2000. Located in the heart of the Carolinian Canada region, the Land Trust plays a pivotal role in securing what remains of some of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems in the country. Landowners can visit www.ttlt.ca or call (519) 652-2189 to inquire about protection options. TTLT works to protect and restore lands in the London/Middlesex and Elgin regions and their associated watersheds.
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Contact info: Thames Talbot Land Trust 652-2189 www.ttlt.ca
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