Explore the Outdoors (ETO) is a program of Long Point Basin Land Trust (LPBLT), offering free—hands-on and virtual—nature exploration experiences to inspire appreciation, understanding, and protection of the Long Point watershed region’s unique habitats and species.
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What Makes Long Point Basin So Special?
Southwestern Ontario’s Long Point Basin is a landscape like no other. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, this area hosts a remarkable blend of wetlands, Carolinian forests, and prairies — along the north shore of Lake Erie.
Spanning over 300,000 hectares, it’s home to diverse ecosystems, rare species, and wild spaces that make it truly special. Long Point Basin Land Trust (LPBLT) works to protect these lands to ensure that the special nature of this place will endure for generations.
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Long Point Basin
watershed catchment area
A watershed, also known as a drainage basin—is an area of land where all precipitation collects and drains into a common water body, such as a river, lake, or ocean. Watersheds play a crucial role in environmental health, water resources, and biodiversity. They are integral to Canada's environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and cultural heritage. Protecting and managing them sustainably is essential for the health and well-being of current and future generations.
Protecting Rare and at Risk Flora and Fauna
The Long Point Basin lies at the heart of Carolinian Canada—Canada’s smallest and most biodiverse ecoregion. Though it covers less than 0.25% of the country, it supports more than 25% of Canada’s Species at Risk. Yet this vital region has suffered significant loss: much of its original forests and wetlands have been cleared or degraded over the past century.
Today, continued habitat fragmentation and environmental pressures pose serious threats to the rare and at-risk flora and fauna species that depend on these ecosystems. Protecting what remains—and restoring what can be healed—is at the core of Long Point Basin Land Trust’s mission, ensuring that this irreplaceable landscape continues to thrive, for wildlife and for future generations.
Help make an impact—support the work of Long Point Basin Land Trust:
Make a one-time gift, support a campaign, or become a monthly donor.
Learn & Share
Explore our conservation work and spread the word about protecting wild spaces.
Volunteer
Give your time and skills to support local land conservation efforts.