The Bruce Trail Conservancy

The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) is one of Ontario’s largest land trusts and the steward of Canada’s longest marked footpath. We actively preserve and care for land within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere to protect its ecosystems for the benefit of all. We responsibly connect people to nature through the Bruce Trail and our protected natural areas. We are a member-driven volunteer-based charitable organization governed by a 19-member Board of Directors. Working with each of the nine Bruce Trail Clubs we are committed to caring for the Bruce Trail and to preserving land along its route. 1 379 km of trail is maintained and ready to be explored. Our mission is to preserve a ribbon of wilderness for everyone forever. The BTC with the help of members and donors established 17 new protected natural areas covering 942 acres of Niagara Escarpment habitats during 2023-2024. The proportion of the Bruce Trail now on permanently protected land surpassed 71.9% during the year. 10.5 kms of the Bruce Trail’s Optimum Route was secured and 1.1 km of trail was removed from roads this year thanks to new protected areas and important new agreements with private landowners. 91 Species of Conservation Concern have been recorded on BTC-managed land and our BTC Ecologists made 34 observations of 15 rare and at risk species this year. 1 251 new Canadians became BTC members with the Canoo app during the year.