Heather Wright/The Independent

Almost 700 acres of land along the Sydenham River, including some in Petrolia and Wawrick, will be recognized as conservation lands in Ontario.

It’s part of an international plan to protect 30 per cent of the earth’s land and sea by 2030.

Tim Payne, manager of forests for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, was contacted by Ontario Nature, which is working on the UN Climate Change goal.

The group knows conservation authorities are the second largest holder of preserved land, after the crown, in the province. Payne says Ontario Nature wanted to talk with the authorities to “see if they have lands that they already have, that we don’t need to acquire more land,” he says.

About half of the St. Clair Region authority’s land fits the bill. That includes, Wawanosh Conservation Area, Bridgeview Conservation Area, W. Darcy McKeough Floodway and Conservation Area, Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area, Warwick Conservation Area, and A.W. Campbell Conservation Area in Lambton County.

The natural areas were extensively assessed by Ontario Nature.

Payne says none of the conservation authorities campgrounds will be affected, adding this is more a recognition of the work already done in the communities to preserve the natural environment.