Example of “How to submit a successful EGP Application”
Donor name/(Corporation name and number): Jane Smith
Donor address: 123 Elm Street, Whatsitville, ON, 5N5 2T9
Phone number: 1-555-555-5555 ex 555
E-mail: jsmith@youconnect.ca
Recipient name: Happy Creek Land Trust
Recipient address: 22 Main Street, Whatsitville, ON, A1A 1A1
Charitable tax number: Registered Charity # 123445678
Property description: The property is a 45 hectare contiguous parcel of mature
hardwood trees, identified as Old Growth Forest (containing over 30 species of trees).
The property forms part of a continuous belt of forest stretching from Whatsitville almost
to Where-everville, just west of the Lake Erie shoreline. This corridor and Lake Road
follow an acient beach and bluff system along the former shores of glacial Lake Downs.
The woods have many good specimens of nationally-threatened Butternut. Old Growth
Forests occupy less than 1% of the remaining forest cover in southern Ontario, so
healthy examples such as Church Woods are especially valuable.
Geographical location of property: Region, County, Municipality, nearest town.
Eligible recipient

The Happy Creek Land Trust is listed on Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts
Program website as an eligible environmental charity.
Letters of intent

Letter of intent signed by donor outlining her willingness to donate and to
participate in the EGP is attached.

Letter of intent from the recipient expressing willingness to accept the donation
and
manage it as an ecological gift is attached.
Legal description: Part of Lot 27, Concession 5, Municipality of Whatsitville, Wherever
Co. (the Smith property, “Jane’s Woods”).

Title documents included.

In Ontario we need the TITLE ABSTRACT documenting the legal owners on title
Type of donation: A conservation easement under the Ontario Conservation Land Act.

Near-final draft of Jan 18, 2010, is attached.
Area: 45 hectares
Assessment of ecological character
The subject property is known as “Jane’s Woods.” Approximately half of the property is
gently rolling to flat upland, with some limestone outcroppings and low cliffs. The
remainder is flood plain/lowland with Happy Creek forming much of the eastern border of
the property. Most of the property is forested, but 10 percent is taken up by an old field
and an adjoining residence and barn. The site provides both terrestrial and aquatic
wildlife habitat, serves as a wildlife corridor, and is habitat for several species at risk. The
lowland and much of the upland is part of the Happy Creek/Jane’s Woods (municipal)
Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
(OMNR) has identified Happy Creek as Brook trout habitat. The property is in good
condition, having been left by the current owner in its natural state for 40 years, with no
logging having occurred in the past 80 years. Threats include subdivision for housing,
and upstream agricultural development, which are resulting in the siltation of Happy
Creek.
Habitat and site characteristics
The property is approximately 90 percent forest and 10 percent residential/field.

Please see photos attached.

Please see map designating the Protected Area and Residential Area as
designated within the conservation easement.
Species present
See attached lists from local naturalists club and landowner.
Species at Risk present
Hart’s Tongue fern (COSEWIC Species of Special Concern) in the northeast corner of
the property.
Non-ecological elements
Structures on the property (e.g., house [size 2000 sq. ft.], old barn [1500 sq. ft.], garden
shed [300 sq. ft.]; commercial/industrial activities; degraded areas, etc.).

See attached map for their locations.
Specific provincial ecological gift criteria applicable to the property
Ontario Criteria:
A-1 Hart’s Tongue fern – Federal Species of Special Concern. Noted by local
naturalists club, reported to OMNR by Happy Creek Land Trust.
A-5 Landowner is registered in the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)
(forest plan attached).
A-14 Happy Creek/Jane’s Woods ESA (municipal report attached).
B-5 Fish habitat for Brook trout noted by OMNR (John Pike, personal
communication).
B-9 Part of forested corridor along Happy Creek within ESA. Observations
of use by deer, also noted in ESA report (municipal report attached).
Local, regional, provincial, national or international ranking for site significance
Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) – municipal. A copy of the municipal zoning map
is attached.
Status of donation
The donor and recipient intend to complete the donation by the end of the current
calendar year.
Purpose of the donation and future intentions of recipient
The donor wishes to see her land protected from surrounding development, but still
wants to be able to sell it. She is also interested in the tax benefits of donation. The
property is to be preserved, with only minimal logging or development of additional
structures allowed (see attached conservation easement document). The current use
and ecological character of the site will be unchanged and the donor is aware of the
permanent legal restrictions applied by the conservation easement. Some site
restoration will be undertaken, a plan for which will be submitted to Environment
Canada for approval.
Attached
All attachments noted: title abstract, site map; aerial surveys; species lists; final
conservation easement agreement; ESA report; forest plan; municipal property
assessment; municipal zoning map; signed letter of intent from donor; and recipient
signed letter of intention.
Ecological information sources
 Local office of the OMNR – habitat for Brook trout.
 Happy Creek/Jane’s Woods ESA report (website link attached).
 The local naturalists club has also compiled species lists for this area (attached).