Family’s treasured lands protected forever

May 4, 2025, Komoka, Ontario – Thames Talbot Land Trust, the Livingstone family, neighbours and friends celebrated the protection of Livingstone Farm, 100 acres of land just north of Komoka. A unique aspect of the project was the use of a tested and powerful land protection tool, the Conservation Easement Agreement (CEA). Although used widely across Ontario, this is the first registered Conservation Easement Agreement in Middlesex County. This tool was a great fit for the vision that David Livingstone and Lynn Hjartarson had for this cherished site.

A Conservation Easement Agreement is an agreement that is registered on title, so that the land remains with the family, making it possible to pass down to the next generation or to sell the land in the future. The protection stays with the land so that regardless of who holds title, the care and love for the land remains. Regular monitoring by the land trust ensures that the CEA goals and restrictions for protection are being followed. It is one way to safeguard the vision built by those who care for the land today so the vision can be honoured by those who care for the land in the future.

The Livingstone Farm project was only possible because of David and Lynn’s dedication and commitment to land, nature and future generations. The lands have been in the Livingstone family for several generations and they have ensured its care for decades. This project really started with the planting of some trees, then a few more, then a wetland, and then a prairie. Among all those projects was their overriding vision of ensuring that all the habitats, old and new, would be protected beyond this generation and the next. Permanent protection of the Livingstone Farm by Thames Talbot Land Trust will ensure these natural features, agricultural lands and wildlife are protected forever.

The Livingstone Farm contains a mix of habitats and agricultural lands. Several forest types are found on the site including a rare Black Walnut lowland deciduous forest along the ravine formed by Gold Creek. Gold Creek supports a cool water fish community, which is also relatively uncommon. These habitats support numerous species including several species at risk. In addition, David and Lynn completed many projects on these lands to create more habitat for wildlife. They worked with St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to plant more than 30,000 trees and install wetlands and prairie habitat.  Over the last 10 years they have created 23 hectares (that’s more than 50 acres!) of new habitat. These new habitats will continue to provide additional ecological values as they mature over time, and they create linkages and corridors for wildlife movement connecting existing forest habitats on the land.

This project was made possible through a Community Vitality grant from the London Community Foundation. The “Community-Led Land Protection for A Sustainable Future” project includes more than 10 partners to bring CEAs to London and Middlesex County. Thames Talbot Land Trust is thrilled to be working with many dedicated partners to make land protection a priority in our community. The Livingstone Farm CEA is the first, but certainly not the last, in Middlesex County. This CEA was donated to Thames Talbot Land Trust under the Government of Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program. This program provides enhanced tax incentives for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically significant land.

QUOTES:

“The main thing for me is the legacy this leaves, the relative certainty that the farm will return to Carolinian forest over time and remain that way. A wonderful achievement that would have been impossible without your support and that of all the others involved over the past decade. Actually more, given that it was my dad who started the reforestation program over 30 years ago after he and my mom returned to the farm. I know he’d be pleased.” – David Livingstone, Land Donor.

“In the face of many pressures on land, making a decision to protect lands for agriculture and nature is a big and bold decision. David and Lynn had made this decision and were looking for a partner to make this vision possible. We are honoured to be those partners in land protection.” – Daria Koscinski, Executive Director of Thames Talbot Land Trust.

"TTLT has been a long-standing partner of the London Community Foundation, and the Conservation Easement Agreement project aligned so well with the aims of our Vitality Grant
program. The program encourages trying new things, collaborating with partners in new ways and working for long-term change - it just made perfect sense for us to support. We’re excited about this first CEA for Middlesex County and congratulate TTLT, its partners and the Livingstone family for its dedication to doing right by their beautiful property for generations to come." - Lori Runciman, Director of Grants at London Community Foundation

FACTS:

• There are 342 CEAs covering 32,999 acres across Ontario, including the first in Middlesex County at Livingstone Farm.
• The Black Walnut lowland deciduous forest found at Livingstone Farm is a type of forest that is rare in Ontario with an estimated less than 100 occurrences.
• The Livingstone Farm is within the Carolinian Zone, which has the highest biodiversity in Canada, but has less than 1% of its land area under protection and some of the lowest natural cover in Canada.

ABOUT:

Thames Talbot Land Trust is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to protect, conserve, and restore nature within Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and Perth counties, contributing to a stable climate, human wellbeing, and healthy habitats for all species. Our vision is to create a network of permanently protected areas that are rich in biodiversity, sustain life, and nourish a sense of wonder and inspiration for all people.

London Community Foundation, founded in 1954 by J. Allyn Taylor, is a public foundation where people and families establish charitable funds. The Foundation is dedicated to improving communities across London and Middlesex County through collaboration, strategic leadership, and innovative solutions to charitable giving. By investing gifts in perpetuity, London Community Foundation helps to ensure the long-term vitality of our community.

To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit http://www.ec.gc.ca/pde-egp/.

LEARN MORE AND DONATE:

Visit: www.thamestalbotlandtrust.ca
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CONTACT:
Daria Koscinski
[email protected]
519-858-3442

P.O. Box 25054
London ON, N6C 6A8