Conservation Opportunities

One of the key program areas for the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation is the safeguarding of habitat, found on private lands, for the current and future generations. MHHC works with individual landowners, on a voluntary basis, to protect natural areas on their property that may have special significance to them and they want to ensure it will be around forever. The way MHHC achieves this is through a Conservation Agreement (or CA).

What is a Conservation Agreement?

A conservation agreement (easement) is a legal contract, registered on the land’s title, designed to provide long-term protection of wildlife habitat. The agreement is between the landowner and MHHC within which the landowner agrees to a certain set of management practices that have beneficial impacts to habitat on the landowner’s property. The owner receives financial compensation for this through the granting of a tax receipt or cash payment.

MHHC and our partners cannot protect all areas but we do our best to find appropriate protection solutions for each parcel of land a landowner wishes to secure. However, due to the costs associated with protecting habitat and to ensure long-term habitat health, the minimum size of habitat MHHC will protect is about 40 acres (16 ha). 

MHHC delivers paid conservation agreements through four main programs: Potholes Plus Program, Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Riparian Habitat and the Wetland Restoration Incentive Program. Habitat donations can be made through the Land Donation program.