Southcott Pines and surrounding areas are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. The Oak Savanna is a globally rare ecosystem that is a transition between prairie grasslands and oak forests. More than 99 per cent of the Oak Savanna in the world has been altered or destroyed. Through management, Pinery Provincial Park has restored its Oak Savanna and protects nearly 50 per cent of the remaining fragments of this type of ecosystem. We work very closely with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources & Dept. of Fisheries to follow their direction for maintaining this rare ecological zone we share with our forest friends. We also work with neighbouring communities to ensure we are working as a community to protect this system together. This rare ecosystem holds property value in our area at a premium. Destruction of this ecosystem will not only hurt an ecosystem that needs to be protected, but future property values.
