A 35-acre forest gifted to the Town of Gananoque in memory of longtime conservation advocate Judith Scott McLean has received national recognition as part of Canada’s protected lands network. Article contentThe Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed the Judith Scott McLean Memorial Forest has been added to the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), officially recognizing the property as a protected and conserved area. The designation means the forest now contributes to Ontario’s protected land base, which currently accounts for 11.2 per cent of the province. The recognition marks another milestone for the property, which was donated to the Town of Gananoque by the McLean family in September 2023. The property was donated in perpetuity to honour the memory of Judith Scott McLean, whose family said preserving the land’s natural character was one of her lifelong goals.