Protect the
McCarthy Woods Nature Corridor for Future Generations
The “McCarthy Woods Nature Corridor” consists of more than 162 hectares of forested space, meadows, marsh and shoreline. This area has been renaturalizing for more than 50 years. The ecological value of the woods, meadows, and shoreline has been assessed by the city in the early 1970s as being high or moderate, the biological biodiversity has increased since then.. This is one of the few remaining wild spaces in urban Ottawa, and it is also the largest network of connected habitats.
What is the concern? The National Capital Commission (NCC) has announced in 2026 that it is planning to convert this greenspace for mixed use development as part of the Federal Government Lands for Homes Program. Since 2025 or before the NCC is arguing that this is underutilized lands because the NCC does not have a specific plan for its use. Community members and expert naturalists know that these land are already significantly utilized not only by the floral and fauna that co-exist here (a biodiversity that rivals that found in the Greenbelt) but also the Ottawa residents that visit this nature refuge daily. [Link to “who visits the woods]?
Check here for Updates to our campaign to tell the NCC to STOP any plans for development and work with the community and the city of Ottawa to protect this important area.
***The NCC is taking the City to court - Ontario Land Tribunal (July 2026)
*** NEW!!! Sign our Petition
***Learn more about the NCC’s previous actions to develop this land
Correspondence between the NCC and stakeholder (coming soon)
City Council voting to protect McCarthy lands from Rezoning is JUST the beginning of the fight
What’s in a name?
The complexity of the ecosystems that are represented in these connected areas of lands cannot easily be described as only “woods'“ or forest. The NCC has referred to this area using a variety of terms
which can make it difficult to know if we
talking about the same area. Here are some
other names used previously that refer to all
or part of the important lands that make up
this wilderness area:
“McCarthy Corridor”, “Southern Corridor”
“Lower River Gate Corridor”
Get Involved! Fill in our Volunteer Form
There are many ways to help protect this irreplacable nature area:
—> Join the team of concerned Ottawa residents working to raise awareness.
—> Download our door hanger and talk to your neighbours (coming soon)
***In the News… See media coverage of this topic
