The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) have approved a land exchange aimed at strengthening the long-term conservation and management of the Larose Forest while enabling limited residential development in the Limoges area.

The decision was made during the UCPR council meeting held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, following the presentation of a report from the Planning and Forestry Department. The approved proposal authorizes the exchange of 10 acres of county-owned land on Des Pins Road, east of the village of Limoges, for 59 acres of privately owned forested land located within the core of the Larose Forest.  

As a result of the exchange, the total forested area managed by the United Counties will increase by a net 49 acres. The transferred parcel along Des Pins Road would allow a private developer to create four new residential lots, subject to the required severance approvals.  

According to the report, the United Counties have pursued for several years a strategy of acquiring land to consolidate the central portion of the Larose Forest. The goal is to reduce fragmentation, enhance ecological integrity, and support sustainable forest management. The land targeted in this exchange is described as one of the last remaining privately owned vacant parcels located within the heart of the forest.  

Previous attempts by the United Counties to purchase the land outright were unsuccessful. The proposed exchange was presented as a strategic opportunity to complete a significant portion of the forest block consolidation. Council approved a similar land exchange with the same developer in 2023, establishing a precedent when such transactions align with conservation objectives.  

As part of the agreement, the United Counties will retain a 20-metre right-of-way across the transferred land to ensure continued access to adjacent county-owned forest properties. The developer will be responsible for all surveying costs associated with the transaction, while the United Counties will fund a Phase 1 environmental assessment to confirm the land being acquired is free of contamination, in line with standard municipal due diligence practices.  

“This is exactly the kind of opportunity that we should be pursuing,” said Russell Township Mayor Mike Tarnowski during the meeting. “It’s strategic, it’s cost effective, and it fully aligns with long-term environmental and land use priorities, in my opinion.”  

The Planning and Forestry Department noted that the land exchange will have no impact on the 2026 tax levy. However, an unbudgeted expense is expected for the environmental assessment required before finalizing the acquisition.  

Once completed, the transaction will add a new property to the Larose Forest real estate portfolio, further reinforcing the ecological and operational integrity of one of Eastern Ontario’s most significant forested areas.