海角大神

Thor Vikstr枚m bought his island in the 1960s for $5,000. His goal was to protect and preserve its 7 acres.

Mr. Vikstr枚m could see the island, 脦le Ronde, across a narrow stretch of river from his home near Montreal. He and his family explored it often 鈥� at one point they even built a cable ferry across. But the rules were clear: Leave the environment as untouched as possible.

鈥淸My dad would] get mad at us because we left a Coke bottle on the island,鈥� son Hans Vikstr枚m .

Over the years the surrounding area, wedged between fast-growing suburbs and the city, became built-up and expensive. Developers came calling, offering increasingly high bids for 脦le Ronde.聽

Mr. Vikstr枚m rebuffed them all, saying nature was more valuable than money in his pocket. In December聽 so the metropolitan area would have a guaranteed spot of green.

In the spring, flocks of wood ducks and other waterfowl land near the island and raise chicks in its cover, Mr. Vikstr枚m聽. Turtles sun themselves on the shore. The forests are full of shagbark hickories, a spectacular tree whose bark appears to be falling off like old clothes.

鈥淚t is a dream for me now that it is preserved forever,鈥� Mr. Vikstr枚m says.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada says it鈥檚 thrilled with the gift of valuable land so near an urban center. Individual donations can combine into major collective environmental protection, Jo毛l Bonin, a development and communications official with the organization鈥檚 Quebec chapter, .

鈥淓very time someone makes a gift, it鈥檚 for everyone,鈥� said Mr. Bonin.