Alvars are globally rare ecosystems found exclusively in Northern Europe and the Great Lakes region of North America.

[4] Natural environment parks protect outstanding landscapes, ecosystems and other elements of the province's wilderness to provide high quality recreational and educational experiences for visitors.

Access to the eastern portion of the park (the Windmill Ranch property) is limited to guided tours arranged through the Couchiching Conservancy.

The park lies at the heart of the Carden Alvar Important Bird Area (IBA) and contains breeding habitat for the eastern subspecies of the Loggerhead Shrike, a species listed as endangered both provincially and federally.

Over 230 bird species have been recorded in the area, including Bobolink, Short-eared Owl, Least Bittern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow Rail, Eastern Meadowlark, and Grasshopper Sparrow.