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Members Notice Board for Events and Announcements
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UPDATED: JANUARY 31st, 2010
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| Carolinian Canada would like to help you promote your events, publications and other announcements. If your announcement promotes the protection and restoration of our natural heritage in Carolinian Canada, we'd love to hear about it. Send us details about you revent via the Online Event Posting Form . |
Essex Region Conservation Events
Who: Essex Region Conservation Authority
When: March 4th, 9th, 11th, 30th and 31st, 2010
Where: Amherstburg, Camp Cedarwin, Windsor, and Essex Region
Link: www.erca.org
March 4th, 2010
Big Creek Steering Committee Meeting
The Big Creek Steering Committee will meet at 6pm in the Town of Amherstburg Council Chambers.
March 9th, 2010
Friends of Mill, Wigle, and Cedar Creeks Meeting
The Big Creek Steering Committee will meet at 6pm in the Town of Amherstburg Council Chambers.
March 11th, 2010
Friends of Canard River Meeting
The Big Creek Steering Committee will meet at 6pm in the Town of Amherstburg Council Chambers.
March 30th - 31st, 2010
5th Binational Lake St. Clair Conference
The Conference will provide a binational forum to exchange information on Lake St. Clair's changing environment and the actions and tools needed to manage these changes. Conference participants will learn about how Lake St. Clair's ecosystem is changing and identify the actions, resources and collaboration needed for implementing management tools.
The conference is intended for resource managers, local officials, elected representatives, citizens' organizations, business/industry representatives, First Nations, local residents and the media with an interest and involvement in the restoration and protection of the Lake St. Clair ecosystem. The conference offers a valuable opportunity to learn more about Lake St. Clair and will help facilitate collaborative efforts for the implementation of actions. The conference registration fee is $33. You can register online at: https://onlineregistrations.ca/lakestclair/. Registration deadline is Wednesday March 24, 2010 at 5pm E.S.T.
Preserving Ontario's Headwaters
Who: Ontario Headwaters Institute, various local Conservation Authorities and other Conservation Organizations
When: March 4th, 9th, 11th, 25th, 29th, 31st, and April 8th, 2010
Where: Mississauga, Halton, Kawartha, Peterborough, Elora, Toronto, Aurora
Link: www.ohwi.ca
Thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, extensive support from conservation authorities, local event partners, and regional communication partners, the OHI is pleased to invite individuals and organizations to a series of seven community workshops, being held from Elora to Peterborough between March 4 and April 8. Registration is free but required in advance, as described on the page for each session, so we’ll have enough chairs and coffee.
March 4th, 2010 - 6-9pm
Hosted by the Credit Valley Conservation Authority and Trout Unlimited
at Terra Cotta (details here)
March 9th, 2010 - 6-9pm
Hosted by Conservation Halton and POWER
at the Conservation Halton Office (details here)
March 11th, 2010 - 6-9pm
Hosted by Kawartha Conservation and the Community Stream Steward Program
at Nestleton Station (details here)
March 25th, 2010 - 1-3pm
Hosted by Otonabee Conservation and Peterborough Green-up
at the Peterborough Public Library (details here)
March 29th, 2010 - 7-9pm
Hosted by Elora Environment Centre
at the Elora Centre for the Arts (details here)
March 31st, 2010 - 1-4pm
Hosted by the Torotno and Region Conservation Authority
at Black Creek Pioneer Village (details here)
April 8th , 2010 - 6-9pm
Hosted by Lake Simcoe Conservation and STORM
at the Aurora Public Library (details here)
Ontario Nature Conservation Awards: Now Accepting Nominations for 2009-2010
Who: Ontario Nature
When: Deadline for Nomination is March 5th, 2010 to be presented at the AGM May 28th-30th, 2010 in Sarnia, Ontario
Where: Ontario
Link: www.ontarionature.org
Community involvement defines the character and approach of Ontario Nature. With its member groups and individual members, Ontario Nature has made a significant impact on conservation issues in communities across Ontario and continues to build a natural legacy for future generations. The Ontario Nature Conservation Awards recognize excellence by honouring individuals, groups, government agencies and corporations who have worked to protect nature in Ontario. This flyer explains the awards criteria and the nomination procedure, and highlights key dates and events. Contact information available at the weblink above.
AGM 2010: To Conserve the Natural Heritage of the Niagara Peninsula
Who: Niagara Land Trust
When: Saturday, March 6, 2010, 7:00pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Niagara College, NOLT Campus Room W212, 135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Link: www.niagaralandtrust.com
Please join us for the Niagara Land Trust’s 2nd Annual General Meeting. Come learn more about the NLT, meet the Directors, Members & friends of the Land Trust, hear about our successes, our current projects, future plans, get involved in one of the 6 committees or just enjoy an evening out. Ian MacNab, the Executive Director from the Ontario Land Trust Alliance is our guest speaker. Ian M. will enlighten us on the provincial land trust movement & how the Niagara Land Trust is contributing.
For more information about the NLT please visit the weblink above.
Please RSVP to Natalie Kiers, NLT Administration Co-ordinator at nkiers.nlt@gmail.com
McIlwraith Field Naturalists' Events
Who: McIlwraith Field Naturalists / Nature London
When: March 6th, 19th, and 28th, 2010
Where: Civic Garden Complex, London
Link: www.mcilwraith.ca
March 6th, 2010 - 10am
EARLY SPRING STROLL BY THE NORTH THAMES
Meet the leader in the parking lot at the back of the soccer fields, south of the Adelaide Street North bridge on the west side of Adelaide; the entrance to the parking area is at the traffic light at Kipps Lane and just north of the water treatment plant. We will walk along the river and into some woodland looking for birds and early signs of spring. Call 519-438-5879 for more information.
March 19th, 2010 - 7:30pm
VERNAL POOLS, A PRESENTATION BY SCOTT SAMPSON
Vernal pools are small wetlands that form in the spring and dry up by late summer or early autumn. These wet-dry cycles of vernal pools create a unique habitat type that supports only those species that can tolerate the variable hydrologic conditions. Scott Sampson, president of the Ontario Vernal Pool Association, will explain why conservation of vernal pools is critical to the protection of some species at risk and Ontario's biodiversity.
March 28th, 2010 - 9-11am
LONG POINT MIGRATORY WATERFOWL FIELD TRIP
Meet the leader in front of the main viewing stand behind the Aylmer Police College to view Tundra Swans and other migrating waterfowl. We will then proceed to walk a paved trail to look for other early spring birds. If necessary, call 519-438-5879 for more details. Directions: exit the 401 at Imperial Road and head south to College Line. Turn left and continue to Hacienda Road. The Police College will be on your left. Take the second entrance to the Aylmer WMA. If necessary, call 519-438-5879 for more details.
Ontario Woodlot Association March Events
Who: Ontario Woodlot Association
When: March 6th and 20th, 2010
Where: Lindsay, Alvinston, Peterborough
Link: www.ont-woodlot-assoc.org
March 6th , 2010
LAMBTON CHAPTER AGM
The 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Lambton chapter of the OWA will be Saturday March 6th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Brooke- Alvinston-Inwood Community Centre. For further information, contact Frank Gustin (519) 882-0946
March 20th, 2010
ONTARIO WOODLOT ASSOCIATION AGM
Plan to attend the Ontario Woodlot Association’s 17th Annual General Meeting and Woodlot Conference, Our Forests – Managing Wisely Today for Tomorrow, to be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010, in Peterborough, Ontario. Details available here.
Norfolk Field Naturalists Winter-Spring Events
Who: Norfolk Field Naturalists (NFN)
When: March 9th, 13th, 14th and 27th, 2010
Where: Haldimand County, Norfolk County, Simcoe, Walsingham, Port Rowan
Link: www.norfolkfieldnaturalists.org
The NFN holds monthly meetings from September until May. At each meeting, guest speakers present information on various aspects of natural history. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Simcoe Seniors Centre, Pond Street, in Simcoe. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Various field outings are also planned throughout the year, and include trips to local conservation areas, bird banding, winter tree identification and much more. Field outings are free of charge.
Based on the success of December’s event – the showing of the movie, The 11th Hour, the Norfolk Field Naturalist’s Board of Directors has decided to offer “Winter Movie Nights” in January, February and March, in addition to our regular Speakers Night. These three hard-hitting and thought-provoking documentaries should help beat the winter blahs and allow for some stimulating discussion and debate on the issues our biosphere faces and how humankind can make a difference.
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, 7:15 pm
MEETING: THE WORLD OF SALAMANDERS, FROGS AND TOADS
John Urquhart, Ontario Nature.
Southern Ontario is home to numerous species of amphibians, often referred to as environmental “canaries in a coalmine” due to their sensitivity to pollution, pesticides and global warming. Learn about the secretive mating behaviour of the salamander, how to identify frogs and toads by their song, and the environmental importance of this order of animals. Opportunities for individuals to volunteer in Ontario Nature’s new Herptofaunal Atlas being conducted in Norfolk County and other areas in Ontario.
Weekend of March 13th-14th, 2010
NORFOLK FIELD NATURALISTS AT THE WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Visit the NFN booth at the Wildlife Festival in the Auditorium of the Norfolk County Fairgrounds in Simcoe. Our booth features 'hands-on' activities for kids. Entrance fee.
Saturday, March 27th, 2010, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO BIRDING IN THE LONG POINT AREA
The main goal of this workshop, led by Jody Allair of Bird Studies Canada, will be to introduce you to the birding opportunities of the Long Point and Norfolk area, discuss the basic tools needed to start bird watching, and tips on becoming an expert in identifying birds and their song. Indoor session in the morning will be followed by an outing in the afternoon to look for swans, waterfowl and other early spring migrants. Bring warm clothing, binoculars, bird book, and a spotting scope if you have one.
Location: Bird Studies Canada, 115 Front Street, Port Rowan. Cost is $15/ participant (includes light lunch). Pre-registration required, call Shirley Rothery at 519-586-9535.
March Stewardship Resource Webcast: Topic TBD
Who: Stewardship Network
When: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010, 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Online
Link: www.stewardshipnetwork.org
Log in to the Michigan-based Stewardship Network to update your knowledge on the best techniques for caring for land and water resources. On the second Wednesday of each month, experts discuss topics related to the science and practice of stewardship. Past presentations include “Managing for the Karner Blue butterfly” and “Fire in Restoration" . Tune in for the next installment, check back often for the date, and theme, which is to be determined. Click
here to reach the webcast page. Subscribe to a monthly reminder here.
Check the link above for the webcast topic closer to the date.
Lisa Brush - Executive Director, Stewardship Network. Lisa has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network since its inception more than 10 years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over nine years, as she has built and coordinated the Stewardship Network, she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program. She has a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a B.A. (Science in Society) from Wesleyan University.
4th International Conference on Natural Channel Systems: Call for Papers
Who: Natural Channel Systems Conference
When: Deadline to submit paper ideas - March 12th, 2010, Conference dates: September 27th and 28th, 2010
Where: Submissions Online
Link: www.naturalchannels.ca
This is a reminder that the Steering Committee is now working at developing the program and is soliciting abstracts from practitioners from across Canada and beyond. Conference streams under the main program theme will include:
- Biodiversity – Protecting and Restoring Stream Corridors with Ecological Function
- Tools for Designing Natural Channel Systems and Functional Corridor
- Monitoring and Outcomes of Natural Channel Systems Initiatives
- Special Natural Channel Systems Applications (urban, rural, mining, etc.)
- Regulatory Environment for Natural Channel Systems Planning and Design
Abstracts can be submitted on the Symposium website above.
As the Steering Committee is working to finalize the program as soon as possible we ask that any ideas be submitted through the website no later than Friday, March 12, 2010. Please note that not all proposals can be accommodated. It is expected that the successful as well as the unsuccessful contributors will be advised by Friday, April 30, 2010.
Thanks for your support of this important Symposium! We look forward to a successful event.
The theme of the 4th International Conference on Natural Channel Systems “Stream Corridor Management: Restoring our Natural Infrastructure” - pays tribute to the function of Natural Channel Systems as natural infrastructure that sustains the biodiversity of watersheds and the quality of human life.
Delegates at this year’s Symposium will hear about the intrinsic links between biodiversity, stream corridors and watershed health. This year’s speakers are invited to identify innovative policy and program approaches, as well as to explore the tools and science required to rehabilitate our natural channel systems and restore our biodiversity and natural infrastructure.
Conference Date: September 27 & 28, 2010
Conference Location: Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre
South Peel Naturalists' Club Winter Events
Who: South Peel Naturalists' Club
When: March 13th, 2010
Where: Bronte to Long Point
Link: www.spnc.ca/ActiveTrips.html
contact the SPNC via email for more information: mail@spnc.ca
Saturday, March 13th, 2010, 8:00 am
TUNDRA SWANS & WATERFOWL AT LONG POINT
Field trip to Long Point, meet at Bronte, Leader: Joyce LeChasseur
Nature Matters! Contest
Who: Environment Canada, Canadian Biodiversity Information Network
When: Deadline for Entries has been extended to March 14, 2010
Where: Canada
Link: www.cbin.ec.gc.ca
Environment Canada is celebrating 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) with a national contest on why nature matters to Canadians. IYB 2010 is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. To help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity, we would love to hear from Canadians between the ages of 9 and 35.
We encourage you to take part in these exciting celebrations by telling us why nature is important to you! Entries can be EITHER video essay OR written essay.
Contest dates
Submissions must be made through this webpage between January 28, 2010 and March 14, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winners will be notified the week of April 19, 2010 and announced on International Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2010.
High Park Winter-Spring Walking Tours
Who: Friends of High Park, High Park Initiatives
When: March 14th and 28th, 2010
Where: High Park, Toronto
Link: www.highpark.org/walking.htm
Free Sunday Walking Tours take place every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Meet at the benches, across the road from the south side of Grenadier Restaurant in the middle of High Park. Walks may go on wooded trails, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Walks are led by volunteer scientists, historians, and local naturalists who will help you to understand and explore High Park’s many significant features.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010, 10:30 am
DISCOVER THE PARK THROUGH ARCHIVAL PHOTOS
Terry Fahey
Sunday, March 28th, 2010, 10:30 am
THE MAYOR'S WALK
Mayor David Miller
Ecological Restoration Scholarship
Who: Society for Ecological Restoration Ontario
When: Application Deadline: March 19th, 2010
Where: Province-wide
Link: www.serontario.org
Applications for the Society for Ecological Restoration Ontario (SERO) scholarships are now being accepted!
SER Ontario is offering a $1000 scholarship in support of studies focusing on applied, natural and/or social aspects of ecological restoration. The scholarship is open to students at Ontario universities and community colleges.
Full information and the application form are available on the SERO website at www.serontario.org.
The deadline for receipt of a paper copy of the complete application and letters of reference is Friday 19 March 2010. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all material is sent directly to SER Ontario scholarship committee, with the exception of reference letters. Results will be announced in late March 2010.
Complete applications should be sent to:
Prof. Jennifer Foster
Faculty of Environmental Studies
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3J 1P3
Long Point Waterfowl Outing Bus Trip
Who: Hamilton Naturalists' Club
When: March 20th, 2010
Where: Hamilton to Long Point
Link: www.hamiltonnature.org
The Long Point biosphere reserve is one of the best places in Canada to observe waterfowl and they should be at their peak in late March with upwards of 25 species being observed. Meet at the Aldershot GO station NORTH parking lot, just south of Hwy # 403 off Waterdown Rd. at 7:00 a.m. Please dress warmly! Bring your binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. We are travelling by school bus and will have a washroom / coffee break along the way. We are also visiting Florence winery near Long Point for lunch. (meal will cost approximately $10, drinks / dessert extra.) There will be a sign up list and we will be collecting money at the next HNC meeting. Cost of this excursion is $ 25 pp. or $ 40 for couple or family. Please contact Elaine Serena immediately if you would like to come, as we need to know numbers for our school bus and for the winery. (905) 639 2702 or preferably by e-mail eserena@cogeco.ca. For further details contact Bill Lamond at (519) 756 9546 or e-mail bill-lamond@hotmail.com
Annual Owl Prowl
Who: Sydenham Field Naturalists
When: March 20th, 2010 - 7:30pm
Where: Chatham Kent
Link: www.sydenhamfieldnaturalists.ca
March 20th, 2010
To be held at McKeough Dam on Hold Line. Email s.fn@hotmail.com for details.
Lambton Wildlife Spring Events
Who: Lambton Wildlife
When: March 29th, 2010
Where: Sarnia and Area
Link: www.lambtonwildlife.com
Monday, March 29th, 2010
FRONT YARD GARDENS: GROWING MORE THAN GRASS
Liz Primeau, the highly respected and well known author of numerous books on gardening, including the best seller "Front Yard Gardens", founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine and the former host of Canadian Gardening Television on HGTV, will be our speaker. She has long been the leader of the turf the turf movement. She preaches the mantra of biodiversity and the beneficial transformation that occurs when you replace an expanse of lawn with plants that attract birds & butterflies.
Rare Native Plant Gems: Species at Risk
Who: North American Native Plant Society
When: April 7th, 2010 - 7:30pm
Where: Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto and Markham
Link: www.nanps.org
Jane Bowles has worked as a freelance ecologist mainly in southwestern Ontario and is is Adjunct Professor in Biology and Geography at Western and Director of the UWO Herbarium and Sherwood Fox Arboretum.
She will share some of her experiences studying the ecology, monitoring and working on recovery of endangered plant species from Wood Poppy in London to rare gems of the tallgrass prairies on Walpole Island.
$8 for NANPS members $12.00 for the general public
Earth Day 2010 Youth Writing Contest
Who: Essex Region Conservation Authority and Earth Day Canada
When: Submission Deadline - April 9th, 2010, Earth Day Celebrations will be held on Sunday, April 25th
Where: Celebrations will be held at the Matchette Road Entrance to Malden Park
Link: www.erca.org
The Essex Region Conservation Authority and Earth Day Canada are inviting kids to think about how one person can make a difference. How one person can start a movement. How one person can be a catalyst for change. How a clean, green, natural environment can be a fun and healthy place to live? What will you and your friends do to save our environment? Take us on your environmental journey and send your contest submission, either as a picture, an essay, a poem or a video.
If you go to school in Windsor or Essex County, you are eligible to enter. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, email address, parents’ name, your grade, and the name of your school with your submission. Submissions should not be copyright; by making your submission you are granting ERCA the right to use it on its website or as a part of other ERCA publicity. For other guidelines, please visit the weblink above.
Entries will be divided into five categories ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The deadline for submission is April 9, 2010. The winning entry from each category will receive a cool prize package and be honoured for their achievement at Earth Day® Tree Planting Celebrations at Malden Park in Windsor on April 25 at 10am.
Earth Day® Tree Planting Celebrations will take place from 10am until 3pm on Sunday, April 25 at the Matchette Road Entrance to Malden Park. From the EC Row Expressway, exit on Matchette and head north. Malden Park is located right across the road from Mic Mac Park. Hope to see you there! For further details about Essex Region Conservation Authority events and activities, visit www.erca.org.
Biodiversity Best Practices and Case Studies: A Snapshot of ENGO Biodiversity Activities in Canada
Who: Canadian Environmental Network
When: January 2010
Where: Canada
Website: www.cen-rce.org
To mark the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, the RCEN launched a Best Practices/Case Studies Contest to gather innovative and effective examples of environmental non-governmental organizations’ (ENGOs) work related to the conservation, sustainable use, and awareness of biodiversity.
RCEN Biodiversity Best Practices Handbook.
The winning best practices are now featured in our "Biodiversity BestPractices Handbook 2009: Case studies from the environmental non-government sector". This handbook features twelve projects from within seven of Canada’s terrestrial ecozones that were selected as representative best practices of what ENGOs are doing to help increase or protect biodiversity from coast to coast to coast:
Read: Biodiversity Best Practices Handbook 2009: Case studies from the environmental non-government sector (PDF 2MB)
The handbook is a public document that we encourage you to download, print, link to, post and generally to make as much use of as possible! A limited number of print copies will be available soon.
The RCEN congratulates everyone involved in these and other projects for their successes (all Handbook submissions are posted on the interactive map below). They are important not only in themselves but are a significant contribution to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. Thank you to Environment Canada for supporting the project and the RCEN members who put the handbook together: John Coombs, Fabiola Corona, Ester Strijbos and especially Maggie Paquet, whose expert advice and countless hours of work made an invaluable contribution to the project.
Middlesex / Elgin / Oxford Natural History Sightings Listserve
Who: midd_elgi_observations group at Yahoo! Groups, Moderator Peter Burke
When: as of November 2009
Where: Middlesex, Elgin and Oxfrord Counties
Website: www.tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/midd_elgi_observations/
Here's an exciting new way to share your natural history sightings from Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford Counties. You can post about birds, frogs, dragonflies, flowering dates for plants or anything else of interest. To learn more about what to post go to the weblink provided above. If you want to post reports or photos, join the group. When signing up make your present email address the primary address.
City of Burlington Protects Valuable Niagara Escarpment Lands
Who: Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL), Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC), Conservation Halton, Region of Halton, City of Burlington
When: November 2009
Where: Burlington
Burlington City Council votes 5 – 2 in favour of denying Nelson Quarry and protecting Escarpment!
It's official. All three local public agencies - Conservation Halton, Region of Halton and the City of Burlington - have now voted to oppose the Nelson Aggregate quarry license application in Burlington. The next agency to decide on the application is the Niagara Escarpment Commission who will meet on November 18th. Yesterday, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (“NEC”) released its much anticipated Staff Report which recommends to the NEC to ‘not support’ the quarry application.
Come to the NEC meeting on Nov. 18th at 2 p.m. to show your support! 1 Halton Hills Drive (Trafalgar and Maple in Georgetown) Contact Elizabeth Cox at 905-336-8077 if you need a ride.
PERL is extremely encouraged by the results of the three local government votes. If the NEC also votes to accept the staff recommendation and deny the quarry, this will send a strong message to the Joint Board who will make the final decision on the quarry application. The Joint Board is currently in pre-hearings, awaiting the decisions by these four local government agencies.
BONUS: Motion to Protect Mount Nemo Passed
In addition to voting to deny the quarry application, just last Monday the City of Burlington passed in a 5-2 vote a resolution calling on the Province of Ontario to update the Niagara Escarpment Plan designations on Mount Nemo to accurately reflect the ecological conditions on the Nelson Aggregate subject property and adjacent land. A similar resolution was passed by Halton Regional Council on October 28 calling on the McGuinty government to protect Mount Nemo and the Escarpment before proceeding to a lengthy Joint Board hearing that Nelson threatens may last up to one year.
Halton Region and the City of Burlington made history by being the first municipalities to call for a stop to new aggregate operations in the most sensitive areas of the Niagara Escarpment, one of Canada’s precious UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. We at PERL are encouraged by their decisions and determined to see this quarry application denied and the Mount Nemo plateau protected.
The final word goes to Mayor Cam Jackson:"The Mount Nemo plateau has had to endure the burden of over 60 years of quarrying… It is time for Mother Nature to heal itself. It is time to let the plateau restore itself to its natural beauty not just for our future generations but forever.”
New Nature Preserve Created in Middlesex
Who: Thames Talbot Land Trust
When: November 2009
Where: Putnam, Middlesex County
Website: www.ttlt.ca
An astounding act of philanthropy has created our region’s newest protected natural area. Al and Lilianne Driedger have donated a 74 acre (30 ha) forest/wetland property located near Putnam in the Municipality of Thames Centre , Middlesex County . This property is part of a provincially significant wetland complex called the Five Points Woods Wetland. The protected area has been donated to the Thames Talbot Land Trust and will be known as the Five Points Forest – Driedger Tract. An adjoining wetland property is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and managed by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority so that now almost the full extent of this important natural area enjoys permanent protection through conservation ownership.
The property contains a large mix of habitat types, from young to old, dry to moist to wet. There are extensive areas of planted Scots Pine and Red Pine, but these are now dying and giving way to more appropriate species such as Trembling Aspen, ash, hawthorn, apple and cedar. The real gem of the site is a White Cedar Swamp that has developed in seepage areas and represents a northern or boreal element. The understory contains Cinnamon Fern, Skunk Cabbage, and many boreal plants that are uncommon in Middlesex County . Also uncommon for Middlesex, is a large marsh dominated by sedges. Treats here include Swamp Loosestrife and a family of Wood Ducks on a small pond covered with pondweed. There is also a large Green Ash tree on the property, an Endangered species in Ontario.
In addition to the generosity of the Driedgers, this project was able to succeed thanks to the very progressive and conservation-minded positions adopted by the Municipality of Thames Centre and the County of Middlesex that allowed a “conservation severance” to create this natural legacy. In parts of southern Ontario , up to 90% of our wetlands have been lost and those that remain provide critical habitat for wildlife and secure the water supply that is essential for agriculture and for healthy communities.
The Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) will develop a comprehensive natural inventory and management plan for the Five Points Forest that will be monitored by a local group of volunteer stewards. The Driedgers have also endowed a stewardship fund upon the TTLT that is held within the London Community Foundation, which means that there will always be the financial resources required to care for the property. The Five Points Forest is the eighth conservation property to be protected by TTLT, a volunteer run charitable organization that will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2010.
To learn about how you can help to create more natural legacies visit the weblink above, or call 519-858-3442.
Support the Upholding of Woodland Ruling
Who: London Woodland Coalition, ReForest London, McIlwraith Field Naturalists
When: November 2009
Where: London, Ontario
Website: www.reforestlondon.ca/news
Last year the City of London and a the London Woodland Coalition (comprised of number of organziations including ReForest London) successfully defended the City's change in criteria making it easier to protect London's remaining woodlands. The change in criteria had been challenged by a number of companies but was upheld by the OMB. Now that ruling is being challenged by the same group of companies. Sandy Levin, former City Councillor, hired a lawyer to assist the City lawyers in defending the changes.
The London Woodland Coalition assisted in this through financial support. You can help defray costs of the lawyer hired by Sandy Levin by making a tax deductible donation to McIlwraith Field Naturalists. Cheques, noting it is for OPA 403, can be sent to McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London, Box 24008, London ON N6H 5C4.
The vine that ate the south is here: dreaded invasive kudzu vine has been found in Ontario
Who: Ontario Invasive Plant Council
When: September 2009
Where: Leamington
Link: www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca
It has been taking over fields, roadside signs, fences, trees, and even houses in the United States for years, but now, the kudzu vine (Pueraria montana) has been discovered in Ontario, on the shores of Lake Erie near the town of Leamington. The kudzu vine is a native of Eastern Asia, and was first brought to North America in 1876 for a centennial exhibition. It was later used for erosion control and promoted as a forage crop. Eventually, it took over much of the southern states and despite attempts to stop it, has continued to spread northward.
“We have been watching the kudzu vine move toward Canada for some time now, with great apprehension. Our colleagues in the south have been fighting a tough battle with this invader, so we need to take immediate action in Ontario to stop kudzu in its tracks,” says Rachel Gagnon, Coordinator of the OIPC (Ontario Invasive Plant Council), a collective of organizations collaborating to address the spread of alien invasive plants in Ontario.
“Fortunately, it’s been found early, so unlike previous invaders, such as dog strangling vine, we have the potential to eradicate kudzu and protect Ontario’s biodiversity. Controlling this menace is critical to maintaining our native plants and wildlife habitat. If we let kudzu become established, it will cause untold ecological and economic damage.”
Like all other invasive species, when the vine takes to its new environment it spreads quickly at the expense of native species, including trees, which are girdled by the vine; broken by its weight; or killed by lack of light. The kudzu grows at an astounding rate of 30 centimeters (one foot) per day, and in a single season can grow up 30 meters (90 feet) in length.
Control measures include hand cutting, mowing, controlled burns and herbicide. Grazing animals, such as goats and pigs have also been effective at containing the spread of the vine over the long term.
The OIPC is a non-profit, multi-agency organization that facilitates a coordinated response to the threat of invasive plants. The council provides leadership, expertise and a forum to educate, motivate and empower organizations and citizens.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ontario’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation organization, houses the O.I.P.C. and supports its efforts. Visit www.ofah.org to learn more about the OFAH.
To report a sighting of the kudzu vine or any other invasive species, call the OFAH/MNR. Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.Visit the weblink above to download a fact sheet on the kudzu vine, or to learn more about other invasive plants.
Places: Linking Nature and Culture for Understanding and Planning
Who: James Gordon Nelson and Patrick Lawrence, University of Calgary Press
When: August 2009
Link: www.ucalgary.ca
Places: Linking Nature and Culture for Understanding and Planning
Edited by James Gordon Nelson and Patrick L. Lawrence
$44.95 sc
August 2009
ISBN 978-1-55238-254-76 x 9
520 pages
120 figures and illustrations, 50 colour photos
Energy, Ecology, and the Environment series, No. 1
Geography, Environmental Studies
This book identifies the major deficiency in the field of environmental planning, which is that issues are addressed from the perspective of one discipline or one dimension.. The ABC method outlined in the book provides a holistic framework for analyzing the environment and guiding environmental management.
- Dr. Thomas Gunton, Director, Resource and Environmental Planning Program, Simon Fraser University
About the Book
How can we make the best use of the Places we live in? In recent years, environmental conservation and sustainable development have become critical parts of the planning equation. However, most attempts to incorporate these considerations have focused too narrowly on specialized economic, geologic, biological, or other factors. With Places, James Gordon Nelson and Patrick L. Lawrence present a new, more complete approach to planning - the ABC Method. The ABC Method links Abiotic, Biotic, and Cultural factors in a systematic and comprehensive analysis with the aim of achieving better understanding of and planning for the challenges facing Places and the people living in them.
Examples of the ABC method are presented through international case studies and are illustrated with photographs and maps. This book is written for environmental planners, decision makers, students, and all those who are concerned about the history and future of Places, presenting a new, more highly integrated way of thinking that will help address serious challenges in effective, efficient, and equitable ways.
For more information about the authors, and where to purchase the book, visit the link provided above.
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 2001-2005 Available for Purchase!
Who: Ontario Nature, Bird Studies Canada, Ontario Federation of Ornithologists, Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
When: February 2008
Link: www.birdsontario.org
It is complete: The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Through the contribution of over 150,000 hours of field work and records by many birders across Ontario, the Atlas is ready. Over 3,400 volunteers, many members of the Nature Network, collected 1.2 million individual bird records, in a systematic grid stretching from the islands of Lake Erie to the shores of Hudson Bay.
The Atlas is a valuable educational tool, highlighting the importance of citizen science identifying:
- Species in decline, at risk and why
- Species increasing due to conservation efforts – conservation DOES work
- The decline of aerial foraging birds and grassland species
More information about the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario is available at www.birdsontario.org. Copies of the book can be purchased by calling 416-444-8419 or 1-800-440-2366 ($92.50 plus GST; price includes shipping); for online sales follow the links from https://id408.van.ca.siteprotect.com/ontarionature/shop/BBA_order_form.html.
Help Plant a Tree With Your Mouse!
Help plant a tree for free with Land Care Niagara. All it takes is a simple click of your mouse! Just visit: www.landcareniagara.com
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