Restoring Onondaga Farms The unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow earlier this winter were a welcome change for the restoration team with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). They completed numerous rebuild projects at the impressive Tim Horton Onondaga Farms near Cambridge, Ont. With funding in place from last year’s successful tribute event held in honour of original property owner Gil Henderson and his late wife
Molly, DUC installed seven new long-life water control structures. With new safety fencing and minor dam work also completed, the control structures manage the flow of water, ensuring productive wetland habitat for years to come. “Onondaga Farms is a magnet for waterfowl and other wildlife” says Dave McLachlin, biologist and Ontario habitat restoration program lead with DUC. “In some cases, temporary dams
were installed to hold back water in the wetlands while the work was completed to ensure the hibernating reptiles and amphibians were not disturbed. And, while some of the finishing touches need to wait for warmer weather and drier conditions, these projects are ready for the return of the mallards, wood ducks and Canada geese that use them.”
below: ©DUC
Big steps taken to protect Montreal’s urban wetlands A newly-adopted plan makes wetland conservation a must in the Montreal area’s municipal planning. The Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) adopted its first Plan for Metropolitan Management and Development (PMAD) in eastern Region quebec December 2011. The PMAD proposes protecting 17 per cent of its natural habitats, which is in line with the sustainable development and biodiversity protection guidelines established during the Nagoya Biodiversity Summit 2010 in Japan. Wetlands represent two to four per cent of the natural environment protected under this plan. To achieve this conservation goal, each of the 82 MMC municipalities must identify and characterize wetlands greater than 0.7 acres (0.3 hectares) on their territory, and come up with a wetland conservation plan. The integration of wetlands into the PMAD was not an easy task and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) played a key role. By partnering with the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, and Parks, DUC conducted a detailed wetland inventory and mapping project for the MMC. The information DUC provided outlined solutions for sustainable land use in this highly developed part of the province, and showed the critical role wetlands play in building healthy communities.
eastern Region at l a n t i c
ExxonMobil donates to Atlantic Canadian projects 2011 was a successful year of major gift fundraising in Atlantic Canada with a record number of major gift donors supporting Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) conservation and education efforts in the region. A number of these gifts came from partners in conservation such as ExxonMobil. Part of ExxonMobil’s most recent commitment will be used for repairs at Amherst Point Marsh (above), located on the edge of Amherst, N.S. This 1,000-acre wetland, which is part of a National Wildlife Area, provides a refuge for waterfowl. The marsh is an important breeding area for ring-necked ducks, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal and American black ducks. Major gift donations to this project are critical, as costs to repair 1.2 miles of diking and install new water controls is upwards of $500,000. Many major gift donors are also recognizing the value of DUC’s Project Webfoot program, which continues to be in high demand. Funding for field trips and class support has never been more important. ExxonMobil designated a large part of their contribution to help DUC expand the program in Newfoundland and Labrador. This injection of funds will allow more students in the province to experience hands-on learning about the importance of wetlands. Other partners in conservation in Atlantic Canada include Encana Corporation, Corridor Resources, Skretting Canada, and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline.
Conservator | spring 2012
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