eastern region (ontario)
volume 28, number 1, 2007
Ontarians rediscover nature and wildlife through natural attractions
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A Globe and Mail article last fall beautifully articulated a highly valid concern: that Ontarians have slowly become the willing victims of “nature-deficit disorder.” Fears of West Nile virus and avian flu, liability issues connected with outdoor spaces and “stranger danger” concerns have caused Ontario families to turn inward to live their lives behind walls and through electronic media. Those of us who actively seek interaction with nature know that our time spent outdoors heightens our senses, strengthens our attention, increases our fitness and feeds our emotional well-being. Spending time outdoors makes us feel good. It also makes us care about our environment and want to take steps to protect nature and wildlife. Our passion for the outdoors inspires us to reach out to like-minded citizens. Unfortunately, we often end up preaching to the converted when what we really need to do is spend more of our efforts reaching out to the uninitiated. We need to help Ontarians rediscover the outdoors. This won’t happen in the classroom, on a website, or with a brochure – although these places can provide a starting point for the outdoor experience. The purpose of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Healthy Wetlands…Healthy Communities project, which wraps up this month, was to enhance public wetland sites to provide improved outdoor experiences at wetlands. The funding was stretched as far as possible to enhance DUC members can help! Next time you’re looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, take someone to a public wetland near you and introduce them to your world. Visit www.downatthepond.ca for a wetland near you!
interpretive facilities at 13 public wetlands in southern Ontario. Now we need to really promote these and other natural attractions. There is certainly a link between nature and human health: conservation organizations have done a good job of connecting wetlands to watersheds and drinking water. But there is also a positive link between nature and economic development. People love day trips. If Ontario communities can take part in and promote their natural attractions, that means more people spending time in the local community, buying stuff, eating in restaurants, visiting other tourist attractions and possibly even indulging in an overnight stay. Good for nature, good for our health and good for our economy – especially our rural economies where some of the best natural attractions exist but are often underappreciated. Food for thought.
The boardwalk at Sifton Bog in London has received DUC/MNR partnership funding to provide southern Ontarians with the rare opportunity to visit a bog.
Conservation partners celebrate milestone at Long Point
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Conservation partners gathered at Big Creek National Wildlife Area last fall to celebrate a significant milestone in the history of Long Point in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of one of the world’s most successful conservation initiatives. In 1986, in reaction to critically low waterfowl numbers, Canada and the United States signed an agreement called the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) to implement an international action plan to conserve migratory birds throughout the continent. Twenty years later, over 700,000 hectares of habitat have been conserved through NAWMP, and the Long Point area plays a very important role in the plan’s success in Ontario. The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) is the NAWMP delivery agent in Ontario and in the 20 years since the Plan was first signed, the EHJV partners have contributed to the conservation of nearly 9,500 acres or 37 per cent of all the public and or privately owned wetland habitat in the Long Point area (about 25,160 acres). Combined with lands protected through federal and provincial legislation, and through the Long Point Region Conservation Authority, nearly 50 per cent (or 13,645 acres) of wetlands are now fully protected from ever being drained or filled in for other uses.
EHJV partners in Ontario include the following organizations that work together to plan and implement wetland habitat conservation projects in Ontario: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada and Wildlife Habitat Canada. These organizations work with landowners, conservation authorities, the municipality, community stakeholders and other conservation supporters to pull together the resources needed to conserve over 850,000 acres of wildlife habitat in Ontario to date.
Conservation dignitaries celebrate the EHJV partnership. From left: Jamie Fortune, Ducks Unlimited Canada; Lynn McIntyre, Wildlife Habitat Canada; James Duncan, Nature Conservancy of Canada; Tod Wright, former DUC president; Rita Kalmbach, mayor of Norfolk County; Kevin Wilson, MNR; and Donna Stewart, Environment Canada.
Project Webfoot launched in London
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Project Webfoot, an award-winning, international, interdisciplinary wetland education program was officially launched at Sifton Bog in London in October. Forty-five classes or approximately 1,125 children in the London area will have an opportunity to learn about wetland habitat and experience a field trip. The London District Catholic School Board, the Thames Valley District School Board, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority will join forces with Ducks Unlimited Canada to deliver the program in schools and in the field at wetland sites such as Westminster Ponds, Sifton Bog and Longwoods Conservation Area. The London program sponsors are the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Sifton Family Foundation, the London Community Foundation, Green Street and Ducks Unlimited Canada members. Across Canada, Project Webfoot has reached over 190,000 students since its inception in 1998. Through Project Webfoot, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) provides classes with kits of exciting and engaging in-class learning materials, as well as wetland field trips. The program gives students the opportunity to learn in an outdoor setting and encourages them to appreciate the natural world around them.
A Grade 4/5 class from John Dearness Public School participated in the Project Webfoot Launch in London.
eastern region (ontario)
Ontario Trillium Foundation receives Platinum Legacy Award
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The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is a generous supporter of many DUC conservation activities: everything from wetland restoration to outreach programs such as Project Webfoot and landowner stewardship programs. OTF was recognized for this commitment to wetlands when it was presented with a DUC Platinum Legacy award at the Project Webfoot launch in London in October. A two-year province wide grant of $169,300 allowed DUC to jump-start the Project Webfoot program provincially to bring this unique learning opportunity to thousands of Grade 4 students each year. In June 2006, DUC received a three-year $36,000 community grant to bring Project Webfoot to life in the Greater London area.
Do you love nature and the outdoors? o Are you interested in helping to raise funds to ensure that Ontario’s waterfowl and other wildlife can thrive in a natural, healthy landscape? o Do you live in one of these communities? St. Catharines Waterloo Guelph Orangeville Alliston Brampton Trenton Sundridge Sturgeon Falls Elliot Lake Deep River Nepean Eganville Mattawa Simcoe Rockland Gravenhurst
You can help us start a new DUC chapter! Ducks Unlimited Canada is looking for people to be Team DU leaders in their communities. Start up a chapter in one of the above communities – or in any community where there is not currently a chapter – and help DUC reach its conservation vision. Our goal is to ensure that Ontario is a healthy landscape that is capable of sustaining populations of waterfowl and other wildlife.
We are leaders inspiring every individual to make wetland conservation second nature in Ontario. Call 1-866-389-0418 to get started!
Paul Willoughby (left), Sheila Simpson from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (right) and DUC's Ron Maher (centre) at the Project Webfoot launch in London.
Five-year partnership on Great Lakes wetlands work wraps up
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In 2002 Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation (OGLRF) entered into an agreement to commit $2 million to wetland restoration in Great Lakes Areas of Concern. OGLRF committed $1 million which DUC would match, then DUC would deliver the restoration work directly or through partners. In November, the final installment of funding was announced, completing a successful partnership that will have seen 65 wetland projects completed by the time it winds up this March. The final installment of $400,000 was directed toward 18 wetland restoration projects in the Quinte and Niagara Areas of Concern and one in the St. Clair River Area of Concern. Don Robinson, president and CEO of OGLRF, noted that, “Through partnerships with organizations like Ducks Unlimited, the Foundation has been able to leverage over $6 million to bring about more than $28 million in rehabilitation and restoration work in environmental hot spots around the Great Lakes.”
From left: OGLRF director Dr. Helena Jaczek, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett, OGLRF President Don Robinson, and DUC National Development Manager Scott Fortnum announce a $400,000 funding commitment.
Landowner outreach program gains momentum
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The Headwaters Healthy Wetlands project is a multi-year wetland stewardship program for farmers and other rural landowners to encourage and provide assistance for wetland protection and restoration. It will build upon and utilize many of the products of the Healthy Wetlands for the Upper Grand project (a three-year stewardship program that wrapped up last year) such as the network of demonstration sites and resource literature for landowners. The new outreach program covers subwatersheds between Hanover, Shelburne and Guelph. The project area was identified using a combination of wetland mapping, waterfowl density mapping, soil type and topography. The area is rich in existing and former wetlands and holds high value for waterfowl and other wildlife. DUC’s conservation specialist Mike Williams heads up the new program. “Increasing landowner awareness and interest is a critical component in successful stewardship programs,” says Williams.
eastern Region (ontario)
The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited Canada Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre P.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028 toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK
“These types of programs need sustained multi-year funding in order to build and maintain momentum.” Fortunately, the Ontario Trillium Foundation stepped up to the plate with a three-year grant. Other project partners include Wetland Habitat Fund, Grand River Conservation Authority, Ontario Stewardship, Ministry of Natural Resources and Saugeen Conservation. The program was officially launched in Belwood last fall.
Please direct your inquiries to the following: Eastern Region Atlantic: Kelly MacDonald Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Lynette Mader Western Region Prairie-Western Boreal: Marci Dube British Columbia: Ellen Baragon Flyway production staff Director of Communications and Marketing: Madeleine Arbez Editor: Duncan Morrison Assistant: June Finnson Art Director: Tye Gregg Graphic Designers: Lindsay Pikta-Marie, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2007 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres
Ontario Area Contacts Director of Regional Operations Eastern Canada, Jamie Fortune (613) 565-2525 Manager of Provincial Operations for Ontario Ron Maher (613) 389-0418 Conservation Programs Brian Royal
(705) 721-4444
Marketing/Communications Lynette Mader (705) 721-4444 Education Program Coordinator (705) 721-4444
From Left: Robert Messier, project coordinator; Doug vanHemmessen, Wetland Habitat Fund; Paul Day, Wellington County Stewardship Council ; Brian Royal, DUC; Pierre Brinceau, Ontario Trillium Foundation; and Mark Ostrowski, local landowner and vice president of the Dufferin County Federation of Agriculture. DUC's conservation specialist Mike Williams (not pictured here) developed the program and its predecessor Healthy Wetlands for the Upper Grand.
Government Relations Julie Cayley
(705) 721-4444
Development
(705) 721-4444
Provincial Manager of Event & Volunteer Programs Steve Stinkowji (705) 544-8437 Event & Volunteer Customer Service (613) 389-0418 (866) 389-0418
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