A Conservation Volunteering Vision

Ten Years of Conservation Volunteering

Ontario Nature is celebrating a decade of conservation volunteering. Since 1998, environmentally-minded individuals from all over the province have joined Ontario Nature staff and partners to actively contribute to the preservation of Ontario’s biodiversity. From the alvars of Pelee Island to the shores of Moose River, dedicated volunteers have conducted wildlife surveys, restored and enhanced habitats, and reduced human impacts in sensitive natural areas.

Our formal conservation volunteering program began life as Working for Wilderness, and was designed to provide ordinary citizens with the opportunity to participate in conservation field projects that would positively impact nature throughout the province. In 2001, Ontario Nature partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Working for Wilderness program became Volunteer for Nature. Since that time, thousands of people have participated in stewardship projects as diverse as boardwalk building, wildlife surveys, invasive species removal, native tree and wildflower planting, derelict fence removal, and native seed collection.

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has lent a hand with our stewardship efforts over the last 10 years. Your invaluable contribution has enabled us to accomplish many important conservation goals!

With support from The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Ontario Nature has set a new goal to engage people across the province in hands-on biodiversity protection in ecologically significant natural areas. Strategies for developing provincial volunteer participation in conservation initiatives include expanding our volunteer programming in Ontario to include youth participants and developing a sustainable funding approach to ensure conservation volunteering continues to grow as a vital part of this province’s culture.