c o n s e r v a t i o n u p d a t e s f o r m e m b e r g r o u p s |
| Ontario Nature Network News - April 16, 2007 |
|
To view a copy of this newsletter online or to subscribe to receive a copy of the Nature Network News by email visit www.ontarionature.org/resources/nnnews.html. Please pass this newsletter on to other members of your club. Ontario Nature has moved! Make sure to change your contact information to: 366 Adelaide Street West, Suite 201 Ontario Nature grants permission for use of the information below in member group newsletters. Please credit either Ontario Nature or the member group. FEATURE: Voices of the Boreal Forest NEWS FROM THE NATURE NETWORK NEWS FROM ONTARIO NATURE
NEWS FROM MEMBER GROUPS
NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
NEW! IMBY (IN MY BACK YARD) UPCOMING NATURE NETWORK NEWS DEADLINES |
|
FEATURE |
|
Recent evidence estimates that 300 species and 2 BILLION individual birds breed in the boreal forest before migrating south. The boreal forest is recognized as THE single most important breeding ground for birds in North America. Join Ontario Nature and the Toronto Field Naturalists for a fun and inspiring multimedia experience about the BILLIONS of songbirds that breed in the majestic boreal forest. You will hear about the threats their breeding grounds face, as well as the tremendous conservation opportunity to protect this special place and what you can do to help! FEATURING:
When: Monday, May 7, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Where: Jane Mallett Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East Tickets: $25 available for purchase online at www.stlc.com, by calling 416-366-7723 and 1-800-708-6754, or in person at the STLC, 27 Front Street East Information: Jen Baker, Ontario Nature, 416-444-8419, ext. 224, jenniferb@ontarionature.org or www.ontarionature.org. |
|
NEWS FROM THE NATURE NETWORK |
|
The Ontario Nature spring regional meetings have begun across the province. This is a great opportunity to network with other Ontario Nature member groups. Please mark the meeting dates in your calendar and encourage representatives from your group to attend. If you have any questions please contact your Regional Coordinator listed below.
Southern Region Central Region Northern Region Eastern Region |
|
A large thank you to the clubs that have submitted completed questionnaires. To date 95 completed questionnaires have been received. Using the information gleaned from the questionnaire, as well as face-to-face consultations with volunteers, Board members and staff, Ontario Nature in partnership with Nature Canada, will learn about the capacities, activities, interests, needs, and hopes of our network and the opportunities for a national nature network. The end product of this process will be a strategic plan for the Canadian Nature Network, for presentation to Environment Canada and Parks Canada for consideration on how the network could be supported to advance conservation action and policy. At the same time, Ontario Nature will be using the information collected to help us strengthen our programs as the provincial voice for nature. For those clubs that submitted compensation forms, cheques for $100 will be in the mail in May. Draws from all submitted completed questionnaires for 1 of 10 Breeding Bird Atlases will take place before the end of April and the winning clubs will be announced in the next issue of Nature Network News. |
|
NEWS FROM ONTARIO NATURE |
|
Invitation to Submit Resolutions Ontario Nature member groups are invited to submit resolutions for consideration at the 2007 Annual General Meeting. The consideration and adoption of resolutions at an AGM allow issues of importance to clubs to be addressed at the provincial level, gives issues the weight of the full organization, and can be helpful in public communications and submissions to decision-makers. In order to be considered at the AGM, resolutions must conform to the following specifications:
The Ontario Nature Board (or its designate) has the final decision regarding whether or not a resolution is submitted to the membership for consideration at the AGM. Resolutions will not be accepted from the floor. At the discretion of the Chair, any resolution may be put to a vote or withdrawn at any time during the debate. |
|
Ontario Nature Seeks Greenway Program Manager Ontario Nature seeks an experienced land use and natural heritage policy advocate for the position of Greenway Program Manager. The ideal candidate is committed to the voluntary sector, has a love and appreciation of nature, sets ambitious goals and is results-oriented. You have a facility with scientific information. You have the ability to analyze information and develop clear, focused and strategic initiatives to engender political, industrial, and public support for the implementation of policies and programs leading to an interconnected network of greenways and waterways across southern Ontario. You are experienced in designing and delivering successful campaigns to influence public policies and programs. You are familiar with Ontario’s municipal planning and natural heritage protection regimes. You are creative in your approaches to communicating with our members, donors, affiliated clubs, the general public, and the media about the need for an interconnected network of greenways and waterways. You have a commitment to serve the organization, and excel in working independently as well as part of internal and external teams. Complete responsibilities and qualifications are posted on our website at www.ontarionature.org/home/jobs.php3. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2006. |
|
Take Action: Voice Your Support for Bill 184, Ontario's Proposed New Endangered Species Act (ESA) Once again, Ontario Nature needs your help on behalf of Ontario’s endangered plants and animals. On March 20, 2007, the provincial government introduced Bill 184, Ontario’s proposed new Endangered Species Act. The Bill sets out an innovative and promising new approach to protecting and recovering Ontario’s endangered plants and animals, while addressing the concerns of landowners and resource users. The public is invited to comment on the proposed legislation by April 19, 2007. The proposed ESA will be the first legislation in Canada to include both science-based listing of endangered plants and animals, as well as mandatory habitat protection. A new $18 million stewardship fund will assist landowners in protecting wildlife habitat on their properties. Ontario is home to nearly 40% of all of the endangered species in Canada. Action is urgently needed, because for those plants and animals for which trends are known, over 75% are either already gone from Ontario or are on their way to disappearing. For a brief summary of Bill 184’s strengths and weaknesses, see the sample comments below. To view Bill 184, please visit: www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/38_Parliament/Session2/b184.pdf. Make a difference to the future of endangered plants and animals in Ontario by submitting comments on or before April 19! Please send your comments to the Ministry Natural Resources and express your support for Bill 184. To submit comments online, go to www.ebr.gov.on.ca and enter Registry #AB06E6001 in the ‘find’ field. That will give you one result. Click on that link. It will take you to a page describing the legislative review process. About halfway down the page on the right side is the grey button ‘Submit Comment.’ Fill in your contact information and comments in the window that pops up. Or, if your prefer, you can mail or fax a letter to MNR. Please be sure to reference the EBR Registry Number so that your comments count! EBR Registry Number: AB06E6001. Please send a copy of your letter or email to Ontario Nature at info@ontarionature.org. |
|
In October 2007, the voters of Ontario will head to the polls to elect a new government. All indications are that both voters and candidates will be spending a lot of time over the next few months talking about the environment, especially our rapidly changing climate. Ontario Nature has joined 12 of Ontario's leading environmental organizations to develop a set of key Environmental Priorities that can help steer Ontario in a new and healthier direction. These priorities cover a wide range of issues - from energy and waste to boreal forest conservation and the fate of the Great Lakes - but they are all deeply interconnected. The priorities outlined at www.prioritiesforontario.ca point us toward smart decisions that make respect for the environment the foundation for all our actions. In essence, we need to turn our current priorities on their head and start recognizing the massive benefits of designing policies that reward smart environmental choices - whether it is replacing toxins with safer (and often cheaper) substitutes; creating compact, livable, healthy communities; protecting irreplaceable wilderness areas and the invaluable ecosystem services they provide; safeguarding water systems and sources by restoring greatness to our lakes and other waterways; reducing, reusing and recycling the materials in packaging and products instead of sending them up smokestacks or burying them in a hole in the ground; or reducing costs and increasing comfort by getting serious about improving energy efficiency. For more information www.prioritiesforontario.ca. |
|
2007 Annual General Meeting and Conference Join us at Trent University in Peterborough for exciting field trips, informative programs and innovative ideas. Ontario Nature and our hosts, the Peterborough Field Naturalists, invite you to our 76th Annual General Meeting and Conference. More information and registration forms are available and at www.peterboroughnature.org. The conference website will be updated throughout the year. We can't wait to see you there! For more information, please leave a message at: Tel: 416-444-8419 ext. 240 |
|
NEWS FROM MEMBER GROUPS |
|
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN) Launches Canoe/Kayak Pamphlet/Map Canoeing is one of our most pleasurable experiences and a most Canadian activity to pursue. Nothing is more relaxing as gliding along sheltered bays and shores, enjoying nature with a significant other; stopping along the shore for lunch and a glass of wine. Canoeing/kayaking as a means of learning more about nature is one of MVFN's flagship outdoor programmes. Over the years, MVFN member Cliff Bennett has lead groups onto over thirty bodies of water in Lanark County and area, from small streams to rivers to lakes. Each canoeing experience is a relaxing, leisurely meander around bays and islands to explore beaver dams, water related flowers, bushes and trees. Birds and other animals are always present. All of these day journeys are described on the MVFN website at www.mvfn.ca. Recently a map/pamphlet illustrating twenty-five of these trips in Lanark County was developed as a fund-raising activity as well as to acquaint many more people to the love of the sport in the area. With start-up funding from the Stewardship Council of Lanark County, a draft mock-up of the instrument was designed by local graphic artists Allan Stanley and Eileen Hennemann and a map by John Donaldson, all MVFN members. 20,000 copies will be printed and will be distributed through various County agencies all across Ontario and northern USA. Of course, to pay for this exciting, colourful production, advertising has to be sold. A team of MVFN members comprising of MVFN members Cliff Bennett, Mary Vandenhoff, Brenda Boyd and Frank Roy have been busy approaching potential business advertisers and agencies such as Chambers of Commerce, BIA's and municipalities. The advertising campaign is now over half completed and deadline for launch is expected by mid May. For more information, contact Cliff at bennett@magma.ca or 613-256-5013 . |
|
Come to Carden – come explore! The Carden Alvar is one of the top birding spots in Ontario for nesting grassland and shrubland birds. It also features the special plants that grow on alvars, a globally rare habitat. Hundreds of nature-lovers have helped protect these unique habitats. The first Carden Nature Festival promises something new for people at all levels. In the company of expert guides, start at dawn with a hike among the chorus of birds. Learn to identify sparrows by ear. Paddle your canoe through a quiet swamp or enjoy an introduction to fly-fishing. Try your hand at nature photography or get expert gardeners' tips on how to attract birds and butterflies to your yard. See the plants, butterflies, and dragonflies of the alvar up close. Take an evening walk to hear the sounds of frogs, birds, and owls, or explore the stars of the June sky. And there's more to enjoy as you explore the history and pleasures of the area: a ghost tour, a visit to a Mennonite farmers' market, a Friday evening ceilidh with local fiddlers, an elegant tea at a historic mansion – over 30 activities in all. Choose your own suite of activities at a reasonable cost but entry is limited and first-come first-served. To get your choice REGISTER NOW!! For more information and registration details, visit www.CardenGuide.com/Festival. You must pre-register. Individual and family Festival passes are available. Hosted by The Couchiching Conservancy, Carden Field Naturalists, Orillia Naturalists Club, Kawartha Field Naturalists, Carden Plain Important Bird Area, and City of Kawartha Lakes. Financial support from Casino Rama and Invenergy Canada. |
|
North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) Annual Spring Sale Too many urban yards are devoid of food and habitat for birds, butterflies, pollinators and other beneficial creatures. Native plants, the species that existed here long before the arrival of settlers, create that habitat far better than the alien species commonly sold at the corner store. Native plants, because they are adapted to local conditions, require NO WATERING, NO PESTICIDES, and NO FERTILIZERS. Once they’re established, they simply continue to thrive through summer droughts and winter freezes. At this huge annual event, NANPS offers expert advice, free seminars, information booths from a variety of environmental groups; and hundreds of different indigenous species suitable for the diverse conditions found across the Greater Toronto Area. All NANPS plants are guaranteed to be locally native, ethically propagated, and environmentally friendly. Proceeds from this sale go to support NANPS mandate: to study, conserve, cultivate and restore North America’s native flora. The North American Native Plant Society is a volunteer-based registered charitable organization established in 1984. Native Wildflowers, Ferns, Grasses, Shrubs and Trees at the Markham Civic Centre, Atrium We are raffling off a pair of tickets to see Al Gore present "An Inconvenient Truth" at the Green Living Show on Saturday April 27 10:30 a.m. The tickets include admission to the show. Raffle tickets are $5. The draw takes place in Downsview Park on Earth Day, April 22, 2007. Tickets can be purchased at the Workshops, at our Downsview Earth Day booth, or by mailing in a $5 cheque postmarked by Monday April 16th. |
|
10th Annual Huron Fringe Birding Festival MacGregor Point is home to one of Ontario’s most popular festivals, The Huron Fringe Birding Festival, which features guided birding, nature and heritage excursions and workshops. Attracting wildlife enthusiasts from across Canada and United States for the past 10 years this eight-day festival celebrates the return of neotropical migrant songbirds and so much more. Now less than two months away, bird lovers, known as “birders”, are busy sending their registration forms for this year’s programs and events. This provincially recognized festival runs from Friday, May 25 to Monday, May 28 and from Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 3, 2007. Learn and be entertained by many expert naturalists from across Ontario. Come for one day, one weekend, or the entire eight days. BBQ lunches and home–cooked style dinners are provided at a reasonable cost. The Festival is held at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, just south of Port Elgin on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron. As a convenience to attendees and to ensure that all visiting the Festival have a great experience, there are limited numbers of participants allotted per programmed event. This ensures that those just beginning to learn about nature as well as those who are “more expert in their field” will be guaranteed a more memorable experience. Anyone who has not pre-registered can still enjoy a satisfying visit with a diverse program offered over two weekends. Festival fees, complete program details and pre-registration forms and contact emails are available at www.friendsofmacgregor.org/hfbf/hfbf.htm. Please phone 519-389-2444 (before April 16) or 519-389-6232 or 519-389-6231 for more details. |
|
Wild For The Arts at MacGregor Point Provincial Park Wild for the Arts is a festival that celebrates nature as a source of inspiration for all things creative. Wild for the Arts, will be offering a full schedule of events and activities amid the autumn beauty of MacGregor Point Provincial Park. Workshops will explore nature photography, water colour painting and driftwood sculpture for kids. Bring the whole family and take part in the many other activities including scavenger hunts, story telling bike hikes, and the kid’s creativity corner. Meet local artists on the “Campsite Studio Tour” art show and sale. Enjoy various acoustic performers who will be located in the Campsite Studio Tour area. Saturday afternoon, the Campfire Circle will the setting for an “Open Song Circle” hosted by a local musician, Fran Sanagan. Saturday evening we will be entertained by Waterside, a folk group from Saugeen Shores. Free day use to MacGregor Point Provincial Park is being sponsored by Ontario Power Generation. Join us September 22 and 23 for this fun weekend and prepare to be inspired by nature! Artists wanting to be part of the “Campsite Studio Tour” can contact the Friends for a registration package. For further information contact, The Friends of MacGregor Point Park 519-389-6232 or 519-389-6231 or fompp@bmts.com or check the website www.friendsofmacgregor.org. |
|
The Naturalized Habitat Network Milestones As our organization approaches its sixth anniversary, we have recently marked two very important milestones. During the final weeks of 2006, we received formal recognition from Revenue Canada as a registered charity. We had been a registered not-for-profit since 2004, but charitable status is a new experience for our members. With this new status, we look forward to being able to issue charitable receipts for donations, as well as possible new grant opportunities and even GST rebates. When the spring sessions of our Naturalized Landscape Course began in March, we marked another significant milestone. After teaching our unique course to seemingly countless area residents over the last five years, we recorded our 500th class participant. This is something that we take great pride in, knowing that our six week course has given a thorough grounding in such stewardship concepts as native plants, attracting wildlife and resource management to no less than 500 people. While some organizations might mark their progress in terms of trees planted or number of shoreline cleanups, we feel that creating positive changes in the people themselves is ultimately the most profound way to heal and restore their environment and their communities as a whole. This is a reflection of a phrase that is often used in our organization, “Change the people and you will change the landscape.” To learn more about our other activities and upcoming events, visit our website at www.naturalizedhabitat.org. |
|
Upcoming Activities at Wye Marsh May 12 - Birding for Beginners: a two hour program from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, lead by local birding expert Dorothy Harper. This workshop includes a lesson about the basics of birding complete with a power point presentation with bird pictures and sounds, followed by a hike through the upland forest and into the Wye Marsh to practice those newly learned birding skills. Pre-registration is encouraged and recommended; please call the Centre for more information and to pre-register 705-526-7809. May 12 - “Building Birdhouses for Kids” event in the afternoon where participants will learn about bird homes and have the opportunity to build a bird house from recycled materials. This is a drop-in event and will run from 1 - 3 p.m. Behind the Scenes tour for the Trumpeter Swan Program. During the spring, especially during the month of April, is an exciting time in the world of trumpeter swans at Wye Marsh! We are inviting visitors to book a behind the scenes tour and witness spring time activity as swan pairs prepare to venture out into the Marsh and beyond into their nesting grounds, and summering grounds for juveniles and those without mates. During this time of migration, swans are exhibiting a ton of activity, socializing, and spring like behavior, including mating displays that can be safely viewed from the Wye Marsh berm. Please contact the Wye Marsh for more information and to book a besind the Scenes tour 705-526-7809, or view our website (www.wyemarsh.com). We also run a Parent and Tot program every Friday at 10 a.m. and have scheduled a migration program for Friday April 13th as it is titled “Duck, Duck, Goose”. We will talk about migration as we look for birds passing through, or that have just returned back to Wye Marsh. Pre-registration is encouraged by calling the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre Wye Marsh Sadly Announces the Death of J.J. The Trumpeter Swan She was discovered at the edge of the Outdoor Swan Treatment Pond on April 5th, during the daily monitoring. It is believed she passed away in the early morning hours. There were no signs of obvious trauma and during her daily monitoring, she had shown no signs of illness or stress. Her remains will be going to University of Guelph to have a necropsy performed. All results will be released to the media and the general public when they become available. The trumpeter swan coordinator who discovered J.J. is reported as saying, “This kind and gentle swan will be sadly missed by all that knew and loved her.” |
|
Renfrew County Natural History Day The Renfrew County Natural History Day is a one-day event held each spring to celebrate nature and to explore Renfrew County’s diverse natural history through talks, a children’s program, show-and-tell displays by participants, and guided local field trips. The speakers and field trip leaders are informative and entertaining experts in the natural history of Renfrew County, and the event is held at different locations across the county each year in order to highlight different places of special natural history interest. This year it is being held on May 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Arnprior at Emmanuel Anglican Church Hall, 287 Harrington Street. Topics will include Arnprior’s Gillies Grove, an untouched remnant of old growth forest, a look at the birds, mammals and mosses of the Ottawa Valley, and a view of our region at the end of the ice age. There will be guided trips to the Grove and other locations in the afternoon, and an opportunity to bring your natural history puzzles for experts to solve at our Identification Table. Natural History Day draws on the expertise and friendship of field naturalists (amateur and professional) from the Pembroke Area Field Naturalists, Macnamara Field Naturalists, the Renfrew County Stewardship Council, Ontario Nature, and the Ministry of Natural Resources-Pembroke division. The agenda for the day and directions to the church will soon be published in local newspapers, here on www.mfnc.ca and at www.renc.igs.net/~cmichener/pafn.index.html, the website of the Pembroke Area Field Naturalists. |
|
NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS |
|
The Pollination Canada Program Did you know that 70% of our food crops need insects for pollination? Did you know that most wild plants, and small animals that eat seeds, could not survive without them? Not only bees and butterflies; there are over 1,000 species of pollinating insects in Canada! Unfortunately, these beneficial insects are under pressure from loss of habitat, loss of food sources, disease, and pesticides. As insect populations are threatened, so are the fruit and vegetable produce, and the wild ecosystems that depend on these pollinators. Pollinators need your help. A new "citizen science" program allows the Canadian public to participate in a nationwide survey of pollinators. This is an ideal way to be educated and engaged and to make a difference. The Pollination Canada program educates people about the important role of pollinating insects, and the need to conserve their habitats. We also provide information and tools for educators, who can conduct programs to groups of various ages and interests. The heart of the program is actual monitoring of insect populations and diversity. By observing pollinators in gardens, local parks, along country roads, basically anywhere flowers are growing, and then sending in these observations, Pollination Canada participants help scientists to better understand the crucial relationships between pollinators, ecosystems, plant diversity, and human activity. This information is needed now, so that steps can be taken to preserve pollinator populations. All of our training material, including the Observer's Kit, is easily downloadable from our website at www.pollinationcanada.ca. |
|
Northern Ontario Plant Database The Northern Ontario Plant Database (NOPD) is a website that provides free public access to herbarium records housed in northern Ontario educational and government institutions. An herbarium (pl.: herbaria) is an archival collection of plants that have been pressed, dried, mounted, and labeled. Herbarium specimens serve as a reference to verify identification of plant species and as permanent records of where a particular plant has been found. Currently, there are over 55,000 herbarium records included in the NOPD. |
|
A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium The theme of the 14th annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium has been set as Your Watersheds, Our Great Lakes. Delegates to this year’s event will be provided with opportunities to explore past actions and discuss strategies to improve on the conditions within the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence basin in the context of traditional resource management themes as well as watershed activities focusing on restoration, water quality improvement and citizen action, together with new and improving natural resource management policies and programs. The Steering Committee is working at developing the program and is looking for presentation ideas and sessions by past participants as well as agricultural, conservation, environmental and stewardship organizations across Ontario. We seek this input through the responses received from the end-of-conference questionnaire completed by participants in 2006, as well as through input received on our website throughout the year and through individuals contacting the Committee members directly. As our 2007 theme has been set for the Symposium to be held on November 14, 15, 16, 2007 at the Nottawasaga Inn, the Committee felt compelled to place a call out to government and non-government organizations looking for session ideas from the people that matter - the agencies, organizations and individuals who make the annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium the premier environmental conference in Ontario! YOU! Conference streams under the main Program theme for 2007 include:
Ideas and presentation suggestions can be submitted on the Symposium website at www.latornell.ca under the Program icon. Please note that not all ideas and proposals can be accommodated and only those considered will be contacted by various Committee members. Thanks to all for your support of this important annual Symposium! Keeping our watersheds healthy and sustainable is the key to charting a course for the future that will not only protect but restore our Great Lakes. We all must take responsibility to ensure this valuable resource is shared with our children and the generations that follow. We look forward to another successful year! Conservation Pioneer Award The Conservation Pioneer Award honours individuals who have contributed significantly to the conservation movement in Ontario. www.latornell.ca/pioneer These prestigious awards are presented annually to five deserving individuals at the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium. Who is Eligible? Any individual who has made a long term contribution and/or achievement, through either their career or volunteer efforts in the conservation field. These contributions can include but are not limited to:
Who Can Nominate an Individual? Nominations are typically made by organizations and agencies involved in conservation such as Conservation Authorities, non profit organizations, government agencies, and universities. An organization or agency can make one nomination per year. How Are the Recipients Chosen? A committee is appointed each year by the A. D. Latornell Conservation Symposium and typically includes representatives from the organizing committee, the General Manager of Conservation Ontario and the Chair of the Land and Water Centre for Stewardship, University of Guelph. What do Successful Recipients Receive? Conservation Pioneer Award recipients are recognized at the Pioneer Luncheon held during the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium in November of each year. A gift and/or plaque is presented to each recipient A plaque with all the recipients' names is displayed at the Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, University of Guelph. A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium Grant (www.latornell.ca/grant.html) The A.D.Latornell Conservation Symposium Grant was established in memory of A.D. Latornell to provide support for students and active members of the conservation community so that they may attend the annual A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium. Eligibility is determined on the basis of the criteria outlined below. The funds are the result of the Symposium Dream Auction coordinated by the Steering Committee.
What principles guide the grant award?
Who is eligible?
How to apply? To apply for grant support, you must comprehensively address each of the following:
References required, including contact permission:
Where to send application and references? Please send application information and references via email, regular mail or by fax to: Application Deadline: September 30, 2007 – Successful applicants will be notified by October 15, 2007 |
|
You are Invited to the High Park,” Toronto Bird Observatory,” Bird Banding Station
|
|
(IMBY) IN MY BACK YARD |
|
Many of us are familiar with NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), the phenomenon in which citizens oppose a development as inappropriate for their local area, but by implication do not oppose such development in another's. This new section of the Nature Network News has been created to put a positive spin on conservation and sharing what we can do in our backyards to protect and restore natural habitats. What do you do in your backyard to benefit nature? This section will feature hands-on tips, from secret recipes for bird food to plans for bat houses to ways to actively appreciate your private natural haven. What is 'Citizen Science'? The term 'Citizen Science' describes the efforts of volunteers who monitor the status of living organisms or collect baseline information on environmental non-biotic variables (e.g. weather). The data collected through citizen science programs can be incorporated into management and conservation plans, and influence local, provincial and federal policy development Not sure where to start? Check out the following website to search for monitoring activities in your area: http://dev.stewardshipcanada.ca/communities/citizenScience/initiatives/init_searchOptions1.asp We need your input for this section to come to life. In addition to printing your contributions to IMBY in the Nature Network News, an online forum will be added to our website at www.ontarionature.org/ubb-cgi/Ultimate.cgi to share your ideas. You can also contact Clare Mitchell directly at 416-444-8419 ext. 243 or clarem@ontarionature.org with your thoughts. |
|
UPCOMING NATURE NETWORK NEWS DEADLINES |
|
Next Issue of Nature Network News The next issue of the Nature Network News will be sent on June 18, 2007. Submissions will be accepted until June 1, 2007. Please send articles to clarem@ontarionature.org. Ontario Nature publishes the Ontario Nature Network News every other month with contributions from its staff and member groups. |