Welcome New Groups!

The Nature Network has been popular this year! We had another 4 new groups join the Nature Network this fall. Please join us in welcoming them and watch for opportunities to collaborate with them.

Baxter Creek Watershed Alliance was formed in 2021 with a mission to conserve and enhance the local watershed environment for future generations of humans and wildlife. They are based in Milbrook (Peterborough area) and will join the Lake Ontario North region.

High Park Nature Centre was formed in 1999 with a mission to promote awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship. They are in Toronto and will join the Lake Ontario North region.

Little Forests Kingston was formed in 2020 with the mission to Transform Kingston into a nature positive, equitable City in a Forest by 2030. They will join the Ontario East Region.

Turtles Kingston was formed in 2018 with a mission to protect turtles within Kingston and the surrounding area by affecting change in human and societal activities and behaviours. They will join the Ontario East Region.

Upcoming Webinars

Our fall line-up of webinars continues with a variety of topics to help your group's engagement and conservation efforts. Pre-registration is required. If you can’t attend on the date, sign up anyways and we will email you the recording.

1. Effective Boards, October 18
2. Wetland Conservation Strategies and Resources for Community Groups, November 8
3. Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Publication Launch, November 29

Greenbelt Wildlife, Worth Protecting

Let’s celebrate the reversal of the Government of Ontario’s plan to remove lands from the Greenbelt. But let’s be realistic too. Future politicians may follow the premier’s lead and invoke the housing crisis to justify overriding Greenbelt protections.

I’m concerned. The Greenbelt is the GTA’s last refuge for thriving populations of plants and animals that require spacious nature. That includes –gorgeous brook trout, that need cool, clean water, and the sublime luna moths that can’t abide our city lights. Flying squirrels and a host of beautiful warblers will suffer if we lose Greenbelt forests. Striking flora like lady’s slipper orchids will decline or disappear.

We need protected green space close to our burgeoning cities. We need to be ready, whenever necessary, to fight for the remarkable plants and animals that inhabit the Greenbelt.

For more on the iconic animals and plants that need the Greenbelt, visit this article from In The Hills magazine.

Article and photo by Don Scallen, Halton/North Peel Naturalists

Water Deregulation Threat

In the wake of the hard-won announcement that Greenbelt lands will not be removed, Ontarians must stand up against yet another attempt at environmental deregulation. This time, the Government of Ontario is proposing to bypass key requirements for the licensing of waste and stormwater management and water-taking before operations commence. Proposed changes would eliminate government review and public scrutiny of activities that have the potential to cause significant harm to the natural environment and human health.

To raise awareness the Canadian Environmental Law Association is hosting a webinar on October 17^th at 1 pm. For more information and to voice your opposition, visit their action alert.

Protect Species by Protecting Your Photos

Did you know that sometimes, when photos of species at risk, sensitive wildlife or plant-life are posted, malicious actors can take advantage of the shared information and poach, harass or illegally remove the species? In images, EXIF data stores camera information as well as coordinates that can reveal where the photo was taken. Fortunately, this metadata can easily be removed from your photos. You can edit the property of photo files easily on a desktop or laptop computer. Also, do not include the whereabouts in uploaded file names if natural features in the image files are sensitive to disturbance.

Interesting Links and Opportunities

• Help save Wolf Lake – an old-growth red pine forest – by signing our action alert!
• Ontario Nature staff were proud to support the Land Alliance of 5 First Nations fighting mining in their territories without their consent at the March for the Land on September 27^th. (photo above)
• Hamilton is fighting back against changes to the Ontario wetland evaluation system – way to go!
• Did you know that the Sustainability Network offers many amazing workshops for ENGOs?

Events 

See our events calendar for a complete listing of events organized by Ontario Nature and Nature Network groups. 



To submit your public events for the online calendar, send them to noahc@ontarionature.org and allow up to a week for posting. Please send only events that are open to the public and no more than three per month.