Sign Our Action Alert on the Endangered Species Act

Protecting species at risk is essential for the long-term health and diversity of Ontario’s ecosystems. Yet, the loss of biodiversity in Ontario continues. Please join Ontario Nature in asking the minister to restore the integrity of the Endangered Species Act. 

Northern Nature Groups Enjoy City Nature Challenge

The annual City Nature Challenge was held from April 26 to 29 2024. Many groups across the world participated, including two in northern Ontario.

The Sault Naturalists partnered with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, The Kensington Conservancy and the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority in this annual “global observing event”. Citizens were invited to get out to find wildlife (plants and animals) in the Algoma District and Chippewa County, Michigan and contribute to the local biodiversity database, as well as compete with other population centres. The final Canada-wide numbers recorded over the four days in April were 123,452 observations. We were quite happy with our results, placing 11th in all of Canada with 2,869 observations and 617 species. We look forward to competing again in 2025!

The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists participated for a thrid year in the global City Nature Challenge, and the early spring and mild conditions had us hopeful that we could improve on our results from the previous two years. Late April is not the ideal season for a BioBlitz in northern Ontario but having it at the same time of year annually does allow us an interesting year-to-year comparison. We have seen growing interest in the City Nature Challenge. Although our number of observers was down slightly this year, we had the highest total number of observations (796) and species (294) yet reported. Notable highlights this year included a gray fox (obtained as part of the local TBFN-sponsored gray fox study), blue-spotted salamander, house finch, eastern towhee, two early western painted turtles, common green darner and several species of early butterflies. The most reported species were yellow-rumped warbler and purple finch. The City Nature Challenge is a good reason to get out and explore nature in early spring. Who knows what discoveries we’ll make in 2025!

Article submitted by Sault Naturalists and Thunder Bay Field Naturalists

GIS services for groups

Ontario Nature is offering a new service for Nature Network members and environmental groups – GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping support! GIS is a tool used for any geographically-based need, like landscape mapping and analyses. You may want a simple map of a property you manage, an analysis of carbon storage on your property or to digitize an old map to use in new GIS projects. A list of examples of the types of projects we can help with can be found online. 

Project requests can be submitted on our online form. We are offering this service at a discounted rate for nature groups. If you have any questions, you can reach out directly to Graeme Smith, our GIS Coordinator, at graemes@ontarionature.org.

Join Carolinian Canada's Pawpaw Parade to Grow a New Harvest Celebration

In the spirit and practice of reconciliation, Carolinian Canada invites you to help bring the pawpaw back to southern Ontario. This year, Carolinian Canada is partnering with over 25 groups to host the parade in their communities and grow the celebration!

The 2024 Pawpaw Parade will include a pawpaw giveaway through the In the Zone tracker, a pop-up shop fundraiser, and gifts to Indigenous communities. Sign up for In the Zone today and get ready for the Pawpaw Parade application coming this fall at caroliniancanada.ca/pawpaw.

Article and photos submitted by Carolinian Canada

Nature Strategy and Nature Accountability Bill

On June 13, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change released Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy and the Nature Accountability Bill. The strategy lays out how Canada will implement the ambitious nature protection goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It identifies areas of action and what is needed to achieve the international targets.

The Nature Accountability Bill will enshrine in legislation the government’s commitment to protect nature.

Ontario Nature will advocate for the provincial government to commit to the international biodiversity targets and support the actions of the national strategy. In collaboration with national partners, we will advocate for amendments to the federal bill to strengthen accountability on the commitments to protect nature.

Interesting Links and Opportunities 

• Don’t forget to post your volunteer opportunities in our form by August 25th to be included in the early September volunteer posting newsletter
• Please help expand our Gananoque Lake Nature Reserve
• We are saddened by the passing of Larry Lamb, a life-long naturalist and volunteer with several Nature Network groups including Waterloo Region Nature, Woodstock Field Naturalists, and rare Charitable Research Reserve. A tribute to Larry has been published in the Waterloo Region Nature newsletter, The Heron.

Events 

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

To submit your public events to our online calendar, email 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.