Ontario Nature and 86 other organizations recently sent a letter urging the Government of Ontario to restore and strengthen wetland protections, as numerous changes to provincial policy and legislation have left these critical ecosystems at risk.
From mitigating floods and storing carbon to providing key habitat for biodiversity, wetlands are nature-based climate solution powerhouses, and they need our help more than ever.
If you want to help protect Ontario’s wetlands and secure a sustainable future for all, please consider signing our action alert, joining us and thousands of others in advocating for Ontario’s wetlands.
Our Nature Network is made up of 150 groups that are organized into seven regions across the province. Each of these regions elects a Regional Councillor who works with the other Councillors, and Ontario Nature’s staff and board to support the Nature Network.
Two of our current Regional Councillors will reach their maximum terms this spring. Ontario Nature and the Nature Network groups are incredibly grateful to John Diebolt and James Kamstra for their years of service.
Thus, we are looking for candidates for Regional Councillors for the regions of Lake Ontario North and Northen Ontario to stand for election at the spring regional meetings.
Candidates must be Ontario Nature members, be well connected with their local nature community and members of at least one Nature Network group in the region. The Regional Council meets quarterly and regularly communicates with Ontario Nature’s Nature Network Organizer and groups in their region to help guide activities and resources. The Regional Council elects some of their members to serve as Nature Network Directors on Ontario Nature’s Board of Directors.
If you are interested in learning more about these roles, please contact Lesley Rudy, Nature Network Organizer, at lesleyr@ontarionature.org.
Do you know a conservation champion in your community? A great way for us all to show appreciation for the people who do so much for nature is to nominate them for an Ontario Nature Conservation Award. Our 2025 Conservation Award nominations are now open. Visit our website to read the details of the awards procedure and to take note of important dates. Nature Network groups qualify to submit nominations for conservation champions in their region.
Get your invasive species monitoring and management projects ready! The Invasive Species Action Fund (ISAF) from the Invasive Species Centre and the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund (IPCF) from the Ontario Phragmites Action program are now open. ISAF facilitates on-the-ground monitoring and management of critical invasive species, including invasive plants, aquatics, and forest pests, while IPCF is dedicated specifically to phragmites projects. Both funds encourage applications from naturalist groups, land trusts and conservancies, stewardship councils, environmental advocacy groups, and other incorporated not-for-profit organizations. Applications for these exciting granting programs close in early 2025. To learn more and apply, visit invasivespeciescentre.ca/grants.
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.
We want to include more content from the network and will feature a story or two each month from network groups, as well as other resources. We encourage you to share your stories and links by emailing them to naturenetwork@ontarionature.org.
Ontario Nature @ Centre for Social Innovation720 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R4
Photos © John Hassell, Noah Cole, Peter Ferguson, Smera Sukumar, Dave CowieMT CC BY 2.0, Peter Ferguson