Simcoe AWARE Advocating for the Purest Water Known to Science!

For thousands of years, the water under the Simcoe Uplands – located in the lee of Georgian Bay, 150 kilometres north of Toronto, in the territory of Beausoleil First Nation of the Ogemawahj Tribal Council and Williams Treaties First Nations – has been filtered by its natural cover of forest and glacial sediment to an exceptional level of cleanliness.

This water has been tested for a range of pollutants by scientists in laboratories in Canada and Europe, and found to be the purest known to science! As such, it is widely used as the reference – the gold standard – in studies of other waters. But now our one-of-a-kind water resource is threatened by aggregate extraction. There are already signs of change, and groundwater used by private wells in Tiny Township is not protected by the Clean Water Act. 

Submitted by Mike Douglas of Simcoe AWARE 

Carbon Counting Workshop

Ontario Nature’s Protected Places team has been working to determine how much carbon is stored at our nature reserves and designated conservation lands set aside by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forestry companies. Answering this question can help us protect carbon-rich ecosystems like forests and wetlands permanently.

We've met with scientists, members of Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, and Conservation Authorities to learn about their nature-based carbon projects in Ontario.   

So far, we’ve hosted two webinars, and an experts meeting. In addition, on June 7, we collaborated with the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership to hold a virtual workshop on carbon assessments. The workshop covered two carbon projects in Ontario, multiple approaches to counting carbon, and the partnership’s role in supporting Indigenous land stewardship.

If you want to improve land management, attract funding, guide future planning, advance conservation, inform research, or advance conservation, carbon assessments can help.   

Looking for Regional Directors

We need your help to ensure that Ontario Nature is there when nature needs us most! We are recruiting Regional Directors for the Carolinian East, Carolinian West and Ontario East Nature Network regions.

Working as a member of Ontario Nature’s Board of Directors, the Regional Director’s role is to foster a close relationship between Ontario Nature and regional Nature Network groups. This relationship is vital to engaging Nature Network members in Ontario Nature programs and campaigns, and to ensure that Ontario Nature is aware of regional concerns and interests which may require action. Equally important is the role of the Regional Director in fostering knowledge and skill sharing amongst Nature Network groups in their region. 

Why Should You Become a Regional Director? 

• Be there when nature needs you most by contributing to the protection of wild species and wild spaces.
• Volunteer alongside dedicated and fun board colleagues.
• Influence provincial policy and priorities for nature conservation.
• Ensure your region’s environmental priorities have a voice.
• Set the strategic direction for a leading conservation organization that advocates for nature in Ontario.
• Participate in enjoyable and educational board retreats and annual gatherings.