Kingston groups win fight against wetland destruction

Many groups and individuals in Kingston have been fighting a proposed development that would see a past industrial site on the waterfront clearcut and part of the Provincially Significant Wetland destroyed in the name of remediation. The battle to save the trees, turtles and other wildlife there has been going on for about five years. Opponents spoke at meetings, sent letters, held rallies and so much more.

On September 6^th, Kingston City Council voted 8–5 to deny zoning changes and an application for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) that would be needed to allow the project to go ahead, a huge victory. Council cited hundreds of emails from citizens, delegations to planning committee, expert opinions (including statements from Ontario Nature) against the proposal and a general lack of information as some of the key reasons to turn it down. Congratulations to the Kingston Field Naturalists, River First YGK, No Clearcuts Kingston, Turtles Kingston, 350 Kingston and the many others who persevered to get this decision. Ontario Nature hopes this will help ensure that Provincially Significant Wetlands remain off limits to development.

• Read Ontario Nature’s statement against the proposal here.
• See more about Ontario Nature’s wetland research.
• Read an article about the council’s decision.

We came. We saw. We conquered.

We, the Toronto Nature Stewards, came to restore areas overgrown with invasives. Some days, it’s about restoring order and improving the parks where the city needs active help. Most days, it’s knowing we’re making room for native plants and that they will provide food for insects, birds and animals. But this day, it was about camaraderie and exercise.

We saw the problem, as can you. Ian, who’s 6’ tall and holding up a shovel, is barely visible. The phragmites are 12-15 metres tall, and about to crowd out the cattails in a small wetland.

We enjoyed the early morning coolness on our skin, the light filtering through the green, and the quiet. As a team, we hauled away the debris … or, at least half of it. We could walk away easy, knowing the next day’s team would finish it off

Want to try? Sign up for a park near you, torontonaturestewards.org/get-involved.

Birding in Northern Ontario for Atlas-3

Two wildlife technicians from Ontario Nature – Abbey Lewis and Justin Kreller – traveled across northeastern Ontario this summer as part of the Northern Field Crew for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Project (Atlas-3). Over the span of two months, they were deployed across road-accessible regions of the Sudbury, Algoma and Cochrane Districts. Their days began long before dawn and their mornings were spent searching for evidence of breeding birds.

To assess bird species abundance and distribution, they conducted standardized point count surveys at randomized roadside locations and in wetlands. The sites they visited were also surveyed as part of Atlas-2, which allows the data collected to be directly compared with previous atlases to determine patterns and changes that have occurred.

While the current breeding season is wrapping up, there are still three years left to contribute to Atlas-3. If you are interested in participating, please visit birdsontario.org to find out more about how you can help.

Time to Vote for Nature Again!

Although the provincial election seems like just yesterday, municipal elections are coming up across the province on October 24^th. Many decisions that affect nature are made at the municipal level, especially through the planning process. Please ask your candidates for mayor and council what they will do to stand up for nature, share the responses, and vote accordingly! You may also consider social media posts, press releases, letters to the editor, attending and/or organizing debates and other methods of rallying support for nature-friendly city councils.

Easier Activity Form Coming Soon

Interesting Links and Opportunities

• The Conservation through Reconciliation partnership is a great initiative which includes a virtual campfire series. Check out their upcoming webinar on Indigenous-led Land Trusts on September 22^nd or watch past webinars on information sharing and other topics.
• Friday September 23^rd is a global climate strike. Join the strike at Queen’s Park or see what is happening in your area on this map.
• You are invited to join our Nature Network group, Nith Valley Eco-boosters, for a webinar on community engagement October 4^th.

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 at any time and allow up to a week for posting. Please send only events that are open to the public and no more than three events per month.