Protecting Species At Risk And Their Habitats

TORONTO, May 26 /CNW/ – Ontario is supporting six volunteer stewardship projects in the Huron-Bruce-Owen Sound area that will help protect and recover species at risk
and their habitats.
Funding of more than $130,000 will support projects to protect nesting sites for piping plover, improve habitat for wood turtles, restore and enhance river wetlands, increase public awareness and knowledge about at-risk reptiles, and map habitat for at-risk reptiles.
The projects (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/STEL02_168329.pdf) are part of the province’s $18-million, four-year Species at Risk Stewardship Fund
(http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/2ColumnSubPage/STEL01_131229.htm
l).
The fund is part of the government’s stewardship-first approach to species protection, and is available to landowners, farmers, Aboriginal peoples, academic institutions, industries, municipalities, conservation organizations, stewardship councils and others across the province for eligible protection and recovery activities.

“The organizations that are undertaking projects through the stewardship fund are to be commended for their leadership and initiative,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/About/2ColumnSubPage/226953.html). “By working together we can protect and recover our most vulnerable species and their
habitats, ensuring they can be enjoyed today and by future generations.”
QUICK FACTS
– The endangered spotted turtle and the Northern ribbon and Eastern milk snakes are species of concern found within MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
– In 2007-2008, Ontario’s Species at Risk Stewardship Fund allocated $3 million to support 85 projects focusing on outreach, recovery, and inventory and monitoring surveys.
– Ontario is home to more than 30,000 species, of which more than 180 are currently identified as being at risk.
LEARN MORE
– Find out more about Species At Risk in Ontario
(ontario.ca/speciesatrisk)
BACKGROUNDER
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LOCAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING
FOR SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION
Six volunteer projects in the Huron-Bruce-Owen Sound area will receive more than $130,000 from the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund this year to help protect and recover species at risk.
Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory – $21,120 to support the monitoring and protection of piping plover nest sites in the Sauble Beach area. The group will work with the municipal landowner and other partners to ensure protection of this year’s nests.
Contact: Ted Cheskey, 1-800-267-4088, Ext 227
Friends of MacGregor Point – $16,550 in support of an outreach project to increase public awareness and knowledge about the importance of at-risk reptiles found within the park and the surrounding Bruce County area and their habitat requirements. The project will encourage landowner stewardship activities to protect and recover habitat for these species.
Contact: Doug Pedwell, 519-797-5564
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation – $26,950 in support of a project to restore and enhance river buffers and wetlands. The Ausable River watershed supports 15 species listed as threatened or endangered by the ministry, including pugnose shiner, American ginseng, queen snake and butternut. The funding will support direct improvements to local wetlands, as well as outreach and education activities to increase awareness of the need to protect and care for these habitats.
Contact: Mari Veliz, 519-235-2610
Huron County Stewardship Council – $20,500 in support of activities to enhance wetlands and river shorelines. A number of aquatic species at risk, including wood turtle and queen snake, are found in rivers and streams flowing into central Lake Huron. This project will encourage restoration of wetlands and river buffers to improve water quality and flow within local watersheds.
Contact: Carol Leeming, 519-527-0305
Huron County Stewardship Council – $21,000 to support increased monitoring and habitat enhancement for wood turtles in Huron County. The project will encourage landowners to participate in wood turtle recovery efforts and encourage stewardship practices to improve the quality and quantity of available habitat.
Contact: Carol Leeming, 519-527-0305
Ontario Nature – $27,334 to undertake surveys as part of a project to identify and map habitat for at-risk reptiles on and around six nature reserves in Bruce and Grey counties. The information compiled will help identify focus areas for habitat restoration, potential corridors to connect fragmented populations, and key areas of habitat as priorities for protection.
Contact: Maria Papoulias, 416-444-8419, Ext 241
/For further information: David Bauer, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-2212;
Jolanta Kowalski, Communications Services Branch, (416) 314-2106/