As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on our conservation successes in 2024. We could not have done it without you – our members, partners, supporters, Nature Network groups and volunteers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the milestones that you helped us accomplish this year.
Nature’s Watchdog
We continue to hold the Government of Ontario to account for environmental deregulation and other threats to wild species and wild spaces. Thanks to the unwavering support of our members, nature network groups and supporters, we mobilized communities and shone a spotlight on local environmental issues, bringing them to the attention of the province.
Here are a few of our Action Alerts from 2024:
Restore Provincial Wetland Protections in Ontario
Restore the integrity of the Endangered Species Act
Highway 413 would pave over 400 acres of the Greenbelt, negatively impact 29 species at risk, cross over 85 rivers and streams and destroy 75 wetlands.
Please ask your MP to make the proposed highway undergo a federal environmental assessment
Nature Reserves
With the remarkable support of Ontario Nature members, we expanded our Gananoque Lake Nature Reserve by 58 acres! This bolsters both overall conservation lands and climate resiliency within the Frontenac Arch. It’s part of an important connection of contiguous forest between the Algonquin to Adirondack corridor.
Protected Places Campaign
This year, we supported three municipalities, five conservation authorities, and one land trust to advance Canada’s goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 (the “30×30 target”). In total, we helped secure recognition for 14,000 hectares of protected and conserved areas, contributing to this important national commitment.
Nabish Lake © Darlene Salter
Wetlands
We collaborated with Ottawa-area Nature Network Group Friends of Stittsville Wetlands to raise awareness about the impacts of weakened provincial wetland protection and the importance of establishing strong local wetland protections, using the Goulbourn Wetland Complex as a prime example. Our efforts ultimately caught the attention of CBC News Ottawa reporter, Kate Porter, who has since published several articles about the issue, starting with this article.
Conservation Science
It was a busy field season for our Atlas-3 crew, who spent eight weeks conducting breeding bird surveys in Central Ontario for the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. We observed 148 different bird species, including a Kirtland’s warbler! Data from the Atlas-3 will guide environmental policies and conservation strategies well into the future.
We wrapped up our sixth and busiest year to date of snake surveys for our Long-Term Monitoring Protocol project. We conducted nearly 100 cover board surveys across six sites in Norfolk County, documenting almost 900 snake sightings, including 39 from species at risk. We also received data from our partners who conducted surveys at 46 additional sites across Ontario. As we transition into compiling, analysing, and reporting on this data, we’re excited to contribute this valuable information to increasing our understanding of snake populations across the province.
Goulbourn Wetland Complex © Sylvie Sabourin
Youth Leadership
Young environmental leaders from 42 communities across Ontario gathered in person for the fifteenth Youth Summit for Mother Earth. Participants spent the weekend connecting and joining in hands-on workshops and engaging in cross-cultural learning opportunities.
The Youth Summit continues to be the highlight of the year for dozens of youths from across the province as part of our Nature Guardians Youth Program. According to participant Jordyn, “The Summit was a wonderful and powerful reminder to stay connected with nature and always to show my appreciation for how much Mother Earth has given us.”
Ontario Nature Youth Council at 2024 Youth Summit © Gillian Johnson
Thank you for standing with us again this year. Together, we are making difference for nature in Ontario. You can read more about our work in our 2024 Gratitude Report!
Please consider making a year-end donation to help us continue our work to protect wild species and spaces. With your support, we can achieve even more in 2025!
Resources
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