January 7, 2004, Ridgetown, Chatham-Kent

Carolinian Canada today presented a conservation award to the Natvik Family of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for their stewardship of habitat in Canada's most threatened region--Ontario's Carolinian Life Zone. The award was presented to Mathis, Olav and Lars Natvik at the 11^th annual Southwest Agricultural Conference, in Ridgetown, by by Brett Groves, a Director of the Carolinian Canada Coalition.

The Natvik Family operates swine and crop operations while protecting and ‘adding back’ to local natural habitats near Highgate on the Orford Ridge overlooking Lake Erie in the distance. They have restored extensive portions of their farms to native species and operate a native plant nursery. With less than 4% forest cover in this part of the Carolinian zone, this family is critical to protecting what remains. The Carolinian life zone has the greatest diversity of species in Canada—and the greatest number of rare and endangered species.

"The Natviks have gone to great lengths to make their farms more environmentally- appropriate.  This family has gone well beyond any existing guidelines and have a viable farm operation plus a well maintained and restored natural environment," said Michelle Kanter, Executive Director of Carolinian Canada. "The Natviks demonstrate ideal land stewardship to protect significant species in Carolinian Canada’s Big Picture landscape protection of natural cores and corridors."

Each year Carolinian Canada presents awards for conservation and education efforts related to the special natural heritage of the Carolinian zone by recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations and government organizations. This year’s award presentations are part of Carolinian Canada’s Big Picture Roadshow, sponsored by the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

The Natvik Family’s many initiatives to combine a successful farming operation with ecologically-friendly practices include:

• The main farm is a hog barn operation, Superpig, run by brothers Olav and Lars Natvik. Exploring environmentally friendly pork production
• Areas peripheral to the agricultural fields have been restored over decades to natural habitat, both planted and allowed to regenerate naturally, with assistance from the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Multiple wetland restoration projects are underway with support from the Ducks Unlimited and Wetland Habitat Fund.
• On the ‘back-forty’ on the Lake Erie shoreline, beside a productive farm field, Asta and Lars Natvik steward a portion of Clear Creek Forest, a provincially significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, with the goal of long-term protection of habitat of several species at risk nationally including Southern Flying Squirrel and Red-Headed Woodpecker. Adjoining farms also owned by Superpig and son Olav are managed to provide critical wildlife corridors along creeks, drains and hedgerows.
• Son Mathis Natvik runs a rapidly expanding native plant nursery, Orford Ridges Native Plants, and offers workshops and consultation for habitat restoration work in the region putting over 110,000 plants back onto the land per year. Often at the leading edge of innovative ecological farm management, he experiments in small-scale agriculture such as a successful fruit and fowl trial. Mathis is well known across Carolinian Canada for his conservation activities and, in particular, for his efforts to protect Clear Creek Forest.
• The Natvik family works closely with neighboring farms and their local community to make ‘natural linkages’, implement eco-friendly agriculture and search out new ideas to help keep the landscape healthy. They are involved in municipal advisory committees and the Ecological Farmers Association.

Carolinian Canada is a 20-year-old coalition of 40+ public sector and non-government conservation organizations aimed at conserving the wildlife and habitats of southwest Ontario’s Carolinian zone—an ecological zone lying south of a line between Toronto and Grand Bend. Prickly pear cactus, opossum, sassafras and magnolia trees are among the unusual native species found here, typical of more southern climates of the eastern United States. The partnership includes federal and provincial departments and ministries, conservation authorities, naturalists' groups, agricultural groups and stewardship councils.

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• More on Conservation Awards Program

• More on other 2002-03 award recipients

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