CONSERVATION PROFILES OF NOMINEES

Gerry Waldron, Consulting Ecologist & Author, Essex County
·  Over thirty years of experience as a field biologist 
·  His first book, The Tree Book; Tree Species and Restoration Guide for the Windsor-Essex Region was a run away best seller and is now out of print and a collector's item.  
·  Trees of the Carolinian Forest: A Guide to Species, Their Ecology and Uses (2003) provides up-to-date, in-depth and accessible information written in an engaging manner 
·  Explores the Carolinian landscape, ecological restoration and profiles 74 native tree species 
"Gerry radiates an interest in trees of the Carolinian Zone …while imparting his concern for the fragmented landscape around all of us." - Essex County Field Naturalists' Club
"As every journey starts with a single step, perhaps the healing of our fractured landscape starts with planting a single (native) tree." - Gerry Waldron, Trees of the Carolinian Forest

Janice Metcalf Smith, National Water Research Institute, Aquatic Research Biologist
·  Driving force in initiating Recovery Teams for the Sydenham, Thames and Ausable Rivers Recovery Teams using an ecosystem approach
·  Brought national attention to freshwater mussels - one of the most threatened wildlife groups in Canada 
·  Identified 15 of the 40 freshwater mussels native to the lower Great Lakes as imperilled 
· Authored 5 status reports on mussel species and over 60 scientific papers and reports
 "As zebra mussels have decimated populations in the Great Lakes, protection of the populations in the interior rivers of Carolinian Canada is vital to survival of these species in Canada, and Janice has been a key member of the recovery teams on the Carolinian rivers." - Muriel  Andreae, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
55 - 72% of native freshwater mussels in North America are extinct or imperilled. "No other widespread animal group in North America approaches this level of faunal collapse." - Metcalfe-Smith et al., 1998  

Bill Prieksaitis, Rodney, West Elgin Field Naturalists volunteer
·  Over 30 years of tireless volunteer work to motivate the residents of Elgin County to care for nature
·  Driving force behind the West Elgin Nature Club and the West Elgin Nature Trust
·  Developed the West Elgin Christmas Bird Count into one of the country's largest relative to club size
·  Leader in preserving natural areas such as the Dutton-Dunwich Prairie, Joe's Bush, the Aldborough Memorial Forest and Clear Creek Forest
·  Main fundraiser and contributing writer of Elgin Birds - a Century of Change, a 306-page book 
·  Grows and gives away thousands of Carolinian trees so future generations can know and admire these representative species of the Carolinian Zone.
"Bill's actions and activities are not just restricted to those of his own home club, the West Elgin Naturalists, but are widespread throughout Elgin County.  He leads by example. He has done just about everything that can be done from the manual of stewardship actions and activities.  You name it; he's done it." - Dave Martin, ecological consultant

Gord Phillips, Ingersoll District Nature Club volunteer
· Long history of incorporating and instilling an appreciation of nature in youth
· Coordinated tree planting programs with schools and scouts
· Initiated wetland restoration from abandoned farm land on Lawson Trust Land
· Created pond, marsh, island, nesting boxes, native plantings
"The protection of native species and the restoration and enhancement of abandoned and neglected wildlife habitats have distinguished Gord Phillips as a conservation leader within our community" - Arthur Murray, President, Ingersoll District Nature Club 

Ruth John, Dorchester Mill Pond volunteer 
·  8 years of spearheading annual cleanup days and student work days
·  Organizes many initiatives such as garlic mustard control, erosion control, Carolinian plantings
·  Leader in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, school liaison for conservation projects
"Ruth has worked hard to get the interest and enthusiasm of the Northdale Students in many of these projects.  In turn, I believe we have children who will remember how important these lessons were and carry them into their adult life.  Thank-you for the opportunity to show Ruth's hard work." - LeeAnn Berlet, Dorchester resident

Jack Chapman, Ministry of Natural Resources Aylmer
· Over 15 years of promoting and executing prescribed burns in tallgrass prairie and savanna 
· Critical in restoring and maintaining some of the zone's most threatened habitats and most significant sites in Carolinian Canada
· Excellent example of how one's daily work and technical expertise can be used to support conservation and make a big difference in the ecological health of the landscape 
"Jack is the key person for writing prescribed burn plans and in charge of 6 to 10 burns every spring." - David Heaman

Tom Bird, Landowner, Zorra Township, Oxford County
·  Developed his 30-acre wood into a demonstration site for best woodland management practices and natural heritage protection
·  Undertook swamp restoration to correct historic wetland drainage 
·  Initiated the Oxford County Woodlot Owners' Association
·  First chair of the Oxford Stewardship Council
·  Enabled extensive media coverage to promote conservation stewardship by landowners 
·  Active support of a variety of educational initiatives to increase awareness of natural heritage
"Tom's effective leadership enabled the new council to work together, and agree to goals and objectives for the program that suited the needs of the Oxford County landowners." - Jim Collins, Past coordinator of Oxford County Stewardship Council

Backyard Habitat Program of Essex County & Windsor, Natural Gardening Ethics, Conference, Newsletter
· Formed in 2001 to promote and assist appropriate Native Plant Gardening
· "The New Frontier" newsletter instills pride in members and promotes optimism about regaining natural habitat in an area where much has been lost 
· Created Natural Gardening Ethics for Essex that provides an overall sense of direction to the naturalized gardening movement as a whole
· Organized "Taking Root", the first-ever gardening conference to feature naturalized gardening in this region, possibly the province and attracted many people from across the Carolinian Zone
"Naturalized landscaping offers a new way of thinking about the home landscape." - Dan Bissonnette, Backyard Habitat Program of Essex County & Windsor

Hamilton Naturalists' Club, Nature in your Neighbourhood (NIYN)
· Project initiated in 2002 to provide outreach and education for the Hamilton / Burlington community in partnership with Royal Botanical Gardens
· Published Pocket Nature Guide, poster and Monthly guide to Nature
· Involved local artists, schoolchildren, educators, Girl Guides, Scouts, Residents association
· Distribution to libraries, youth groups, schools, and conservation groups
· Developed conference, guided walks, seminars, displays and web products
"One of the major goals of the NIYN project was to get the educational materials into the hands of educators…the Club has demonstrated strong leadership in this area." - Barbara McKean, Royal Botanical Gardens

Branksome Green, Ravine Woodland Restoration Project, Toronto
· Branksome school body actively involved with the planning, implementation and monitoring for 9 years
· Science-based and inclusive of surrounding community
· Raised awareness and has been a catalyst for other ravine landowners in the Lower Don River Valley to restore their own properties.
· Educated nearby community about the perils of Norway Maple
· Long range plan to eradicate and replace non-native species 
"The school is very rooted in the community and has its own extended family of students, parents, faculty and alumnae.  It is in many ways the ideal group for a landscape restoration.  It has a history and a future.  They are a relentless group.  The results are showing." - Tanny Wells, Past chair, Task Force to Bring Back the Don

Walpole Island Heritage Centre, Nin Da Waab Jig, Natural Heritage Program
· Within Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) on the St. Clair River delta, a Carolinian Canada signature site containing 12% of Canada's species at risk
· Promotes stewardship of extensive Tallgrass habitats, Carolinian forests, coastal waters and one of the largest wetland systems in the Great Lakes 
· Outreach programs to the community including publications translated to Ojibway, landholder contact, Earth Week Fair, open houses, focus groups
· Research including Natural Areas Study, Walpole Island Recovery Strategy, effects of development and species at risk mapping
· Land protection including 84 acres of significant habitat
"This lively program is active in informing and educating the WIFN community about species and risk and promoting habitat stewardship.  WIFN is home to,at the latest count 51 Species at Risk including several that have their Canadian stronghold here, or occur nowhere else in Canada." - Dr. Jane Bowles, Ecological Consultant

Ontario Cattlemen's Association on behalf of the Task Team, Buffer Strips - Best Management Practices (BMP) Publication
· Presents many options for landowners on establishing, enhancing and retaining buffer strips and the natural habitat of which they are a part.
· Created by 25 representatives from a wide range of organizations and disciplines
· An internationally award winning series of innovative publications 
· Presents affordable options for protecting soil and water resources on farms that harmonize productivity, business objectives and the environment. 
· 66% of readers have made changes based on what these books 
· 49,000 distributed across Canada, available at no charge to farmers (www.omaf.gov.on.ca) 
"The release of Buffer Strips is very timely as financial incentives for riparian area management available ...  Cumulatively the various riparian projects resulting from actions inspired by Buffer Strips will make a significant contribution to Ontario's natural heritage and to the creation and conservation of natural habitats of Carolinian Canada." - H.J. (John) Smith, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

City of Thorold, Protecting a 350-year old White Oak
· City designated tree under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2003
· Focal point in Allanburg Community park recognized with plaquing celebration
· Extensive restoration work undertaken when tree suffered sever winter damage
· City dedicated significant financial resources to the protection of this Heritage Tree
"Many residents associate this tree with their childhood and its long life in a park area has provided pleasure for families and children for many years.  The City is to be commended for their protection of our natural heritage at a time when economic restraints are being felt in Ontario's municipalities" - Pamela Minns, Heritage Thorold LACAC

Sarnia Urban Wildlife Committee
· Approached City Council to protect wildlife from the effects of urbanization, approved by Council in 1994 to develop an urban ecosystem policy and program
· Works with City and private landowners to secure and manage significant natural areas within Sarnia such as Dennis Rupert Prairie Reserve and Perch Creek Wildlife Habitat Area.
· Restoration of impacted areas such as gravel pits, sewage lagoons and stormwater ponds
· Programs to restore American Chestnut in Sarnia and Dwarf Sandcherry along the Lake Huron shoreline in Lambton County
· Community outreach, events  and resources such as the Huron Shore Flyway to encourage bird-friendly backyard actions to protect migrating birds.
"This committee has done extremely fine conservation work since its inception in 1994. Their accomplishments are many." - Gerry Clements, Lambton Wildlife Incorporated member

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority, Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area
·  Habitat restoration of an old gravel pit into 208 acres of forest, prairie and wetland 
·  Adjacent to the Catfish Creek Slope and Floodplain Forest, a Carolinian Canada Signature Site
·  Enhances 800 acre forest core in a heavily-farmed area of the province
·  Habitat improvement for butterflies, warm and cold water fish
"When completed by October of this year, it will be the largest and most important wetland in Elgin County, and one of the more significant sites in Carolinian Canada." - Dave Rock, Mayor of the Municipality of Central Elgin and Warden of Elgin County.

Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Incorporated (FOTCSI), London
· non-profit formed in 2000 to improve quality of life and long-term ecological health in their community
· initiated Coves Subwatershed Study and Action Plan, first undertaken by a grass roots organization in London to manage Environmentally Significant Area
· Comprehensive action plan including rare habitat and stream protection and green corridors
· Organize annual spring cleanups, Eco-Vision Art Exhibition, community & media outreach
· Naturalization of former landfill Euston Park
"FOTCSI has created an opportunity to preserve rare vegetation communities and other remaining green space in the heart to London" - Gillian Thompson, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
"We believe that the quality of life in our community is enhanced through the protection, rehabilitation and wise stewardship of the Coves Subwatershed" - Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc.

Niagara Escarpment Commission & Hamilton Region Conservation Authority,  Forest Interior and Oak Savanna Habitat Restoration within the Dundas Valley
· Project to address forest fragmentation of a Carolinian Canada Signature Site and Big Picture Core Natural Area within the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve
· Habitat restoration on 31 acres of abandoned farm land and gravel pit
· Site selection based on connectivity potential
· Over 34,000 native trees and shrubs planted by volunteer groups
· Increased awareness of natural heritage and biodiversity conservation
"Given the proximity of these sites to the Bruce Trail, their aesthetic qualities and dedication signage will provide enjoyment and learning for years to come." - Lisa Grbinicek, Niagara Escarpment Commission

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