| News Release
Leaders
in Carolinian Canada protect Nature and Economy:
“It can be Done!”
November
13, 2003
Can
our natural environment co-exist with pig farms, crops, business,
tourism and community development?
The answer is ‘Yes!’ as proven by four leaders in
Ontario’s Carolinian Life Zone,
the nation’s most populated and most threatened region,
where land-use disputes are prevalent.
Carolinian
Canada today announced four conservation awards to leaders in
progressive environmental protection - leaders who demonstrate
overwhelmingly how nature and other land uses go hand-in-hand.
"The
four award recipients show that all sectors can get involved in
protecting our natural environment," said John Ambrose,
Carolinian Canada's Vice-chair.
"Carolinian Canada is proud to recognize these
contributions to conserving Carolinian species and habitats.”
The
achievements of the recipients range from local to national
conservation action:
§
Ron
Tiessen founded the Pelee Island Heritage Centre which works
closely with the island’s burgeoning tourism industry.
He has been critical to the local municipality in
developing a ‘Green Vision’ to set the island an international
leader in eco-friendly economic development.
Currently, he is creating a Stewardship Demonstration Farm
to show how water, air and nature can be protected through
progressive farming techniques.
§
Patricia
Rhoads of Essex County helps landowners who want to make a
difference. She gave local landowners access to specialists by
organizing the first Habitat Restoration Conference in Essex-Kent.
She started a native plant nursery to provide the species needed
in her region. She also co-founded the Canada South Land Trust,
which facilitates landowners in receiving financial incentives for
protecting natural areas.
§
The
Natvik Family operates swine and crop operations near Highgate in
Chatham-Kent while protecting and ‘adding back’ to their local
environment. They
have restored extensive portions of the 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. They network
with neighboring farms to make ‘natural linkages’, implement
eco-friendly agriculture and search out new ideas to help keep the
landscape healthy.
§
Canada’s
leading environmental organization also takes a special interest
in the Carolinian zone – and partners with all types of
business. The Nature
Conservancy of Canada has secured many key natural
habitats across the Carolinian zone including species-at-risk
habitat, wetlands, old growth forests and other habitats at Middle
Island, Bickford Oak Woods, Clear Creek Forest and Stone Road
Alvar, to mention a few sites.
This organization is dedicated to working out creative,
voluntary, ‘win-win’ solutions with landowners.
Conservation agreements with farmers, golf courses and
mining companies result in significant ‘natural saves’ which
rely on compatible, leading-edge land management practices.
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.
Nominations
for next year's awards are due on April 30, 2004. Nomination
forms are available at http//:www.carolinian.org/Awards.htm.
Carolinian
Canada is a 20-year-old coalition of 40+ public sector and
non-government 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. Eastern
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 region has the
greatest diversity of species in Canada—and the greatest number
of rare and endangered species. The partnership includes federal
and provincial departments and ministries, conservation
authorities, naturalists' groups, agricultural groups and
stewardship councils.
-
30 -
For
further information
contact:
|
Michelle
Kanter
Executive Director
Carolinian Canada
|
|
|
