TWO DECADES OF CONSERVATION WINS

October 1-2, 2004, Port Franks on Lake Huron

Port Franks - It was a big, wild idea to bring scientists, landowners and community groups together to celebrate conservation successes in the Carolinian life zone. Two hundred people squeezed into the Port Franks Community Centre on October 1-2 for Thinking Big, Wild Ideas, Carolinian Canada's 20th Anniversary conference. The Carolinian life zone is a region in Ontario's far south with the mildest climate in Ontario and the most wild species in Canada.

Paul Smith, the Carolinian Canada Coalition chair says that "over 20 years the Carolinian life zone has changed. Water quality in the Great Lakes watershed has improved. Forest loss is still an issue in many areas, but tree planting is going on across the zone. Wetlands are now less likely to be lost through development. More species-at-risk are now being recognized with action plans. Some populations are recovering, while others like the Karner Blue butterfly are gone or have declined."

Phil Roberts, Windor and Essex County's 'Nature Guy', measured growing awareness by checking the yellow pages. Sure enough, local businesses have taken the Carolinian name: Carolinian Landscaping, Carolinian Taxi, Carolinian Deck Constructors. This is a positive indicator of general interest in conservation in a county that has the smallest percentage of forest cover in the province (4%) and may lose 20% of that to the Emerable Ash Borer.

Michael Brown, an MPP from Manitoulin who was born and raised in Sarnia, spoke to the crowd as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources, David Ramsay, ensuring them that reducing the loss of green spaces is a top priority of the Ontario government. "Ninety percent of the land is privately held, so it will be expensive and challenging. Private land stewardship is the key to success of species recovery."

Farmers and landowners attended to discuss the challenges of creating healthy landscapes. Many excellent stewardship programs have sprung up within the last 20 years providing assistance, advice and financial assistance to landowners. However, there was a call for clear, consistent support programs designed specifically for southern Ontario landowners. Many ideas were discussed about how to help pay the costs of preserving farmland and natural landscape. If landowners are expected to manage land in order to ensure water quality and other "ecological goods and services" then it may be sensible for everyone to help pay the cost through taxes. This is being done in Europe and the U.S. It was reported that Deputy Ministers of Agriculture from across Canada assigned a committee to review what's known about ecological goods and services. In recent years, Canadians have been investing their taxes in health and education while the environment has dropped in priority.

The discussions were broad, ranging from success stories to new challenges. Peter Banks, one of the two dozen volunteers that worked tirelessly to plan and manage the conference, thought the conference was tremendous. "I thought we'd become complacent about the serious environmental issues in our backyard, but I'm re-energized and elated."

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Backgrounder 
CAROLINIAN CANADA'S BIG PICTURE

"Thinking Big, Wild Ideas" was the largest conference in the history of Carolinian Canada, the group that first brought the Carolinian life zone to public attention. The October 1-2 conference marking the 20th Anniversary of Carolinian Canada was hosted by Lambton Wildlife Incorporated and their volunteers. Their long list of successes includes the purchase of the Maudaumin Woods, establishing the Howard Watson nature trail, and preserving the Karner Blue butterfly sanctuary and Port Franks Forested Dunes.

In 1984, Carolinian Canada identified 38 critical natural areas across the Carolinian zone requiring urgent action but gradually scientists realized that these "Islands of Green" cannot survive in isolation. Carolinian Canada has done a "Big Picture" analysis which identifies a "natural heritage system" of large natural areas connected by corridors. The Big Picture is a vision that everyone can aim for. "A healthy landscape is a common goal for everyone in southern Ontario", notes Michelle Kanter Executive Director of Carolinian Canada Coalition. "We all need to work together to achieve it. Backyard gardeners, landowners, farmers, neighbourhoods, municipalities and communities are all important to restore ribbons of our natural heritage to form a 'network of green'."

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