"People working together to advance stewardship on private land"

Contact information:

Dave J. Reid, Stewardship Co-ordinator,

Norfolk Land Stewardship Council

c/o OMAF
P.O. Box 587 (Blueline Rd and Hwy #3)
Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
phone: (519)426-4259
Fax: (519)428-1142
e-mail: dave.j.reid@ontario.ca

Background

The Norfolk Land Stewardship Council (NLSC) is one of 46 community level councils. Of the 46 councils, 40 are located in southern Ontario while six new councils are situated across northern Ontario. These councils operate under the umbrella of Ontario Stewardship, which was developed in response to a shift in the way that governments do business. In the past, governments approached resource management by developing policy, implementing programs and monitoring them through legislation. Now, it is recognized that a stewardship approach, in which all stakeholders have a say in what happens to their land and resources, can be more effective and better for communities.

The Ontario Stewardship program recognizes that individual communities are unique, and that the best stewardship solutions are often achieved when they are designed and delivered by community stakeholders and local agencies. Therefore, the role of the NLSC is to provide a broad representation of Norfolk County, including landowners, land interest groups, agencies and associations. Together, these stakeholders identify and act on the needs of the community. The NLSC provides landowners with access to programs and funding sources to support their stewardship efforts, and thereby helps these funding agencies to fulfil their mandates more effectively.

Click here for a list of Stewardship Councils and coordinators in Ontario.

About Norfolk County

Norfolk County is located in southwestern Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie. It borders Haldimand, Brant, Oxford and Elgin Counties. Included in the boundaries of Norfolk County is Long Point, a sandspit stretching 40 km into Lake Erie. Long Point is a stopover for many migratory bird species, and has been recognized by the United Nations as a world biosphere reserve.

Norfolk County has a rich natural heritage. It contains the largest number of species at risk, and also produces the greatest diversity of agricultural products in Ontario. Ginseng and other medicinal herbs, a wide variety of berries and fruits, and asparagus are examples of crops that are alternatives to the traditional Norfolk County crop of tobacco.