Who We Are

With mounting pressure to develop healthy lakes, wetlands, forests and productive farmland we need to understand our human impact to the world we live in.

Ontario Stewardship's purpose is to inform landowners about the value of an ecologically friendly approach.

Stewardship Councils are supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and are comprised of dedicated volunteers and stakeholders who share a concern for the environment. There are 46 Stewardship Councils located across the province.

Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and bring different perspectives to the table. Councils consist of cottagers, teachers and outdoor educators, forestry experts, landowners, farmers, trail representatives, naturalists, outdoorsmen, and First Nations representatives. With such an assorted mix, you'd think that even the smallest agreements would be hard-earned, but these differences are a strength of the Councils. Members listen to other viewpoints, and collectively arrive at practical, workable solutions that all stakeholders can support.

Each Stewardship Council has a proven track record in their respective communities or regions. Programs are designed by the Council to specifically address the needs of landowners and local community issues concerning forestry, wetlands, water, wildlife, agriculture, and related issues. One main goal of the program is to influence public perception through education, which in turn influences healthier shifts in development and land use practices.

Stewardship Councils have a variety of community, business and agency partners, and log thousands of hours of volunteer effort. Local groups, like Fish & Game Clubs, Naturalist Clubs, Woodlot Associations, and Wildlife Chapters, frequently team up with Stewardship Councils to provide volunteers, perspectives and a hands-on expertise. These partnerships allow the councils to tap into the cultural fabric of the communities they serve. This is key to community support and cooperation.

Please note: Ontario Stewardship is a program of the Ministry of Natural Resources that focuses on the protection and restoration of Ontario's natural resources through community support and engagement.

We are separate from and not affiliated with Stewardship Ontario who focuses on developing and managing programs that improve recycling. If you are interested in learning more about Stewardship Ontario's recycling programs please visit www.stewardshipontario.ca.