Stewardship in Action
Stewardship councils can help good ideas become great projects. Examples include: workshops on woodlot and wetland management; stream restoration projects; endangered species conservation, and; community planting.
Current projects:
Each year, Ontario Stewardship's focus is on addressing local, community and provincial priorities. In 2008 2009, approximately 15,000 Ontario Stewardship and partner volunteers completed 574 community driven projects. Key areas of focus were:
Climate Change:
Over the last 50 to 100 years, increased industrialization and human activities have begun to affect the balance of the earth's natural climate. In efforts to address these changes, the Ontario Government launched the Go Green Action Plan which outlines what Ontarians can do to help address the effects of climate change. The Ministry of Natural Resources is supporting the implementation of this plan through projects like the 50 Million Tree Program. To assist the ministry, Ontario Stewardship has been developing, implementing and participating in key programs and projects across communities in an effort to contribute to a reduction in the environmental impacts associated with climate change.
Activities that helped to address the effects of climate change included:
- Planting 1.3 million trees across the province
- Restoring more than 950 hectares of land to forest habitat
- Hosting 265 forestry related events with 128,225 participants
Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is all around us - it's the variety of life on Earth, from the tiniest insect to a vast northern forest. Biodiversity is about being connected - no one species can survive without the other species that provide its food and habitat. Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy seeks to engage more Ontarians and recommends actions to protect, sustain and preserve our natural environment. Ontario Stewardship has used this strategy as a platform to further enhance biodiversity opportunities for its Community Stewardship Councils across the province. This will help ensure we pass on a strong and healthy province to future generations.
Accomplishments that contributed to biodiversity included:
- 72 kilometres of shoreline restored
- 242 hectares of wetlands restored
- 16 kilometres of livestock fencing completed
- 351 projects completed that included a biodiversity theme
Natural Heritage Protection of Southern Ontario:
The Ministry of Natural Resources has the responsibility to coordinate, enhance, and market the government's efforts to protect natural heritage and greenspaces in southern Ontario. To achieve this, it is imperative that Ontarians develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the connection between their health and well being and a healthy natural environment, leading to active protection of natural spaces. This year, Ontario Stewardship, through its existing community and stakeholder partnerships was able to assist the ministry in advancing its goal of natural heritage protection.
Natural heritage protection accomplishments included:
- 4 projects funded through the Ontario Stewardship Opportunity Fund
- Leveraged support of $349,820 (in kind and financial)
- 756 volunteer hours devoted to natural heritage protection in southern Ontario
- 16 events that focussed on natural heritage protection
- 37 information materials produced regarding natural heritage protection
Species at Risk:
Two years ago, the Ministry of Natural Resources introduced the Endangered Species Act, 2007. Through this new Act, Community Stewardship Councils now have greater opportunities to work with landowners and assist them in completing projects related to the recovery and conservation of species at risk.
252 Species at Risk projects were completed that included:
- Butternut Recovery Program
- Species at Risk Workshops for Teachers and Students
- Education and Protection of Pitcher's Thistle
- Restoration of Tallgrass Prairie, Savanna and Carolinian habitat
