FOR IMMEDIATE FRELEASE:
Carolinian Canada and Partners Complete Plans for Conservation Action
Species and habitat in Chatham Kent will benefit from local strategy to help nature
Chatham, Ontario – Sept 9th, 2013 - A special project spells help for nature in Chatham Kent. Carolinian Canada is announcing the completion of two "conservation action plans". These science-driven documents address major habitat impacts and provide strategies to improve environmental health.
With its dense population and history of intensive land use, southern Ontario's "Carolinian Life Zone" has 100 times more rare species than most other parts of Canada. Declining species in Chatham-Kent include the rare Blanding’s Turtle, Flowering Dogwood and Acadian Flycatcher. The new conservation plans focus on the coastal zones around Rondeau and Lake St. Clair where these species are found. These “hotspots of biodiversity” are threatened, but they also have the ability to rebound through collaborative community action.
Developing a conservation plan is a complex process involving many partner groups. More than a dozen groups contributed to the Chatham-Kent plans. They included the Municipality, community groups, businesses, First Nations and agricultural interests. Such a joint effort ensures the needs of people and nature are met – a critical element of success.
“Local representation is key”, says Daria Koscinski, Biologist with Carolinian Canada. “We look forward to working together to create positive change for the long term.”
Plan objectives include restoring habitat as well as working with landowners to create “green corridors” to allow for wildlife movement. Outreach is another priority. An EcoTrail, an interpretive trail to engage trail users, is being planned for the Canada South rail trail. A partnership with Western University to collect and share local stories about nature in Chatham Kent is also in the works.
The Chatham-Kent conservation action plans are part of an international approach. Practitioners have used the same focused methods to create change around the world in places like Madagascar, Peru, China and Australia.
Click Here To Download the CAPs and summary documents (scroll to the bottom of the page)
Media Contact: jjalava@carolinian.org
About Carolinian Canada Coalition (www.carolinian.org)
Since 1984, Carolinian Canada Coalition (CCC), now a registered charity, has been a leading ecoregional group in Canada. Stretching from Toronto to Windsor, the Carolinian Life Zone of southwestern Ontario is among North America's most vibrant and fragile ecoregions. CCC brings together diverse sectors, people and governments to collaboratively steward southwestern Ontario's unique habitat network, green infrastructure to support thriving wild and human communities in harmony for generations.
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