La Southern Ontario Nature Coalition appelle à la protection de la nature périurbaine au Canada

Rapports finals, recommandations essentielles et appels à l’action pour aider les gouvernements à protéger la biodiversité

For English translation, click HERE.

Toronto, 22 juillet 2021 : Grâce à l’appui financier des gouvernements du Canada et de l’Ontario, la Southern Ontario Nature Coalition (SONC) publie son rapport final et un rapport technique, qui mettent en lumière toutes les possibilités offertes par son projet inédit de Réseau de protection de la nature périurbaine. Une solution aux changements climatiques et à la perte de biodiversité : rapport final formule des recommandations fondamentales à l’adresse des gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux et lance des appels à l’action générale, le tout pour aider tous les paliers de gouvernement à protéger la nature périurbaine dans tout le pays.

Southern Ontario Nature Coalition Calls for Protecting Nature in Canada’s Near-Urban Areas 

Final Reports Released with Key Recommendations and Calls-to-Action that Will Help All Levels of Government Protect Biodiversity 

Vous trouverez la version française ICI.

Toronto, July 22, 2021: With support from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario, the Southern Ontario Nature Coalition (SONC) has released its Final and Technical reports, sharing important insights and opportunities generated through its groundbreaking Near-Urban Nature Network project. Near-Urban Nature Network: A Solution to Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss - The Final Report provides key recommendations for federal and provincial governments and community-oriented calls-to-action, which will help all levels of government protect near-urban nature across the country.

What is near-urban nature? And why must we protect it?

Near-urban nature is comprised of the forests, river valleys, wetlands, savannahs, and other ecological features that surround and intersect our communities. This nature is critical to the health and well-being of all life in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and is one of our greatest resources for adapting to climate change. While we often look to protect wilderness areas farther afield, southern Ontario is one of the most biodiverse regions in Canada—providing direct and irreplaceable ‘ecosystem services’ – like flood protection and water/air filtration - to the country’s largest concentration of communities and people.

This proximity puts near-urban nature at high risk of being degraded and lost, making increased conservation critical.

 From Seed To Savanna:
 How the Mitigomin Native Plant Nursery
 Will Restore an Ontario Ecosystem          

   by Gillian di Petta

June 30th, 2021

I have been a member of the team at Alderville Black Oak Savanna since 2017, when I began as the Interpretive Garden Coordinator. Over the following couple of years, the idea of a Native Plant Nursery on the Black Oak Savanna site grew and in 2019 the project was officially launched. I have been managing the Mitigomin Native Plant Nursery project as the Native Plant Nursery Coordinator ever since.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) in partnership with the Greenbelt Foundation is seeking information from interested parties with expertise in the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) and/or trail planning on potential approaches to developing a renewed ORM Trail Strategy. The information received may help to develop an RFP aimed at carrying out future planning and other phases.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and Greenbelt Foundation wish to work with partners to build a modern and strategic framework/strategy (the “Strategy”) through robust research and consultation that will guide future planning, development, and management of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail.

The Moccasin Identifier Continues to Promote Indigenous Cultural Awareness in Ontario

Five Site Installations, An Augmented Reality App, and A Library Toolkit Among Upcoming Priorities

TORONTO, June 24, 2021: With renewed funding from the Greenbelt Foundation, the Moccasin Identifier will continue to promote the history and presence of Indigenous Communities and Peoples across the Greenbelt and the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Nine Ontario Municipalities Part of National Cohort Undertaking Natural Asset Inventories and Building Climate Resilience

A $50K Grant from Neptis Foundation and Greenbelt Foundation Will Also Support Next Step Implementation in Ontario and Beyond

TORONTO, June 22, 2021: With $550K invested since 2020, the Greenbelt Foundation—a leading Canadian investor in municipal natural asset management—is supporting nine municipalities in Ontario, part of a cohort of 30 municipalities across Canada, who are taking part in a major Natural Asset Inventory project. This project, led by Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI), helps municipalities take the critical first steps to more effectively manage their natural areas or “assets,” like municipally owned forests or wetlands, as tools to help address climate change and infrastructure needs.

Shared Path to Continue Improving Municipal-Indigenous Engagement Work

A New Tool Will Support First Nations’ Participation in Local Planning Decisions

TORONTO, June 17, 2021: With renewed funding from the Greenbelt Foundation, Shared Path Consultation Initiative will create an interactive consultation tool to address barriers and improve communications between First Nations and Ontario municipalities around land-use planning.

Research Reveals $135 Million Opportunity for Ontario’s Fruit and Vegetable Sector

Updated Greenbelt Report and Case Studies Uncover Expansion Opportunity, Profile Farmers Leading Expansion Efforts

Toronto, Ontario, June 15, 2021—Building on a report released in 2020, the Greenbelt Foundation is announcing new research on opportunities to expand Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector to increase local production of apples, snap beans, and two kinds of cabbage. Expanding production of these crops could add $35 million to farm-gate revenues, on top of the $100 million opportunity outlined in the 2020 report. Collectively, this could make an important contribution to Ontario’s rural economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Plant the Seeds: Opportunities to Grow Southern Ontario's Fruit and Vegetable Sector” is a new report that outlines the opportunity to expand the $2.2 billion of fruits and vegetables grown in Ontario, including more local production of fresh grapes, pears, strawberries, garlic, eggplant, sweet potatoes, apples, snap peas, cabbage—as well as vertical farming.