Ontario Nature Blog
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© Lora Denis
Volunteers monitoring for bumble bees © Victoria MacPhail
Bumble bees are important pollinators in Ontario, but it is estimated that one third of them are in decline. We need more information to better conserve them, and researchers are turning to community science to complement traditional scientific methods. Programs such as Bumble Bee Watch (BBW) are already making a huge difference by filling knowledge ...
White River wetlands © What-A-Ride CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
There is an urgent need for solutions to climate change, as temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns that immediate action is needed to limit global warming. One effective way to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss is through the protection of natural areas, ...
Fen, H.N.Crossley Nature Reserve © Smera Sukumar
For Ontarians, some of our most beloved summertime activities revolve around the spectacular Great Lakes. Swimming, boating, fishing and paddling attract millions of us to the waterfront to enjoy time with friends and family (or just ourselves!) out in nature. Behind the scenes of our summertime fun, there is a secret key actor working overtime ...
Toronto skyline © Rick Harris CC BY-SA 2.0
As the June 2 provincial election approaches, affordable housing is understandably emerging as a lightning-rod issue, with rents and purchase prices soaring. Unfortunately and unfairly, the issue is being used to justify further encroachment by highways and sprawl development on natural areas and farmland. Can we meet the housing needs of current and future Ontarians ...
Peat isn’t just something you put in your garden. In fact, it may be time to re-think using peat moss altogether. Recent research suggests that Ontario’s peatlands may be our largest carbon reservoir. However, mining them impacts their ability to sequester and store carbon. With emissions on the rise, nature-based climate solutions like protecting peatlands ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority