Ontario Nature Blog

Some areas undoubtedly merit protection. In Peterborough County (Treaty 20), the lands and waters surrounding Jack Lake (also known locally as Jack’s Lake) are highly valued by First Nations and the local community. Now, mineral exploration and quarrying threaten this ecologically and culturally significant site, which emerged as a priority candidate for protection at community ...

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“When we talk about nature-based solutions in the modern context, we’re really talking about new ways of doing old things. Indigenous knowledge systems tell us that we must put nature first. If we look after nature, the economy will take care of itself. … We must repair our relationship with the land first and focus ...

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Marked on the map above are natural areas in Ontario that call out for protection. Click each point on the map to learn more about these special places. View the full size interactive map.  Currently, less than 11 percent of Ontario’s land and inland waters are protected. We need to work together to protect safe havens ...

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As a GIS Analyst, I spend a lot of my time making maps and exploring the Ontario landscape from behind a computer screen. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to visit the Frontenac Arch and the Eastern Ontario region of the Canadian Shield with our Conservation Technician, Ryan Wolfe, this past fall. We went ...

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People are often fearful of something new. This fear can result in unwillingness to break from routine – which, arguably, has been the case in conservation across Canada for many years. Other Effective Areas-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) Take “Other Effective Areas-based Conservation Measures” (OECMs), for instance. This unwieldy term applies to areas that aren’t legislated ...

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