© Lora Denis
Protecting wetlands is essential in the fight against the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Nearly 75% of southern Ontario’s wetlands have been destroyed, and remaining wetlands continue to be threatened by development, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. One 89-acre property in the headwaters of Ancaster Creek, known as the Garner Marsh, ...
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 ...
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 ...
Point Pelee National Park, Marsh boardwalk © Daveynin CC BY 2.0
February 2, 2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of World Wetlands Day. This annual event is intended to raise awareness about wetlands to reverse their ongoing decline. Alarmingly, almost 90 percent of Earth’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s. This fact mirrors the historic wetland loss we’ve witnessed in Ontario. South of the shield, the ...
December 15, 2021–Jenna Cardoso
Climate Change•Indigenous Relations•Protected Places•Stewardship and restoration•Wetlands•Wild Species
James Bay peatlands © Ray Ford
Ontario’s peatlands store the most carbon in the country – more than all the other natural ecosystems in Ontario combined – making these terrestrial wetland ecosystems an essential nature-based climate solution. Yet, only 10% of peatlands are protected in Canada. What Are Peatlands? Peatlands are wetlands such as bogs and fens. Peat is created in ...
Paswe Protected Area © Carter Dorscht