Workshop On Local Species At Risk

Did you know that we have 190 species listed as 'at risk' in Ontario? The Oak Ridges Moraine across Northumberland County is home to many of these species including the red-headed woodpecker, eastern hog-nosed snake, whip-poor-will and butternut tree. Even once common species, like the snapping turtle, have recently been added to the list.

Species at risk are a growing concern for us here in Ontario and across Canada. Since the new Endangered Species Act was implemented in 2008, there have been some important changes in what is being done to help protect them. This Act has made Ontario a "North American leader in the protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitats", according to the Ministry of Natural Resources website.

The Caring for the Moraine Project partnership in the Rice Lake Plains is hosting a workshop to provide more information on local species at risk. We will take a closer look at what the label 'at risk' really means for a species. The new Endangered Species Act will be briefly explained and how it is working to protect our species at risk, by local MNR Species at Risk Biologist Melissa Laplante. We will also look at what species are in peril locally and what you can do to help protect them. Kristina Hubert with the Nature Conservancy of Canada is currently working on projects involving species at risk and will discuss the local species she is targeting. Kristina's work is supported by funding from the MNR Species at Risk Stewardship Fund.

This will be a fun and informative workshop with prizes available throughout the evening.

This FREE workshop is happening on Wednesday, November 4th, 6:30 pm at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna Ecology Centre, 8467 County Rd 18 (west off highway 45, 25 min north of Cobourg). Registration is appreciated for planning purposes but is not required. Please contact Ashley Wilson at ricelakeplains@ltc.on.ca or phone (613) 394-3915 x 225.

The Caring for the Moraine Project in the Rice Lake Plains Area is made available through a partnership of organizations including Alderville First Nation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Lower Trent Conservation, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Northumberland County, Northumberland Land Trust, Northumberland Stewardship Council, Ontario Parks and Tallgrass Ontario. Funding for this program is provided by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation as well as the partners listed above. The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation was founded in 2002 to help protect, preserve and restore the Oak Ridges Moraine, a prominent geological formation stretching 160 km across Southern Ontario and key in protecting our water resources. Please visit www.moraineforlife.org for more info.

Updated 10.26.09 Written by Lower Trent Conservation Authority

Related links:
www.ltc.on.ca
www.moraineforlife.org

NorthumberlandView.ca - A View Like No Other - Workshop On Local Species At Risk.