Meeting the Challenge:  Ontario Biodiversity Council

Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy seeks to engage more Ontarians in our efforts to achieve the goals of protecting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of our biological assets. One means of achieving this objective is an action to create an Ontario Biodiversity Council.

The Ontario Biodiversity Council was announced in June 2005. The Council has members from 22 provincial organizations and an independent chair. Under the OBS, Council is to lead, coordinate and report on the implementation of Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy.

The chair and oganizations represented on Council include:

Chair: Jon K. Grant

Participating Organizations:

• AG Care
• Building Industry and Land Development Association
• Canadian Environmental Law Association
• Chiefs of Ontario
• Conservation Ontario
• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Environmental Defence Canada
• Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
• Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• Ontario Forest Industries Association
• Ontario Forestry Association
• Ontario Mining Association
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• Ontario Nature
• Ontario Power Generation
• Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
• Union of Ontario Indians
• University of Toronto - Faculty of Forestry

Other Groups Supporting Implementation of OBS

In addition to the Ontario Biodiversity Council, the OBS identifies actions to create an Education and Awareness Task Team, a Biodiversity Science Forum and a Biodiversity Stewardship Working Group. Council has agreed to a proposal by the Stewardship Network of Ontario to function as the Biodiversity Stewardship Working Group and the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN) to function as the Education and Awareness Task Team. The Science Forum has also been initiated. Additional information about these groups will be posted in the future.