Protecting the Great Lakes Biodiversity through Stewardship

A biologist sets a net to collect fish for sampling.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has made a commitment to protect, restore and sustain the biodiversity of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes region is one of the most biologically diverse in Canada. It contains a variety of natural ecosystems, from alvars to coastal wetlands. These ecosystems are home to thousands of species of fish, wildlife and plants, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.

The biological diversity or “biodiversity” of the Great Lakes region – the uniqueness and diversity of its species and ecosystems – is at risk because of human activity. Urban sprawl, shipping that brings aquatic invasive species into Great Lakes waters, and over-use are just three examples of human activity that threatens the biodiversity of the Great Lakes region. Loss of biodiversity will mean the loss of the Great Lakes as we know them.

To protect, restore and sustain the biodiversity of the Great Lakes, the Ministry is involved in many new and creative partnerships with private landowners, communities, conservation and environmental organizations, all of whom want to make sure the Great Lakes region keeps its healthy biodiversity. 

Measuring a young of the year lake sturgeon from a tributary of Lake Superior.

The projects focus on:

• rehabilitating fish and wildlife habitats;
• conserving coastal wetlands;
• protecting and restoring native species of fish; and,
• lessening the threat of aquatic invasive species (species not native to the Great Lakes Basin).

The Ministry does this work as part of its commitment to the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). COA helps Canada meet its obligations to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.