LOCAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION

For Immediate Release
May 26, 2008

LOCAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION
Backgrounder

Six volunteer projects in the Huron-Bruce-Owen Sound area will receive more than $130,000 from the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund this year to help protect and recover species at risk.

Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory – $21,120 to support the monitoring and protection of piping plover nest sites in the Sauble Beach area.  The group will work with the municipal landowner and other partners to ensure protection of this year’s nests.

Contact: Ted Cheskey, 1-800-267-4088, Ext 227

Friends of MacGregor Point –  $16,550 in support of an outreach project to increase public awareness and knowledge about the importance of at-risk reptiles found within the park and the surrounding Bruce County area and their habitat requirements. The project will encourage landowner stewardship activities to protect and recover habitat for these species.

Contact: Doug Pedwell, 519-797-5564

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation – $26,950 in support of a project to restore and enhance river buffers and wetlands. The Ausable River watershed supports 15 species listed as threatened or endangered by the ministry, including pugnose shiner, American ginseng, queen snake and butternut. The funding will support direct improvements to local wetlands, as well as outreach and education activities to increase awareness of the need to protect and care for these habitats.

Contact: Mari Veliz, 519-235-2610

Huron County Stewardship Council – $20,500 in support of activities to enhance wetlands and river shorelines.  A number of aquatic species at risk, including wood turtle and queen snake, are found in rivers and streams flowing into central Lake Huron. This project will encourage restoration of wetlands and river buffers to improve water quality and flow within local watersheds.

Contact: Carol Leeming, 519-527-0305

Huron County Stewardship Council – $21,000 to support increased monitoring and habitat enhancement for wood turtles in Huron County. The project will encourage landowners to participate in wood turtle recovery efforts and encourage stewardship practices to improve the quality and quantity of available habitat.

Contact: Carol Leeming, 519-527-0305

Ontario Nature – $27,334 to undertake surveys as part of a project to identify and map habitat for at-risk reptiles on and around six nature reserves in Bruce and Grey counties. The information compiled will help identify focus areas for habitat restoration, potential corridors to connect fragmented populations, and key areas of habitat as priorities for protection.

Contact: Maria Papoulias, 416-444-8419, Ext 241

For More Information

Media Enquiries

Jason Travers, Fish and Wildlife Branch, 705-755-1754

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)