Community Action/Science & Conservation
The first line of environmental protection is the awareness and engagement of the community! YOU have the power to positively impact wildlife and their habitats! This is why by working and learning together we have been able to accomplish amazing feats! Below are some of our programs that we invite you to participate in to help protect, preserve and enhance the health of nature in your community.
Community Science
Residents and visitors of the Land Between region have intimate knowledge of its species and spaces. This knowledge is invaluable to conservation efforts. Our Community Science Programs involve YOU! As Community Scientists you will monitor ecosystems, report species and document changes.
Enjoy nature, learn new skills, support vital wildlife research, and contribute to wildlife conservation.
Turtle Guardians
Turtles are important agents of aquatic biodiversity; they transport seeds which creates habitat, cycle nutrients, and remove dead matter which could potentially host harmful bacteria in our waters! However, unfortunately, all of Ontario's turtles are now Species At Risk due to challenges including: habitat loss, pet trades, predation, and road mortality. With each turtle taking 60 years to replace itself in nature, it is of the utmost importance that we protect them — this is why we created Turtle Guardians!
Blue Lakes Project & Natural Shorelands
Sometimes referred to as shorelines or the “ribbon of life”, shorelands are actually a wide band of land that surround a lake, including upland areas that are at least 30 m beyond the riparian edge. Since shorelands are ecotones, or a meeting place of upland and lowland/aquatic ecosystems, they provide important food sources and habitat for 80-90% of freshwater species, as well as essential support for up to 70% of land-based wildlife too – from birds, to minks, and moose. Learn more about how to keep your shorelands healthy and how to build a Shoreline Stewardship Network for your lake by clicking the "Blue Lakes Project" button. Want help creating healthier and beautiful shorelands? Register for our Shoreland Garden workshops or book a Natural Edge Site Visit!
Highland Habitats
Our properties are not only places where we find the comforts of home and good company, our non-human kin also call this land home! Many of us have come to visit and live in cottage country because we have fallen in love with the natural spaces the Land Between region has to offer! However, how we manage our properties has consequences that extend well beyond humans, for better or for worse. Learn more about how you can enhance your property to provide high quality habitat for your favourite wildlife species by participating in a Highland Habitat Health Check-up!
Birds & Birding
Birds are captivating and cryptic species that bring many of us a deep sense of joy and place. Within The Land Between region we have diverse birds species ranging from the rare whip-poor-will to the common chickadee!
We welcome birders of all levels and hope that we can inspire you to learn more about our flying friends! Birds teach us about what habitats lie just beyond the horizon, what is happening in our forests, whether an owl is around and even when the sap is running! Learn more about birding in the region by clicking below.