The World is a Stage
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Spring is around the corner and thoughts are turning to the return of birds, insects, blossoms and leaves. Perhaps this year we will all pay a little more attention to the world we live in. Instead of constantly taking from nature we can start to give back. The question, of course becomes, how?
Do you own land? Even a small plot in a big city needs considerations. Even if you can only do one thing, you can start to make a difference. How about a tree? One tree provides shady comfort from the hot sun for not only you but for the plants animals and birds. Granted, it will take a while to grow, but you will have taken the first step. Eventually that tree and perhaps a few others will also shade your house and will find that you won’t use your air conditioner near as much in the summer. You will save money.
Then there are bushes and garden plants, all of which provide homes and nutrition for the birds, animals, insects and reptiles. When you decided to plant anything this spring, try and use a species native to our area which will support the wildlife we live with. Imported species of all manner of trees, bushes and plants can be harmful to our habitat by taking over and killing native species and don’t necessarily provide any nutrition or support for the wildlife.
Now if you own a big lot in town, a few acres in the county or even a farm, you have a much greater responsibility to assure your land assist nature’s natural cycles. There is a lot you can do to help the environment and all living creatures, no matter the size of your lot.
The first step is to learn what to do and you can do that by attending a Carolinian Canada Landowner Leaders Workshops. (In case you didn’t realize from about Toronto through Southwestern Ontario is the Carolinian forest, which supports a multitude of unique flora and fauna, many rare or endangered.)
They are looking for people who are private landowners in southern Ontario, with woodlot, wetland or other natural habitat. Or simply people like you and I who enjoy nature on our property.
This is the workshop to come to if you have you ever wondered how to create a wetland for frogs and turtles or build a snake hibernaculum. Or make your woodlot more inviting to forest-nesting birds.
You will become familiar with species at risk and their habitats in your area, learn how to monitor and inventory wildlife on your property, and get free guides and fact sheets, like the Landowner's Guide to Forest Management Basics and their Caring for Nature fact sheets.
You will also get tips on topics like wetland creation, managing woodlots for species at risk, controlling invasive plants, building a snake hibernaculum, and more.
You can learn which local conservation authorities, stewardship councils, land trusts and other conservation groups in the area you can work with and about technical assistance and financial/tax incentives available to help you achieve your goals.
I did a similar workshop several years ago in wildlife rehabilitator context and was amazed at what I learned and the amount of support out there. One thing I loved was having the ability to network with others. You can inspire and work with your whole neighbourhood to change your block into nature-friendly refuge for birds, insects, reptiles, and mammals… whatever you want.
Large lot owners can help migratory land and wildlife, by matching woodlots so that corridors are formed to allow whatever migratory species you have in your area, a way to travel.
These workshops, are called Caring for Carolinian Habitat on Your Land, and will have local conservation authorities, stewardship councils, land trusts and other conservation groups on hand to describe the types of technical assistance they can provide, and what financial and tax incentives are available to the private landowner.
In our area there are workshops for woodlot owners: Friday, March 22 – Hungarian Hall, Delhi; and farmers: Wednesday, March 27 – Quality Inn & Suites, Woodstock; but space is limited so call immediately. Cost of the full-day workshop is $15/person and includes lunch, a copy of the Rural Landowner Stewardship Guide and Self Assessment Tool, and other resource materials.
To sign-up for a landowner leaders workshop please register at www.carolinian.org. If full ask when the next one in our area will be and what they can give you to get started on your own.
For more information contact: Bernie Solymár, Landowner Leader Program Coordinator, 519-426-7124, wildlife@carolinian.org.
If you are curious about the phenomenal area we live in check out the website above - it is fantastic.