South Nation Conservation Delivers Habitat Restoration Program Through the Grassland Stewardship Initiative
South Nation Conservation (SNC) on behalf of Forests Ontario, is delivering a habitat restoration program, through the Grassland Stewardship Initiative, in partnership with ALUS Ontario East, a community-developed and farmer-delivered program that produces, enhances, and maintains ecosystem services on agricultural lands within the Raisin Region and South Nation Conservation Authorities’ watersheds in Eastern Ontario.
The Grassland Stewardship Initiative is a habitat restoration program aimed at supporting the conservation and recovery of Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark populations through the management and protection of high-quality grassland habitat.
Grasslands provide critical habitat for bird species with declining populations such as Upland Sandpipers, Kestrels, and Kingbirds, and Species at Risk such as Short-eared Owl, Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark.
“This program relies on voluntary landowner participation to help protect these unique ecosystems and the grassland bird populations that rely on them”, explained SNC’s Senior Fish and Wildlife Technician, Naomi Langlois-Anderson.
Grasslands Ontario will provide between 35-100 percent of eligible project costs based on proximity to core breeding ranges for Bobolink and/or Eastern Meadowlark, recent sightings, and the ability to dedicate 4ha or more of land that is not owned by Provincial or Federal government agencies to grasslands and/or bird friendly hay cropping.
Funding is still available from ALUS Ontario East for landowners who do not meet program eligibility requirements. This funding helps farmers with projects such as wetland restoration and enhancement, riparian buffers, shelterbelts, afforestation, and native prairie grass restoration.
Applications are being accepted until January 18, 2023.
To learn more about the program click here.
To apply please contact Naomi Langlois-Anderson, 1-877-984-2948,
nlangois-anderson@nation.on.ca
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Erin Thorne, SNC Communications Specialist ethorne@nation.on.ca