John Morton’s Post

Elevating Conservation Efforts in Southern Ontario: A Collaborative Call to Action The Long Point Walsingham Forest (LPWF) Forests & Treed Swamps Working Group is at the forefront of promoting land stewardship, advancing sustainable forest management practices, and conducting pivotal research on at-risk species within Southern Ontario. Forests constitute approximately 66% of Ontario, showcasing the province's lush biodiversity. However, the ecological fabric of Southern Ontario's forests is under threat from development and agricultural fragmentation, posing significant challenges to our environmental sustainability efforts. These forests are more than just collections of trees; they serve as critical breeding habitats for some of Canada's most endangered forest birds, including the Acadian Flycatcher, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Prothonotary Warbler, and Red-headed Woodpecker. These species rely on the secluded havens provided by our mature deciduous and mixed forests, highlighting the importance of our conservation initiatives. The mission of the LPWF Forests & Treed Working Group, in collaboration with esteemed partners such as ALUS Norfolk, Birds Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, Long Point Basin Land Trust, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, the Nature Conservancy of Canada/Conservation de la nature Canada, Norfolk County, Norfolk Woodlot Owners Association, and the St. Williams Conservation Reserve, is to unite efforts towards ensuring the survival and prosperity of these vital ecosystems and their avian inhabitants. #NatureConservation #ForestManagement #ProtectOurBirds #OntarioForests #SustainableDevelopment #EnvironmentalStewardship

Rare butterfly species reintroduced to Wales! #PositiveNews The marsh fritillary butterfly, once widespread in Britain and Ireland but now rare, has been reintroduced to the Welsh countryside after disappearing decades ago. #Conservationist Rob Parry and his team at Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru reared caterpillars from the wild and released them on Llantrisant Common in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This controversial approach aims to prevent species from becoming extinct. The project has already seen butterflies mating and laying eggs, marking the first presence of marsh fritillaries in over 20 years. Despite criticisms and initial rejections, the project highlights the importance of habitat restoration and intervention for #species recovery. Monitoring will continue to ensure the butterflies thrive, with future plans to assist other at-risk species. https://lnkd.in/dNGhKbzr

📅 One year ago today, NEWT and partners published the groundbreaking report, "Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future," which issued a clarion call for accelerated wildlands conservation in the Northeast. The first-of-its-kind analysis quantified the extent of permanently protected landscapes in New England. The results were sobering: Just over 3 percent of the region enjoys the promise of a future free from development and exploitation. NEWT strives every day to increase that number. By conserving wildlands alongside working forests and farms, and supporting sustainable, resilient communities, we can secure a brighter, more hopeful future for humans and wildlife. Read the report here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ecY2vn-y

A significant step forward in tree protection and preservation. The next steps would be wider tree legislation and planning policy reflect a culture of retaining trees as a matter of upmost national importance, when our air quality, our protection from heat, protection of biodiversity (and therefore food systems etc) all depend significantly on maintaining tree coverage, it could not be more urgent.

The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland has welcomed a Private Members Bill submitted by Peter McReynolds MLA at Stormont. This proposal for a Tree Protection Bill, submitted in July, aims to introduce dedicated legal protection for Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees. As the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, one of the Woodland Trust's core objectives is to protect these living legends. The Bill seeks to strengthen the protection provided through Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), create a new 'Heritage Tree' designation specifically to protect and support Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees, and safeguard these heritage trees from permitted developments. Our oldest and most significant trees are irreplaceable, yet many face a range of threats. One pressing concern is halting their loss to development and neglect, ensuring they can grow old securely without harm. Additionally, local communities must take drastic action to save important trees in their areas, though most campaigns are unsuccessful. One notable case occurred in Newry in 2022, where a row of 200-year-old oak trees was felled despite significant opposition. Public affairs manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, Paul Armstrong, said: "Our systems for protecting important trees urgently need strengthening. We need improved laws to keep our oldest and most important trees safe. "Given that Northern Ireland is one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with under 9% tree cover, and we’re facing a climate crisis and widespread biodiversity loss, we welcome this Private Members Bill to protect our most valuable and irreplaceable trees and woods. "In recent years, much attention has been given to the importance of planting more trees. However, we also need to protect our existing trees and woodlands, as they store more carbon than newly planted ones and provide vital habitats for nature. Newly planted trees and woods take many years for ecosystems to fully develop. This need for protection is particularly pressing, given that Northern Ireland is ranked 12th-worst out of 240 countries for biodiversity loss. "As well as protecting our oldest and most important trees, we must safeguard our remaining ancient and long-established woodlands from development. These woodlands are havens for wildlife, plant life and fungi, which are unique and crucial for maintaining our dwindling biodiversity. Ancient woods, which cover just 0.04% of Northern Ireland, are an increasingly rare and irreplaceable habitat. The soils and complex ecosystems within these centuries-old woodlands cannot be recreated or replaced. Once they are gone, they are lost forever." Paul concluded: "Our oldest trees and woodlands are extremely scarce and vital for nature and climate so we must protect them. We hope that this new legislation will support people and communities to protect these living legends that they so value." Photo Credit: Michael Cooper/WTML

Ontario's proposal to expand our system of protected and conserved areas by adding 10,324 hectares is great news. While not showcased in the summaries, several areas are crucial for supporting species at risk, include candidate Key Biodiversity Areas, and serve as vital links in wildlife corridors. About half of these are also in southern Ontario, one of Canada’s crisis ecoregions. Many of the new sites in southern Ontario were the result of private land securement that was completed over a decade ago and they should have been added to our parks system much earlier. This also highlights that the dedicated and determined conservation efforts of so many groups often don’t show up on the public radar for years. How can we accelerate the development of our network of provincially protected and conserved areas? 1. Remove Barriers and Support Indigenous-led Conservation: Enhance support and capacity-building for Indigenous-led conservation efforts, particularly in northern Ontario. 2. Strengthen Capacity for Private Land Conservation: Boost the capabilities of organizations facilitating private land donations and purchases, especially in southern Ontario. 3. Introduce Provincial Tax Incentives for Land Conservation: Implement provincial income tax incentives similar to the federal EcoGifts program, encouraging landowners to donate lands for conservation purposes. Provincial income tax incentives are provided for mineral exploration (SK,MB) and logging (BC) and should be expanded to promote nature conservation. https://lnkd.in/gyHhhJ8D

Thousands of hectares of peatlands have been rewetted this restoration season by conservation organisations, thanks to funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Nature for Climate Fund is playing a crucial role in revitalising degraded peat bogs, which in turn helps tackle climate change, reduce flooding and provide vital habitats for threatened wildlife. Investing in peatlands today not only aids in environmental conservation but also saves money in the long run by mitigating the impacts of climate change. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning and in the coming years, we’ll see this programme expand to restore even more of our precious peatlands.

In her latest op-ed for Time Magazine, Kristine Tompkins (President of Tompkins Conservation and former Patagonia CEO) shares her thoughts on rewilding and the ongoing work to return female jaguars to South America's Gran Chaco ecosystem. On this World Rewilding Day, it's incredibly encouraging to see rewilding gain traction as an effective conservation approach — one that not only restores biodiversity and vital ecological corridors but also shapes community wellbeing and equity. https://lnkd.in/e2mTg2s6

Exciting news on the wilderness conservation front in the southeastern U.S.! The Nature Conservancy in Alabama recently announced a $15 million+ deal to buy 7,990 acres in Clarke County at the head of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. For decades, this area has been referred to as “America’s Amazon” due to its remarkable biodiversity. The acquisition was made possible thanks to collaborative efforts between the The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, and an undisclosed donor. The tract, which is called “The Land Between the Rivers,” is located where the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers run side-by-side and then combine with the Delta. This is a critical region because the ecological health of the swamps, rivers, and lakes in this area has a direct impact on the health of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This is a huge conservation victory for the Southern U.S., and it’s so encouraging to see productive partnerships between private and nonprofit organizations. Way to go Nature Conservancy & Patagonia! #ClimateCrisis #Wilderness #Conservation #WaterConservation https://lnkd.in/gJuu7Egt

This week is #nationalhedgerowweek. Hedgerows can be the unsung hero of #openspaces but provide an array of benefits. So what's so special about the humble hedge? 🐝 Habitats - Hedgerows serve as vital habitats for an array of wildlife, offering food and shelter. Hedgerows such as bramble offers nectar for pollinators in the warmer months, then produces berries to feed birds in the autumn and winter. 🛣 Connectivity - Hedgerows provide connectivity in fragmented landscapes, offering sheltered commuting routes for wildlife between habitats. 👩🌾 Soil Protection - Hedgerows lining agricultural land serve as a natural defence, effectively reducing soil erosion. The deep root systems of hedgerows are a vital aid to soil stabilisation, especially during windy and dry spells. 🌍 Climate - Hedgerows not only store carbon but can contribute to healthy soil which in turn will be capable of storing further carbon. In addition to the above, hedgerows can be utilised to create natural screening and division of areas of green space. Where possible Meadfleet replace old fencing (which is costly to repair) with hedgerows, offering a more sustainable solution. We are also proud to say that we've installed over 1km of new hedgerow as part of our Bee Friendly Campaign! With the UK having lost 50% of its hedgerows in the past 75 years, it is more important than ever to acknowledge their value and recognise the need to conserve and manage our hedgerows for the future. Read our hedgerow week blog- https://lnkd.in/e8xhzAuQ Find out more - https://lnkd.in/gBk_JbE #openspacemanagement #habitats #biodiversity