What is New of Environmental Note about Town?
Our wonderful cherished wetland sanctuary Cooper Marsh is hosting a fund raising event March 13-14 from 1 to 9 p.m. at The Visitor Centre. This will be a family friendly event which will have something of interest for the children and adults.
The funds raised will facilitate repairs to the boardwalk which allows visitors to tour this significant wetland and its population of wildlife. This park, managed by The Raisin Region Conservation Authority is a great place to hike, ski, snowshoe, picnic and relax. Cooper Marsh is located 18 kilometers east of Cornwall on County Road 2 near South Lancaster, and 102 kilometers west of Montreal. Kindly contact Nancy Hildebrand at 613-938-3611 for more information about this event.
Dwindling timberland is becoming a concern for regional conservation officials.
According to Dennis O’Grady, General Manager of The South Nation
Conservation Authority, “Forest cover in the South Nation Watershed has dropped to 21% to date. 30% is a general accepted level needed to encourage growth and survival of plants and animals. Any less than this could mean death for whole populations of plants and animals”.
Simple brush and tree cover in hedgerows are disappearing at an alarming rate. If we wish to insure a diverse population of plants and animals these untouched corridors are necessary.
This is where wildlife can find food, shelter and a covered passageway when traveling from one area to another. Hedgerows can also create micro climates which can be beneficial to the crops in the field and shelter fields from heavy snow cover and wind erosion.
If you or anyone you know would like more information about this subject please contact www.nation.on.ca They would be happy to assist you with your questions. They even have seedling trees available for planting.
On that note, I am happy to announce a personal collaborative project with The South Nation Conservation Office. Small format acrylic originals from my Trees for Thought series will be available for purchase through the South Nation office. 33% of the proceeds from these sales will go directly to tree planting and buffer zone projects through the Conservation Office.
It is my hope that many dollars will be raised for replanting purposes and these new environments will provide safety, shelter, and food to some of the other lives that share this planet with us. More importantly, bringing awareness to the general public that ‘Trees are the lungs of the Earth’, that trees and brush are necessary for the survival of many if not all forms of life, will hopefully move us closer to balance in the world.
One amazing step noted this week was that Hostess Frito-Lay announced that beginning mid-March they will start producing Sun Chips with compostable packaging. Wow! I am ecstatic that someone has taken the lead in incorporating earth care with their business. In fact being stewards is one of their corporate core values. Visit www.sunchips.cato find out more about this company’s environmental initiatives. I am proud of you Hostess Frito-Lay. Thank you for leading the way.
Lastly, The SDG Food Council invites all interested parties from SDG, Cornwall and Akwesasne to a constructive workshop on the local food movement with Wayne Roberts who is the author of “The No Nonsense Guide to World Food”.
This will take place Friday, February 26th, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Ramada Inn. Lunch will be provided. To reserve your seat, kindly RSVP Tom Manley at 613-984-0480 ext 225
F.Y.I. The forest image here with trilliums no longer exists. This area was clear cut for a house.
Your comments are encouraged and appreciated. Feel free to contact Jacqueline at earthmatters@jmilner.com
