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Community volunteers help Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association to fight invasive Phragmites
The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (BPBA) continues to work with community volunteers and other partners to fight Phragmites australis.
Phragmites has been called “the worst invasive plant species in Canada.” Phragmites australis is a tall perennial grass that rapidly forms dense stands, outcompetes all native vegetation, and quickly destroys wetlands and ecoystems.
Phragmites is commonly found in wetlands, roadside ditches, and along both Georgian Bay and Lake Huron shorelines.
The Biosphere Association is hosting educational Phragmites workshops for the community. Everyone is welcome. Learn about the invasive species Phragmites australis and how to properly manage the plant on your property or shoreline. The workshops take place on:
- Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Saturday, July 14, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon
The workshops take place at: Oliphant Campers Church, 2-18 Church Street South, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, N0H 2T0.
The BPBA works closely with Parks Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and volunteers to control the invasive reed Phragmites on the Peninsula.
The Biosphere Association invites you help fight this invasive plant at Phragmites Community Cut events this summer. In most cases, these events start at 8:30 a.m. and finish by 3 p.m. The Phragmites Community Cut events take place on:
- Friday, June 22, 2018 – Stokes Bay
- Friday, June 29, 2018 – Greenough/Gauley’s Bay
- Friday, July 6, 2018 – Myles Bay/Old Women's River
- Monday, July 9, 2018 – Rush Cove
- Thursday, July 12, 2018 – Hope Bay
- Friday, July 13, 2018 – Wiarton
- Friday, July 20, 2018 – Oliphant
- Friday, July 27, 2018 – Howdenvale
- Friday, August 3, 2018 – Red Bay
- Friday, August 10, 2018 – Saugeen – 9 a.m. to 3 p .m.
- Friday, August 17, 2018 – Little Red Bay
- Friday, August 24, 2018 – Cape Croker – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Check out the events calendar at bpba.ca for maps of locations and more details (and for any updates or changes).
The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association is a partner of the Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership.
The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association was the first community association to promote the Biosphere concept along the Niagara Escarpment, which is part of Ontario’s Greenbelt. The Niagara Escarpment is designated by the UNESCO as one of eighteen World Biospheres Reserves in Canada among 669 World Biosphere Reserves in 120 countries across the globe.
A Biosphere Reserve is a designation awarded by the United Nations. This recognizes globally significant terrestrial or marine ecosystems where permanent residents; agricultural producers; cottagers and seasonal residents; businesses; and government departments and ministries have made a commitment to living and working in harmony with nature.
The three principles that are the foundation of biosphere reserves are conservation; sustainable economic development; and capacity building.
To find out more about the Biosphere Association, including upcoming events, visit:
Upcoming events include the BPBA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at Lions Head Rotary Hall.
The Plunge into Spring! three-day eco-adventure on the Bruce Peninsula takes place May 24-27, 2018 at Miller Lake. This event provides you with an opportunity to migrate to the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory this May.
Those taking part in this eco-adventure will hike the escarpment edge, through lush landscapes to an inland flowerpot, waterfalls and ancient sea caves. They are invited to witness “life pushed to the limits in alvar habitats.” They can learn about forest and inland lake ecology and try bush-craft survival skills and “gaze upon the star-studded heavens with local astronomers in our Dark Sky Preserve.”
The cost for the Eco-Adventure is $349. This includes six excursions with local guides, three breakfasts, three lunches and all entrance fees. All proceeds go to the charitable conservation and stewardship work of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association. (Accommodation is not included.)
To find out more visit this link:
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Coastal Centre celebrates 20 years
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is celebrating 20 years of work with the community to protect Lake Huron's water, beaches, and ecoystems.
Congratulations go to the Coastal Centre, which hosted the Is the Coast Clear? conference from May 10-11, 2018.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is a partner in the Healthy Lake Huron: Clean Water, Clean Beaches Partnership.
The video above relates to one of the Coastal Centre's major projects - a new Coastal Action Plan for the southeastern shoreline of Lake Huron. The goal of this plan is to create a unified vision for Lake Huron coastal conservation and stewardship efforts for the shoreline between Sarnia and Tobermory. The Coastal Centre has been developing a coordinated approach to address common issues and goals of communities along the Lake Huron shoreline.
The Coastal Action Plan is to develop a list of environmental management strategies by identifying valuable natural features and species, and the threats and stressors that negatively impact them.
This video was produced by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation.
To find out about upcoming beach cleanups visit the Coastal Centre's events page:
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Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program is back for 2018
The Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) is back for 2018.
SARFIP supports Ontario producers who are enhancing on-farm habitat for species at risk across Ontario.
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), with support from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, is pleased to continue to offer this impactful program.
“SARFIP has a great legacy of supporting producers who are looking to make improvements on their farms while also enriching farm habitat for species at risk,” said Peter McLaren, President of OSCIA. “Through cost-share funding, SARFIP supports projects that benefit both farmers and species at risk.”
 Agricultural producers in Ontario can access cost-share dollars for on-farm projects that implement a variety of best management practices (BMPs). With a diversity of project opportunities, eligible BMPs encompass activities around croplands, grasslands, shorelines, stream banks, wetlands and woodlands. Many opportunities are available to support critical habitat through SARFIP, including cross fencing for rotational grazing, watering systems for livestock, native tree planting, improved stream crossings, native grassland plantings, invasive species removal, and erosion control structures, among others.
SARFIP 2018 is open to all agricultural landowners in Ontario. Projects that provide indirect benefits to species at risk are eligible for 50 per cent cost-share, and projects that directly benefit species at risk are eligible for 65 per cent. An additional bonus of 10 per cent cost-share is available for direct benefit projects if the producer is interested in enrolling in SAR-Watch, a monitoring program that measures the impact of SARFIP projects on the ground for species at risk. A farm business can access up to $20,000 in 2018.
“Farmers are in a unique position to implement farm management practices that benefit species at risk while improving their farm’s productivity,” said Andréa Dubé-Goss, Environmental Programs Manager at OSCIA. “We’re working hard to carry on the legacy and continue to deliver programs like SARFIP that have tremendous value for both species at risk and Ontario farmers.”
To find out if SARFIP is a good fit with your farm, consult the program brochure for complete and detailed program information. All program materials, including the brochure and application forms can be found on the OSCIA website. To be eligible to participate in SARFIP, Ontario farms must have a completed 4th Edition Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) workbook and Action Plan that has been verified and completed within the last five years.
Applications are now being accepted, and funding will be allocated to eligible projects in the order in which they are received. Funding for this program is limited; if you have a project idea that fits, submit your application as soon as possible. Projects must be initiated on or after April 1, 2018.
For more information on eligibility criteria, the application process, and program deadlines, or to sign up to an upcoming EFP workshop in your area, visit the SARFIP page on the OSCIA website at this link:
You may also contact OSCIA directly at 519-826-3035 or email SARFIP@ontariosoilcrop.org.
To find out more visit this link:
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