NEWS RELEASE
COUCHICHING CONSERVANCY
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The Couchiching Conservancy held their Annual General Meeting over Zoom on March 6, with over 270 people participating. Accomplishments and reflections of the year were shared, including two new Nature Reserves, adapted programs which broke records and progress on various campaigns to protect irreplaceable wilderness in the area. A mini Film Festival was shared as well.
The two new Nature Reserves total over 200 acres and both are within the Black River Wildlands region. The Whitney Wetland Nature Reserves is connected to the Mud Lake provincially significant wetland, and the McIssac Wetland Nature Reserve which was protected in 1998.
The Dr. Ron Taylor Nature Reserve adjoins Queen Elizabeth the Second Wildlands Provincial Park, with waters that flow into the Black River. Both Reserves help create a mosaic of connected wilderness that support species migration.
With support from the community, the Conservancy now helps to protect over 13,500 acres of wilderness. Many of these Reserves have footpaths and trails.
Volunteers monitored 31 Reserves and Easements, and made 192 team visits. In all, 320 Species at Risk observations came in this year, which were submitted to the Natural Heritage Information Centre. Submissions to the Centre topped 1,400 this year. These observations assist the Conservancy is decision-making processes.
Fourteen volunteers were recognized for their efforts: Doug and Charon Varty, Neil and Ann Gray, Melanie and Alan Tuck, Roland Rehhorn and Joan Vincent, Alan Smale, Mike Read, John Walinck and Kevin Binsted, Janet Machan and Jeff Cole.
A new Board of Directors was voted in by members, and the incoming President, Neil Gray, thanked the Directors who were stepping off of the Board this year.
The mini Film Festival was assembled with trail camera footage, videos of volunteers and staff at the Nature Reserves and more. The films are now on the Conservancy’s YouTube channel.
About The Couchiching Conservancy:
The Couchiching Conservancy is one of the leading regional land trusts in Ontario. A non-government, charitable organization, it has helped protect over 13,500 acres of important natural habitat in the Lake Couchiching region since 1993. Wherever possible, the lands are accessible to the public for the responsible enjoyment of nature.
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