Our thanks to everyone who attended our in person Nature Counts summary, and to all volunteers who contributed to efforts in 2023 to protect nature in our region.
Community Science Highlights:
- 39% of volunteers involved were new
- Volunteers contributed over 2200 hours
- Technology (Landscape app and edapp) play a big role in training and monitoring
- 38 or 55 nature reserves and easements monitored
- 541 total volunteer visits (474 on nature reserves, 67 on easements)
- Data we get from monitoring programs:
- Timing of natural events
- Changes in habitat type and quality
- Presence of Species at Risk
- Presence of Invasive Species
- How humans are changing the landscape
- Diversary and adbundance of wildlife
- What do we do with the date? Contributed to provincial and federal database for land and species protection, and protection strategies. We use the information for future land acquisition to build corridors and buffer zones. In addition, it is used to make decisions for land management, restoration, trails & public use and invasive species management.
- Over the years, the cumulative total of unique Species at Risk has increased. In 2000, we had just over 5 and in 2023, we had almost 40.