The Carolinian Canada
Natural Heritage Educational Program

a Landowner Contact Program

A landowner contact program was initiated in January of 1996. Landowners in the class 1, provincially significant Rondeau Bay and St. Clair marshes and the Sinclair's Bush and Skunk's Misery Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) were contacted to promote land stewardship, raise awareness of stewardship projects, identify landowner concerns and recommend conservation-based actions.

A booklet focussing on local stewardship resources for landowners was produced. Letters were sent to 54 landowners within the watershed, of which approximately 75% were contacted. Landowners were greatly interested in conservation information and actions. These interests were presented to township councils with specific recommendations to support landowner stewardship within the watershed. A final report entitled Tri-County Landowner & Municipal Stewardship of Natural Heritage Sites was produced. It includes a summary of the results of the landowner and municipality contact and needs assessment and recommendations for future work.

This project has:

• provided information on practical stewardship options to individual landowners and townships
• connected landowners and townships to resources that will assist stewardship activities
• given voice to concerns of private owners of natural heritage
• provided feedback on current stewardship incentives such as the conservation land tax rebate
• conveyed landowner interest in regulations such as conservation zoning and erosion control by-laws to township councils
• identified site-wide concerns and rehabilitation interests
• identified interest in partnerships between landowners, townships and stewardship committees
• recommended specific conservation awareness and land management projects and partnerships
• assessed the success of this and previous landowner contact programs
• recommended the best communication lines between landowner, township and stewardship initiatives and
• has helped to establish stewardship initiatives as a local resource for landowners and planners

This initiative helped to ensure that the owners of significant habitats are aware of the ecological value of the natural resources that they possess. Long-term protection of these areas was promoted. This project fostered good land stewardship practices and provided landowners with the contacts that they need to assist them in protecting, managing and/or rehabilitating these sites.

Carolinian Canada Natural Heritage Education Program Partners:

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