The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) celebrated two significant achievements on September 22nd during a small, private event held on National Tree Day. Over the Authority’s 60-year history, 4 million trees have been planted and 100 hectares of wetland habitat has been created throughout the watershed.
“For 60 years, our Authority has implemented watershed management principles and conservation practices to work towards our vision of a healthy and sustainable natural environment in the St. Clair Region,” said Joe Faas, Chair of the SCRCA Board of Directors. “We have a lot to be proud of and what better day to celebrate our tree planting and stewardship efforts, than on National Tree Day.”
– Joe Faas (right), St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Chair and Chris Beach-Wallis (left), property tenant unveil a commemorative sign acknowledging the SCRCA’s 4 million trees planted, and 100 hectares of wetland created. The sign will be installed along Komoka Road, northwest of the Town of Komoka.
The event was held at a private landowner’s property, just outside of Komoka, owned by David Livingstone. Since 2014, Mr. Livingstone has worked with the SCRCA to naturalize his 40-hectare (100 acre) agricultural property that has been in his family since 1833. The property is home to many species of fish, birds, and animals including deer, fox, and squirrels. “Our tree planting program has been successful because of environmentally-minded landowners, like Mr. Livingstone,” said Jeff Sharp, Conservation Services Specialist with the Authority. “To date, there have been over 27,000 Carolinian trees planted on his property”
The property also hosts two wetlands, created with support by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the SCRCA. “Over the last 60 years, we have established significant partnerships with other organizations to increase wetland coverage throughout our watershed, which is vital for watershed health, flood mitigation, and providing aquatic habitat,” said Jessica Van Zwol, SCRCA Healthy Watershed Specialist. “Thanks to our funding partners, we have been able to help offset the cost of these projects for our landowners.”
Jessica Van Zwol, SCRCA Healthy Watershed Specialist stands next to trees planted by the Authority on Mr. Livingstone’s property in 2014.
The Authority’s tree planting and stewardship programs had a humble beginning in the 1960s with most reforestation and habitat creation occurring on the newly established Conservation Areas. Much of the planting was completed by local volunteers and Boy Scout groups. Today, the Authority employs full-time staff to administer these programs and in 2021 alone 79,000 trees were planted on 113 properties throughout the watershed, with more than $193,000 acquired in funding support.
Past funders to the SCRCAs tree planting and stewardship programs have included Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Tree Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (now the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry), the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Forests Ontario, the Ontario Community Environment Fund, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Middlesex Stewardship Council, ALUS Middlesex, the Middlesex Clean Water Program, the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation, Friends of the St. Clair River, and TD Friends of the Environment.
