Conservation Ontario 2021 Annual Report: From Vision to Action

2021 marked the 75th anniversary of the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA) which was originally enacted in 1946. The reason for establishing conservation authorities (CAs) then remains as valid today – the need to protect people and property, preserve our environment, and strike the appropriate balance between development and protecting our natural heritage.

Coincidentally, 2021 also marked a period of renewal as implementation began of significant changes made to the Conservation Authorities Act by the Province. Conservation Ontario (CO) supported conservation authorities to work through these changes.

Conservation Ontario also continued to support its members throughout 2021 in other program areas as well.

• Conservation Ontario was approved to receive $9 Million from 2021 to 2024 through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund offered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Over 50 projects with 15 conservation authorities are currently being funded.
• In addition to this, Conservation Ontario was also approved to receive $1.2 Million to secure and protect significant natural areas to help Ontario protect biodiversity and adapt to climate change impacts.

Our year ended with a call for help from British Columbia which was struggling to manage the impacts of severe flooding in late November and early December. A total of 53 staff from 18 conservation authorities quickly volunteered to travel to BC and help in any way they could. Fortunately, just before the finalization of the agreement, conditions began to improve and CA staff were put on standby.

Thank you to our staff, members, and partners for a very busy 2021.