I am very concerned with the…

I am very concerned with the proposed amalgamation of the conservation areas. In particular the Quinte Conservation. I am a member of Quinte Conservation Woodlot.

Quinte Woodlot Association works closely with Quinte Conservation and Lower Trent Conservation, our local conservation authorities. Together, these two authorities provide essential oversight of natural lands and watercourses. Quinte Conservation oversees the health of land and water across 6,000 km2 (1,482,632 acres) in the Moira, Salmon, and Napanee watersheds, as well as Prince Edward County. Lower Trent Conservation provides environmental protection services to an additional 2,070 km2 (511,508 acres).

The staff at QC and LTC are experts in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Forest Region, and their knowledge is rooted in first-hand, local experience. They understand the ecological diversity, land pressures, hydrology, and community needs that vary widely even within short geographic distances. Their ability to provide timely, science-based guidance to private landowners—including woodlot owners who rely on professional advice to manage forests responsibly—is inseparable from this local expertise.

We value our conservation authorities and are concerned that consolidating services into a larger system will weaken the ability of local communities to provide high-quality care for forests, waterways, ecosystems, and public park systems. Our forests—and all their inhabitants, including mammals, insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles—deserve the protection that our current localized conservation authority framework provides.