Reducing the opportunities…

Reducing the opportunities for people to engage with natural areas in the their communities, reducing the ability of conservation authorities to reach out to those communities to provide education and access to natural areas, reducing the ability of conservation areas to monitor the ecological health of their lands and the larger communities is wrongheaded and harmful.

For nearly 15 years I have relied on our local conservation authority facilities- including trails, education centres, school programs, a vast array of events from guided night hikes, youth tripping programs, visiting presenters (Canadian Raptor Conservancy), forest therapy walks, summer camps, support for affiliated organizations and so much more to provide my child with a rich and essential awareness and experience of the natural world.

In a time when so much of our ecology is under threat, shrinking the space in community resources for nature education and access is a heartbreaking prospect.

Already we've lost resources at our local facilities with staff cuts. With people unable to travel as they once did. With economic instability for many families reaching new peaks. With a global climate crisis in full swing it makes no sense to proceed with a contraction of local outdoor opportunities. The programming and facilities of the conservation authorities/areas are critically valuable resource - contributing to the health and well-being - physically and mentally - of community members in an accessible, local, and low cost way. The trails, amenities, educational programs allow children, youth, and adults to develop a greater understanding of and respect for the natural world that is part and parcel of a sustainable future. The beauty that is shared and available to all motivates visitors to become more engaged with projects and lifestyle changes to ensure a healthier planet and community.

Without exaggeration, I would say that our quality of life (mine and my son's), over the past decade and a half would be reduced by no less than 40% had our local conservation authority facilities and programs not existed and been as available as they have been.

The proposal to reduce and limit the activities of the conservation authorities is misguided and deeply harmful to the communities associated with the authorities. Opening up the way for developers to more readily encroach upon natural spaces is not the direction we need to be taken.

Do better.