Background

Agriculture and many other land uses have drastically altered the Ontario landscape. The changes have often been for the betterment of agricultural production, but they have greatly affected wildlife habitat and population.

All Ontarians value a diverse wildlife population for all kinds of good reasons. Most of the remaining habitat in agricultural regions of the province is found on privately owned lands.

The Wetlands/Woodlands/Wildlife (WWW) Program is part of the Canada/Ontario Agriculture Green Plan. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations and farmers had identified a need to demonstrate and publicize those management practices that conserve, enhance or create fish and wildlife habitat in a manner compatible with sustainable farming. The WWW Program promotes the development and adoption of practices that benefit both agriculture and wildlife in the long term. There are two components: demonstration projects and supplementary extension information.

The WWW Program recognizes that wildlife-related issues facing southwestern Ontario are sometimes very different from those facing the east or north. They can depend on the type of farm operation, landscape features, and the wildlife species in question. The available funding is being used to support 10 demonstration projects throughout Ontario. Collectively, the projects deal with a wide range of wildlife issues.

Each project in various ways addresses one or more of three key concerns:

• Wetland conservation,
• Woodland conservation, and
• Drain management.

Relying heavily on farmer participation and support, all 10 projects meet these criteria:

• Direct benefits to wildlife and farmers
• Evaluation and monitoring of techniques used
• Demonstration of techniques that are transferable to other farmsteads
• Proposed resolutions to potential conflicts between agriculture and wildlife and their habitat
• Many government and non-governmental organizations provide resource support and technical advice
• Development of partnerships between agriculture and conservation groups
• Effective and affordable measures/techniques that promote long-term benefits to wildlife and agriculture
• Demonstration value through tours and open-air seminars.

Participating farmers are taking a hands-on approach, and are actively involved in the planning, planting, construction, and hosting of tours of demonstration projects. They are also helping to identify issues where supplementary information for farmers is warranted.

Approximately $2.4-million has been allocated to the WWW Program over a four-year period. The Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada manages the program on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

If you would like to visit any of the demonstration sites, please contact the appropriate project coordinator, whose name and telephone number are listed in this brochure. Field activities will be phased in at many of the project sites over the duration of the project. This will give visitors the opportunity to see the projects evolve over time as they stabilize and mature.

For more information about the WWW Program, contact the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada personnel listed on the back panel.

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Created: Sunday, August 6, 1995
Last Revised: Thursday, May 12, 2011 02:19:00 PM