The Ontario government says it is investing $20 million through a new Species Conservation Program to protect species at risk and their habitats across the province.
The funding, announced Thursday by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, will support 46 community-led conservation projects aimed at protecting species such as Monarch butterflies, Blanding’s turtles and butternut trees.
“Under the new Species Conservation Program, Ontario has quadrupled its investment in species conservation, expanding the impact of community-driven projects in every corner of the province,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By making strategic investments to support experienced conservation leaders, we are taking action to restore habitat, support species recovery efforts and protect Ontario’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.”
The province said the new program replaces the former Species at Risk Stewardship Program and provides four times more funding to support conservation experts and community-based initiatives. The program is designed to encourage individuals and organizations to participate in stewardship activities to conserve species at risk and their habitats.
McCarthy was joined by conservation partners, including Earth Rangers, which is receiving $500,000 to develop seven new bilingual “missions.” Delivered through the Earth Rangers app and website, the interactive activities are intended to help children and families learn about native at-risk species and take action to protect them.
Funding will support 15 new projects and 31 multi-year initiatives. Among the organizations receiving support are ALUS Canada, which will restore more than 4,700 acres of farmland to create habitat for at-risk species; the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, which rehabilitates injured turtles and releases hatchlings; and Ducks Unlimited Canada, which will restore and enhance wetlands that support at-risk wildlife, including turtles and birds such as the Least Bittern.
Other supported groups include Land Care Niagara, which will improve Monarch butterfly habitat in the Niagara region; Georgian Bay Forever, which is removing invasive Phragmites to improve wetland habitat used by turtle species; the Forest Gene Conservation Association, which is conserving disease-resistant butternut trees; and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, which supports land trusts in securing and managing conservation lands.
The government said that since 2018 it has invested $33 million in more than 220 conservation and stewardship projects, creating over 2,355 jobs and restoring nearly 50,000 acres of habitat for species at risk. The new program also allows funding for land securement for the first time, aimed at protecting ecologically significant areas that support vulnerable species.
In 2024, children and families completed 99,534 Earth Rangers missions through the organization’s app, including activities such as planting pollinator gardens and organizing litter cleanups, the province said.
