The Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation Tours Essex Region

On June 14, Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation President & CEO Don Robinson along with Essex Region Board Member Tom Fuerth presented a cheque for $27,400 to Ray Renaud, Chairman of the Essex Region Conservation Authority to assist with the restoration of Vollmer, Smuga and Goron Habitat Restoration projects, as part of the Essex Region Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS). Robinson noted that the three projects are identified high priority BCS restoration opportunities, which when completed will substantially increase the quantity and quality of terrestrial forest and aquatic habitat. To date, the Foundation has directed over $1.5 million to restoration and rehabilitation projects in the Detroit River Watershed, including the Healthy Watersheds program in Southwestern Ontario.

ERCA Chair Renaud said, "We are so grateful to the Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation for its continued support when it comes to habitat restoration in the Detroit River watersheds. This generous funding will permit 53 acres of habitat to be restored in our region, in partnership with private landowners. In a region with merely 7.5% natural areas coverage, the critical importance of these partnerships cannot be overstated."

Members of the Foundation visited the region to tour several of the projects that they have helped to fund over the past several years of the partnership. In total, more than 200 acres of habitat in this region have been restored as a direct result of the Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation's efforts.