THE BRUCE TRAIL CONSERVANCY

Environment Committee

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Welcome

Welcome to the Bruce Trail Conservancy Environment Committee, one of 16 committees of  the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), a charitable, membership-based volunteer organization

 

The BTC’s mission is to establish a conservation corridor containing a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment, in order to protect its natural ecosystems and to promote environmentally responsible public access to this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

 

The Environment Committee consists of a chair and at least five members.  The committee is represented on the BTC Program Management Council which assists the BTC Board in administering its programs. Members have expertise in Biota, Ecology, Environmental Assessment, Geography, Geology, Mapping, Pesticides, Community Planning, Site Development, and other related fields. We welcome new members with expertise in these areas.

 

The Environment Committee is involved in the following main activities:

 

· Developing initiatives that promote conservation and restoration of natural resources and wildlife of the BTC conservation corridor and the Niagara Escarpment., e.g. review of property management plans;

 

· Preparing material to educate trail users in the ecological, historical and cultural features of the Niagara Escarpment, e.g., leading interpretive hikes and preparation of interpretive signs for Bruce Trail properties;

 

· Submitting articles to the Bruce Trail Magazine;

 

· Providing support to BTC clubs and other committees on environmental issues in their manuals, procedures and practices, e.g., Guide to Non-Native Trees and Shrubs;

 

· Monitoring government, ENGOs and private development activities that may affect the environment (e.g., quarry operations and roads such as the Redhill parkway, Hamilton).

 

· Preparing policy documents (e.g., Position Paper on Wind Turbine Development, 2005; Pesticide Policy for BTC Managed Lands Leased for Agriculture, 2003; Mountain Bike Policy Backgrounder, 2002).  Commenting on environmental aspects of BTC policies (e.g., Vegetation Policy, 1999; Non-Pedestrian Activities Policy, 1999).  Commenting on trail optimum route strategy to avoid ecologically sensitive areas and rare plants.

 

· Implementing the Calypso Orchid Environmental Award

 

Current members are: Robert Gillespie (chair), Heather Andrachuk, David Jackman, Robert Siddall, Sal Spitale, Robin van de Lande, Don Williams, Fred Nix, and Janine Zend along with ex-officio member Julia Marko Dunn.

 

We are always interested in hearing from BTC members and others about environmental issues related to the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment.

 

Please contact us at mail@BTCenvironmentcommittee.org

 

Come and Join the Environment Committee

 

Since its beginnings fifteen years ago, the Bruce Trail Conservancy Environment Committee provides support on environmental issues to the Board, as well as to clubs and other committees, in fulfilling the mission to provide a footpath to promote conservation of the Niagara Escarpment.  With its change of name last year from Association to Conservancy, the BTC has put a clear focus on its ultimate goal:  to conserve the Escarpment, the 6^th biosphere reserve listed by UNESCO in Canada.  This new focus gives a more important role and responsibility to the Environment Committee which must be more proactive and requires new members to rise to this challenge.  This is why we ask you to come and join us.  Come with your enthusiasm, fresh and green ideas, expertise in biota, ecology, environmental assessment, environmental sciences, geography, geology, historical artefacts, land use planning, land management, pesticides etc.

 

The mandate of the Environment Committee is to promote conservation of wildlife and natural resources through preparation and/or review of internal BTC policies relating to environmental issues, preparation of education literature and programs and monitoring of external environmental issues affecting the Bruce Trail.  

 

This mandate is covered in the activities listed above. If these issues interest you and you feel you would like to contribute to the work of the Environment Committee, please feel free to contact Janine Zend for further information at zendjani@rogers.com or 416-656-7775 for more information and to attend a meeting as an observer first if you wish.  You can also look up our achievements on this website. We meet five or six times per year in the GTA/Hamilton area.  Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings, with the exception of the June meeting held on a week-end.

 

COME AND JOIN US!

 

Janine Zend, BTC Environment Committee

Bruce Trail Conservancy Environment Committee

Alison Watt

Black-Eyed Susan

(Rudbeckia hirta)