In celebration of our 70th anniversary, we’re highlighting stories that connect our past with our present through a monthly series. In this article, we reflect on our stewardship programs over the years and the integral role landowners, volunteers and the community play in the success of protecting and restoring the Credit River Watershed.
We’re Partners in Environmental Conservation
Since CVC’s very beginning, we have understood that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility. In the 1960s and 70s, when agricultural lands made up over half the Credit River Watershed and only 16 per cent was in forest cover, farmers were our primary stewardship partners. They created farm ponds to help manage stormwater (not a recommended practice today), erected fences to enclose woodlots and keep livestock out and planted lots and lots of trees. Since 1956, landowners have planted 6.5 million trees with CVC, putting the watershed well on its way to the 23 per cent forest cover it is today.
We were also active in the local community, raising awareness about the benefits of nature and environmental conservation. We attended agricultural fall fairs, gave presentations to school groups and service clubs, hosted bus tours, held contests, distributed brochures, and even had a float in local community parades. Community groups like the Izaac Walton Fly Fishing Club, Trout Unlimited–Greg Clark Chapter, Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides contributed their skills and hard work to the conservation effort. CVC first handed out conservation awards as early as 1965 and has since recognized the contributions of hundreds of environmental leaders.
The Evolution of Stewardship Programs
By 1990, the watershed had experienced a shift in land use. There was rapid urbanization in Mississauga and Brampton and a decrease in agriculture. Properties were converting from agriculture to estate, residential and horse and hobby farms.
This provided an opportunity to engage a new audience in environmental stewardship. We invited rural non-farm landowners to undertake an environmental assessment and receive a customized conservation plan for their property. Close to 100 landowners took part. Conservation planning helps landowners understand how their property fits into the protection and management of the Credit River Watershed and gives them steps to take action.
The program grew to become today’s Landowner Action Fund. Another 180 landowners have since completed conservation action plans, and the Landowner Action Fund has supported the implementation of over 320 stewardship projects such as buffer plantings, invasive species control and septic system improvements that protect water sources, build resilience of our natural systems to climate change and improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
The Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan launched in 1993 to help farmers adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Farmers identify their farm’s environmental strengths, areas of concern and create an action plan to improve conditions. The program took farmers beyond tree planting to on-farm soil and water management by encouraging the use of agricultural best management practices, such as manure management and conservation tillage. With our municipal partners, CVC has provided technical assistance and financial incentives to help watershed farmers implement projects identified in their Environmental Farm Plans. To date, farmers have implemented over 400 best management practices with CVC to protect water quality, reduce erosion and improve biodiversity.
Renewed investment in conservation in the early 2000s to respond to climate change allowed CVC to expand our stewardship services to the urban environment. Greening Corporate Grounds was launched. It helps businesses and institutions shift from conventional to sustainable landscaping practices. Since its inception, 96 participants have enrolled in the program. They’ve installed over 150 sustainable landscaping projects such as rain gardens and mini-forests to soak up rainwater and improve biodiversity and planted 14,300 trees and shrubs. Urban residents have contributed too by planting 2,600 native trees and shrubs on 1,700 home properties across the watershed that help cool our cities and capture carbon.
Stewardship Today
Today we engage people across the watershed in ways we couldn’t imagine 70 years ago. We host webinars on how to choose the best tree for your yard, post reels on Instagram to recruit volunteers and upload videos to YouTube on nature-based solutions to climate change. We have programs that engage entire neighbourhoods and run hundreds of community tree planting events with volunteers every year.
Our Commitment of Community-based Conservation
CVC’s been unwavering in our commitment to educate and empower people in caring for the Credit. Over time, we adjusted our communication methods to better suit changing demographics and technologies. We adapted and shifted our programming to respond to new environmental issues and science. But our commitment to community-based conservation has remained steadfast for the past seventy years.
Have you taken stewardship action with us? Share how you are caring for the Credit by tagging us on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
By Lisa Brusse, Manager, Landowner Engagement and Stewardship