The Carolinian Canada Coalition has received funding from Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Program to initiate a Landowner Leader Program Initiative, with a goal of inspiring and guiding private landowners to ‘Save, Steward and Seed' species at risk habitat in the Carolinian Life Zone - one of the most fragile and ecologically diverse landscapes in Canada. The program will work closely with landowners and local conservation partners in southwestern Ontario through a suite of targeted outreach, assistance and recognition initiatives.

Carolinian Canada is the southernmost region of Canada and contains more rare and endangered species of plants and animals than any other part of Canada. Over 125 species have been identified at risk and over 400 others are considered rare. Forest cover has been reduced from 80% to 11% and in some places is less than 3%. Wetlands once covered 28% of the land but now are reduced to 5%. Fragmentation of remaining habitats into very small remnants is a further threat. The Carolinian zone occupies only 1% of Canada's land area, but is home to 25% of its people. It's not surprising that the Carolinian zone is Ontario's most threatened ecological region.

"Private landowners who practice sound land stewardship on their own land support biodiversity and are protecting air, water and soil quality for everyone," stated Michelle Kanter, Executive Director of the Carolinian Canada Coalition. "The Landowner Leaders Program will provide the tools to help private individuals in proactively leading the way in helping provide habitat for species at risk and other wildlife."

A series of landowner workshops, entitled Caring for Carolinian Habitat on Your Land, will be offered across southwestern Ontario in February and March 2013 to help interested landowners familiarize themselves with the different species at risk found in their county, learn ways in which to develop and steward habitat for these species, and how to develop habitat action plans. One of the workshops will be specially geared towards woodlot owners, and one will be designed for farmers. Local conservation authorities, stewardship councils, and other conservation groups will be on-hand to describe the types of technical assistance they can provide, and what financial and tax incentives are available to the private landowner.

The workshops will be offered on the following dates and locations:

• Saturday, February 23, 2013 - Senior's Recreation Centre, St. Thomas
• Saturday, March 2, 2013 - Port Franks Community Centre, Pt. Franks
• Saturday, March 9, 2013 - Delaware Community Centre, Delaware
• Friday, March 15, 2013 - Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, KIngsville
• Saturday, March 16, 2013 - Municipal Council Chambers, Ridgetown
• For Woodlot Owners:
• Friday, March 22, 2013 - Hungarian Hall, Delhi
• For Farmers:
• Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - Quality Inn & Suites, Woodstock

Cost of the full day workshop is $15/person and includes lunch, a copy of the Rural Landowner Stewardship Guide and Self Assessment Tool, and other resource materials.

To sign-up for a Landowner Leaders workshop please register at www.carolinian.org