NCC Magazine: Summer 2024

Balancing act 

Effective conservation ensures that the 

needs of nature and people are both met 

TKTKTKTKTKTKT 

natureconservancy.ca 

WINTER 2021 1

SUMMER 2024 

CONTENTS 

Nature Conservancy of Canada 

4 Nature makes it possible 

Nature is the answer. It has always been the 

key to a thriving world. 

6 Fort Ellice 

interpretive site 

Connect with nature, history and culture on 

these stunning grasslands in MB. 

7 Calling all nature lovers 

NCC’s fourth-annual Big Backyard BioBlitz 

takes place on the first weekend of August. 

7 Sharing the path ahead 

Hari Balasubramanian’s boots remind him 

of our shared connection with the planet. 

8 Thriving together 

Effective conservation enables nature 

and people to mutually benefit from 

protected areas and resilient landscapes. 

12 Northern red-legged frog 

This amphibian stands out from the crowd 

on its translucent, red hind legs. 

14 Project updates 

Community-driven nature conservation in NL; 

growing our impact in BC’s grasslands; protecting 

globally rare alvars and intact forests in ON. 

16 All the world’s a stage 

A former singing and dancing parks interpreter 

is leading the Parks+ Collective. 

18 Four-legged weeders 

A herd of goats with a voracious appetite are 

contracted to control invasive species. 

Digital extras 

Check out our online magazine with 

additional content to supplement this issue, 

at nccmagazine.ca. 

Nature Conservancy of Canada 

365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1501 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4W 3L4 

magazine@natureconservancy.ca | Phone: 416.932.3202 | Toll-free: 877.231.3552 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. We seek 

solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, 

permanent land conservation. NCC is a registered charity. With nature, we build a thriving world. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine is distributed to donors and supporters of NCC. 

TM 

Trademarks owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. 

FSC® is not responsible for any calculations 

on saving resources by choosing this paper. 

Printed in Canada with vegetable-based inks by Warrens Waterless Printing. 

This publication saved 11 trees and 10,786 litres of water*. 

CREATED BY: CALCULATEUR.ROLLANDINC.COM. PHOTO: ADAM BIALO/KONTAKT FILMS. 

* 

2 SUMMER 2024 natureconservancy.ca

Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula, ON. 

On the cover: Shaw Wilderness 

Park, NS. Photo by NCC. 

MARIE-MICHELE ROUSSEAU-CLAIR: ETIENNE BOISVERT; CORY PROULX: COURTESY OF THE ILLUSTRATOR; J. BRUCE FALLS: NCC. 

Dear friends, 

In my early years in conservation, I envisioned my career to 

be full of days in the field, because I chose the profession out 

of my love for nature, and thinking that I’d be dealing with 

creatures of all sorts. That still rings true, but I’ve learned that it’s as 

much about the people you meet along the way as it is the plants 

and animals. Because at the end of the day, taking care of nature 

benefits the generations to come. 

In this issue of the Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine, 

we explore the final concept of the CARE principle (Connected, 

Adequate, Representative and Effective). Effectiveness means 

balancing conservation outcomes with the resources available locally 

and the needs of humans who share the space. In other words, how 

can we do conservation while helping communities? 

This concept helps reframe a past paradigm that protecting 

nature is done by boxing it in, which can create islands of conservation. 

Instead, we can engage communities at the start of projects 

to foster collaboration in areas where conservation is needed, and 

include human activities in our considerations. By integrating these 

considerations, we can build a thriving world where conservation 

and community objectives are both met. 

As you’ll learn in the feature story on page 8, effective conservation 

has positive outcomes all around: from cleaner waterways 

to improved recreation opportunities, to garnering support in 

the community. 

I hope you will be inspired by the momentum for conservation 

and the dedication of the people and organizations behind these 

efforts from coast to coast. The real power of what we do lies within 

the people. We are one with nature. Thank you for your continued 

support of Canada’s nature. 

Yours in conservation, 

Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair 

Marie-Michele Rousseau-Clair 

Chief conservation officer 

Featured 

Contributor 

Cory Proulx is an 

Illustrator based 

in Vancouver, BC. 

His creative journey 

focuses on capturing 

the essence of wildlife, 

nature, adventure, 

skateboarding 

and beyond. Cory 

illustrated “Fourlegged 

weeders,” 

on page 18. 

In Memoriam 

With profound gratitude 

and respect, we 

remember J. (James) 

Bruce Falls (1923–2024). 

He was instrumental 

in establishing NCC. 

Learn more about his 

incredible legacy at 

natureconservancy.ca/ 

brucefalls. 


SUMMER 2024 3

COAST TO 

COAST 

Nature 

makes it 

possible 

Nature is, and always has been, 

the answer. It sustains us. 

It is resilient. It has the power to 

heal and inspire. It has always 

been the key to a thriving world. 

Nature provides for us. Wetlands filter and purify the water we drink. 

Fertile soils make it possible to grow the food we eat. Plants clean 

the air and supply the oxygen we breathe. 

Nature enriches our lives, giving us spaces to hike, paddle and swim. And 

that time in nature makes us happier. Research shows that a walk in the woods 

soothes troubled minds, while the smell of dirt can melt away our worries. 

Even just hearing the sounds of nature makes us more relaxed. 

Today, we need nature more than ever. That’s because life on Earth has 

changed. The world is facing a crisis of climate change and species loss that 

threatens our way of life — and our future. 

But, once again, nature gives us hope. 

As the planet heats up and extreme weather becomes more frequent, 

marshes soak up floodwaters. Grasslands store water to buffer us against 

droughts, and trees cool our towns and cities. 

At the same time, nature addresses the root of climate change by locking 

away planet-warming carbon. And by providing the habitat that wildlife needs 

to flourish, it can stop species from disappearing forever. 

Because we are all a part of nature, we can be part of the solution. NCC 

donors and supporters are on the front lines of that solution, coming together 

to create tangible change. 

Together, we can continue to protect nature and champion its amazing 

ability to care for people and communities so that life on Earth can thrive. 

TKTKTKTKTKTKT 

SHUTTERSTOCK. 


Life 

On the most 

fundamental level, we 

can’t survive without the essential 

services nature provides. “Nature 

makes my life and the lives of all who 

will come after me possible,” says 

Romana Prokopiw, NCC manager of 

health and safety. 

TOP TO BOTTOM: ANDREW HERYGERS/NCC STAFF; LETA PEZDERIC/NCC STAFF; 

SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF; SEAN FEAGAN/NCC STAFF; KONTAKT FILMS; KONTAKT FILMS 

Thanks to your support, nature makes all kinds of things possible. 

Here’s a look at what some of our staff and supporters had to say 

about nature’s importance in their life. 

“I have learned 

my greatest lessons 

in nature and from nature,” says 

Samantha Black, NCC development 

and communications assistant in 

Atlantic Canada. “[It has] taught me 

to keep my head up and persist.” 

Wisdom 

Nature has an incredible ability to renew 

and restore itself, healing the damage caused 

by unsustainable practices. And the more 

resiliency we ensure in our landscapes, the 

better we can all withstand changes — for 

the benefit of all species. 

Resiliency Peace 

Time spent in nature fills us with 

calm, gratitude and joy. And the more 

we connect to nature, the more we 

care about it, creating a virtuous circle 

that helps all life thrive. 

Health 

Study after study reveals how spending time in nature can improve 

memory, reduce stress, promote better sleep and myriad other 

physical and mental benefits. That’s why more than 13,000 health 

professionals across Canada have begun prescribing nature to 

their patients through Park Prescriptions. 

A greener 

future 

Canada’s forests, wetlands and grasslands are our allies in the face of the dual 

crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. By storing billions of tonnes of carbon 

and constantly pulling more from the atmosphere, they help communities thrive 

now, and for years to come. 

Join the conversation! 

What does nature make possible for you? Write it, 

record it, photograph it, sing it or draw it; it’s up to 

you! Show us via social media, using the hashtag 

#NatureMakesItPossible, for a chance to be featured.

BOOTS ON 

THE TRAIL 

Fort Ellice 

interpretive site 

LEGEND 

Cairn 

• Parking area 

• Sharing circle 

Information kiosk 

• Bench 

--- Trail 

FROM TOP: THOMAS FRICKE; KALE COHEN/NCC STAFF; THOMAS FRICKE; LETA PEZDERIC/NCC STAFF; CAMERON MEUCKON. MAP: PHILINA CHAN. 

Located on a stunning grassland property in Manitoba, this 

site offers visitors a chance to not only connect with nature, 

but with the region’s history and culture 

Open year-round and located on the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) 

Fort Ellice project near St. Lazare, Manitoba, this community space is not 

only a grassland gem but an opportunity to learn to more about the area’s 

nature, history, culture and economy. 

NCC is proud to have worked with community members to create a space that 

continues to build on connections to the land. Fort Ellice is part of the ancestral lands 

of the Cree, Nakota and Anishinaabe First Nations, the unceded territory of the Dakota 

Nation, and Homeland of the Métis Nation. The site has been a place where cultural 

ceremonies have been held, students have come to learn, and scientists and archeologists 

have come to study its many wonders. A gathering place for millenia, future generations 

will also have the opportunity to connect this place with their personal history. 

The site includes a loop walking trail, interpretive kiosks with information on the 

historic Fort Ellice, which once stood on the site, together with connections that 

communities and First Nations had to the fort and surrounding land. A parking area 

with outhouses is also available.1 

To learn more visit natureconservancy.ca/fort-ellice. 

SPECIES TO SPOT 

• bear 

• bobolink 

• chestnut-collared longspur 

• elk 

• monarch butterfly 

• Sprague’s pipit 

• yellow-banded bumble bee 

6 SUMMER 2024 

natureconservancy.ca

ACTIVITY 

CORNER 

BACKPACK 

ESSENTIALS 

DENNIS MINTY; AARON MCKENZIE FRASER. 

Calling all 

nature lovers 

Mark the first weekend of August by joining 

thousands of other nature lovers and enjoying an 

activity that’s fun for everyone. No matter where 

you are in Canada, you’re surrounded by some 

amazing species: plants, birds, insects, mammals 

and so much more. The Nature Conservancy 

of Canada’s (NCC’s) fourth-annual Big Backyard 

BioBlitz is a chance to get to know these species 

better. It’s fun and free; all you need is a smartphone, 

tablet or digital camera. 

WHAT IS A BIOBLITZ? 

A bioblitz is a community science effort to 

document as many species as possible within 

a specific area and time period. NCC’s Big 

Backyard BioBlitz takes place August 1–5. You’ll 

join thousands of other people from across the 

country in documenting species. 

The more we know about nature, the more 

we can support it. That’s why scientists and 

environmental organizations like NCC want as 

much data as possible about the plants and 

animals across Canada. 

AN EVENT WITH SOMETHING 

FOR EVERYONE 

Newbies 

Want to protect nature but don’t know where 

to start? Wherever you’re connecting with 

nature, bring your smartphone, tablet or camera. 

Spot a plant, bird, insect or other wild creature. 

Snap a photo. Then share your observations to 

help scientists track at-risk species and fight 

invasive ones. 

Families and friends 

In-person or online, gather your group and be 

sure to check out our BioBlitz kids’ corner for 

activity sheets and more. Naturalists: know your 

butterflies, blooms and birds? We need your 

expertise! Help us map species distribution across 

the country by growing Canada’s inventory of 

species observations. 

Register now at backyardbioblitz.ca. 

Sharing the 

path ahead 

Hari Balasubramanian’s boots remind him of our shared 

connection with the planet — in nature and the boardroom 

My day job consists of 

connecting resources 

with environmental 

solutions around the world. 

The one item I can’t leave home 

without, whether for an international 

meeting or an adventure 

in the field, is a comfortable 

pair of shoes. This might seem 

mundane but, for as long as 

I can remember, I have chosen 

a trusty pair of whisky-coloured 

boots. Coupled with a suit, I can 

walk into any boardroom in Manhattan 

or London. Change into 

a pair of slacks and a wool sweater, 

and these boots have carried 

me through some of the most 

beautiful corners of the planet. 

Comfortable footwear makes 

the day a little easier, but also 

serves as a reminder: for us to 

address the dual crises of climate 

change and biodiversity loss, we 

must walk along and share the 

same path as our colleagues, clients 

and communities with whom 

we engage. These boots have 

been through mud in the Peruvian 

Amazon, navigated narrow 

mountain passes in Chile, held 

my crouched body under lemurs 

in the forests of Madagascar and 

taken me on endless coastal hikes 

in Nova Scotia. They have joined 

in on soccer games on the Tibetan 

Plateau and rested precariously 

close to a campfire, with a guitar 

in my hands in the Australian 

Hari is a regional board member 

for NCC in Atlantic Canada. 

Outback. They have also seen their fair share of corner offices in concrete jungles. 

At the end of the day, when I kick off those boots, I think of the adventures 

we shared and the relationships they witnessed. They provide comfort, but 

more than anything, they carry the weight of connection — a critical part of the 

sustainability transition.1 



Thrivi 

together 

TKTKTKTKTKTKT 

YVES CHEUNG. 


TKTKTKTKTKTKT 

ERIC GILES. 

ng 

Effective conservation enables nature 

and people to mutually benefit from 

protected areas and resilient landscapes 

BY Brishti Basu & Jensen Edwards 

Birds fly over a marsh 

in Long Point; inset: the 

tank-like Marsh Master. 

Kyle Borrowman 

can hardly see a thing 

when he’s behind the 

controls of the Marsh 

Master, a tank-like vehicle built to slog 

its way through wetlands like those at 

Long Point, in southwestern Ontario’s 

Norfolk County. He relies on a tablet 

with a map, and a colleague standing on 

the roof of the machine, relaying directions 

via headset. He can’t see the path because dense 

thickets of three- to five-metre-tall reeds of invasive 

phragmites crowd out his field of view. 

The plant sprang up at Long Point over two decades 

ago and has since swallowed up space that at-risk 

species like king rail and piping plover need to thrive. 

Its impacts on the local ecosystems here have been 

resounding. Phragmites grows so densely that at-risk 

turtles and other ground-dwelling animals are unable 

to move freely about their habitat. The reed’s swaying 

shadows block out the sun for smaller native plants, 

while its towering stalks block walking routes, drainage 

ditches and residential views of Lake Erie. 

Long Point itself is a 40-kilometre-long spit that juts 

south into Lake Erie. It boasts a provincial park, two 

national wildlife areas, public beaches, campgrounds, 

cottages and a bird observatory. “It’s a nature lover’s 

playground,” Borrowman says. “The community here 

understands that people rely on nature for the goods 

and services that it can provide.” The community also 

understands that to protect the places they love and 

the species they cherish, they need to work together 

to tackle phragmites. 

That’s why Borrowman, the Nature Conservancy of 

Canada’s (NCC’s) habitat restoration program director 

in Ontario, along with colleagues and a collection of 

partners — hunting clubs, farmers, residents, universities 

and all levels of government — have formed the 

Long Point Phragmites Action Alliance to coordinate 

their efforts to eradicate the plant from the landscape. 

It may be an eclectic group, but all members share an 

overarching goal: to restore Long Point’s ecosystems so 

that nature and people here can thrive. To date, they’ve 

raised over $1 million and restored over 2,000 hectares 

in an area that was previously blanketed by phragmites, 

making it the largest restoration project of its kind 

in Ontario. 

The alliance’s efforts prove that truly impactful 

conservation can happen when conservation actions 

are tailored to nature and people’s needs. 

“Whether it’s to improve biodiversity, provide space 

and opportunities for recreation, or to reopen views 

of the lake and clear drainage ditches, nobody wants 

phragmites here,” says Borrowman. “By working together, 

we’re providing lasting and effective outcomes 

across the landscape.” 



Finding 

common ground 

From ranchers in the Prairie grasslands to 

fishers in the Maritimes, human lives and 

livelihoods across the country are rooted in 

the land. Nevertheless, there is a lingering 

perception that nature can only thrive when 

humans are absent from it. But every day, 

people, plants, animals and landscapes across 

the country are proving that each one 

depends on the other. 

“We need to take people into account 

when we think about where we’re deploying 

conservation strategies, so that we can reach 

common goals for biodiversity and for the 

people who live, work and play in these 

areas,” says Marie-Michèle Rousseau-Clair, 

NCC’s chief conservation officer. This philosophy 

is a fundamental principle of modern 

conservation (see sidebar, page 11), and it 

helps NCC tailor approaches to a particular 

landscape and its communities. Effective 

conservation happens when planners also 

consider humans’ needs and impacts as part 

of the landscape. 

Plus, says Rousseau-Clair, when communities 

are invested in protecting and loving nature, 

they will care for it even more, increasing 

its chances of thriving into the future. 

Semipalmated 

sandpipers. 

Invasive phragmites towers 

above a canoe at Long Point. 

Conservation professionals have a role 

in understanding the needs and interests 

of local communities. We learn that 

through conversations and experience. 

Marie-Michèle Rousseau-Clair, chief conservation officer, NCC 

Striking a balance 

Considering human needs in planning is 

a relatively new concept in Canadian conservation. 

“Because of colonial attitudes, 

nature was once viewed as a singular entity 

without people in it, and Indigenous people 

were often just written out of the equation 

completely, as if an area that was somehow 

pristine and beautiful had been that way 

forever and Indigenous people had not been 

managing it,” Joseph Bennett says. When 

he began his career in conservation a little 

over 20 years ago, Bennett says he was 

starting to see a shift in the way conservation 

scientists thought about humans’ 

relationships with nature. Much of this is 

thanks to Indigenous communities asserting 

their expertise and deep-rooted cultural 

knowledge, and Western scientists listening 

and learning from past mistakes. Today, he 

says, people around the world are finding 

ways for nature conservation and people 

to thrive together. 

As a research professor of biology at 

Carleton University in Ottawa, Bennett has 

worked closely with NCC to develop tools 

that use machine learning, or AI algorithms, 

which align with globally recognized conservation 

principles. These technologies 

crunch massive datasets that cover species 

distribution, land-use types, climate data 

and other factors. This information allows 

conservation planners to model different 

stewardship or management actions and test 

conservation scenarios. 

Rousseau-Clair and her colleagues use 

the data modelling tools to help answer the 

question: how do we conserve species, lands 

and waters while ensuring people have the 

space, food and resources they need? It’s 

a challenge, considering that new research 

(led in part by NCC) shows nearly one-third 

of the world’s priority areas for biodiversity 

conservation (about the size of North America) 

also intersect with industry and human 

development interests. This highlights potential 

conflicts between conservation, climate 

and development goals as the world hustles 

to protect 30 per cent of its lands and waters 

by 2030. But data analysis, combined with 

genuine community engagement, can help 

navigate this tension. 

NCC researchers have already used the 

data modelling tools in partnership with other 

academics to demonstrate how protecting 

native pollinator habitat near farmland in 

Canada can actually increase yields, resulting 

in net benefits for people and nature, bolstering 

regional food security, supporting native 

species and creating economic opportunities. 

It’s this balanced approach to land use 

and conservation that informs why NCC partners 

with ranchers in the Prairies, whose cattle 

help support local grassland ecosystems. 

Just as nature supports humans, sustainable 

land use can support biodiversity, too. 

GREGG MCLACHLAN; JORDAN MYLES / NCC STAFF. 


JASON LEO BANTLE; JOHN E. MARRIOTT; DANIELLE CROSS / NCC STAFF. 

Sharing the land 

Even where immediate biodiversity needs 

don’t support direct human participation, 

NCC is finding ways to connect people to 

conservation. Take NCC’s Shorebird Reserve 

and Interpretive Centre in Johnson’s Mills, 

New Brunswick, for example. Every summer, 

thousands of visitors flock to this birding 

hot spot on the Bay of Fundy to catch 

a glimpse of the thousands of semipalmated 

sandpipers feeding on a beach buffet 

of invertebrates. 

The birds come here to feast so they 

can build up enough energy to fly for three 

days straight to South America in the fall. 

Every day, when the tide rolls in and covers 

up their feeding grounds on the mudflats, 

the sandpipers need safe beach habitat to 

rest undisturbed. 

Loud people, roaming dogs and peregrine 

falcon attacks can send thousands of the birds 

into the air. To humans, it’s a dazzling display, 

as the sandpipers flash their dark upper sides 

and light undersides to onlookers. But to the 

birds, it’s unneeded and detrimental exercise. 

“If they’re disturbed too often, they lose 

the energy and fat stores they need to fuel 

their migration,” says Jordan Myles, the conservation 

engagement coordinator at the 

centre. “They have a lot of weight to gain in 

a very short period of time,” she says. 

That’s why Myles and her colleagues spend 

their summers informing visitors about the 

birds’ needs, directing people off the beach 

and to NCC’s observation deck instead, where 

they can watch the sandpipers from a respectful 

distance. This lets both species enjoy 

the beach, while giving shorebirds — whose 

numbers have dropped by about 40 per cent 

since the 1970s — a fighting chance at making 

their trip south. 

Rallying together 

As the impacts of climate change exacerbate 

floods, droughts and fires, wetlands, forests 

and grasslands are working overtime to 

abate these threats to communities and livelihoods. 

In this way, nature’s positive impacts 

on people are coming into stark relief. In return, 

people are rallying to reinforce nature’s 

resilience across these landscapes. Local and 

Indigenous Knowledge teaches us not just 

that humans can coexist with nature, but 

that we must. 

Rousseau-Clair agrees, and says that 

everyone has a role to play in conservation: 

from individuals to industry and communities 

to governments of all levels, people are 

recognizing the importance of nature in our 

shared future. 

For example, insurance companies like 

Intact are supporting conservation to help 

lessen the risks of flooding, our ranching partners 

like The Waldron Grazing Co-Operative 

are stewarding species and landscapes that 

help ensure future food security, and many 

other companies are finding ways to boost 

nature’s ability to mitigate fires, dampen 

storm surges and store carbon. And Indigenous 

Nations across the continent are reasserting 

their relationships with their traditional 

territories. Across the board, she says, people 

are coming together to conserve nature — albeit 

often for different reasons, but resulting 

in shared on-the-ground impacts. 

“People are realizing more and more 

there’s a need to do something, and they have 

something to contribute,” Rousseau-Clair 

says. “They want to invest, whether it’s 

through their time, money or by giving land.” 

NCC works with a broad range of companies, 

from insurance and industry to finance and 

agriculture, and each is keen to see a greener 

future for their business, their employees, 

their customers and their world. That, she 

says, is one way to do effective conservation. 

Across the country, NCC works with ranchers, 

timber rights holders and other landbased 

industries to sustainably manage more 

than 169,000 hectares, protecting species 

like greater sage-grouse and swift fox while 

supporting local economies and livelihoods. 

With each sustainably stewarded grassland 

ranch and every stalk of invasive phragmites 

ripped from the landscape, NCC and 

its partners are showing that impactful conservation 

can, and should, consider how human 

activity can contribute to biodiversity 

and climate goals. 

“At the end of the day, conservation is 

about people, too,” says Rousseau-Clair. “We 

can’t do it without them.”1 

NCC partners with ranchers for success. 

CARE 

It’s perhaps no surprise that at 

NCC we CARE about nature every 

day. You see, for nature to thrive, 

protected and conserved areas 

need to be Connected, have 

Adequate quality habitats, be 

Representative of all species and 

be managed Effectively. Together, 

those principles represent an 

internationally recognized 

framework that supports the 

creation of resilient landscapes. 

If the places we conserve meet 

these criteria, landscapes will be 

able to withstand the impacts of 

climate change and biodiversity 

loss. And if they are resilient, then 

we feel confident we are building 

a thriving world with nature. 

What does effective conservation 

look like? It’s all about including 

people in conservation planning 

and outcomes. This principle 

helps us conserve nature in ways 

that ensure both conservation 

and communities’ goals are met. 

In this and the previous three issues 

of the NCC magazine, writers have 

outlined how partners across 

landscapes are supporting nature’s 

— and people’s — ability to adapt 

and thrive in a changing world. When 

nature is resilient, species move freely 

across landscapes, accessing enough 

of each ecosystem they need to thrive. 



SPECIES 

PROFILE 

Northern 

red-legged frog 

This amphibian stands out from the crowd 

on its translucent, red hind legs 

LAURIE MACBRIDE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO. 

12 SUMMER 2024 

natureconservancy.ca

APPEARANCE 

The northern red-legged 

frog is a small amphibian species 

ranging from seven to 10 centimetres 

in length. It is brownish-red 

with black spots along its back. 

This frog’s name comes from its 

distinct hind legs that have 

translucent red 

undersides. 

HABITAT 

The northern red-legged frog 

breeds in aquatic habitats, 

including freshwater ponds, springs, 

marshes and wetlands. Important 

terrestrial habitats for this species 

include pond edges, forested 

riparian zones and other densely 

vegetated shorelines. 

THREATS 

Northern red-legged frog 

populations have declined in local 

habitats in BC. With its range being 

largely restricted to high-density human 

population areas, the species faces high 

mortality risks from roads, logging, 

pollution and urban development. 

Invasive species like American 

bullfrog also pose threats to 

this species. 

What is NCC doing to safeguard 

habitat for this species? 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is helping 

care for over 1,300 hectares of important habitat 

for the northern red-legged frog in southwestern 

BC and Vancouver Island, including the Ryan River 

Conservation Area and Clayoquot Island Preserve. 

As part of an innovative conservation 

technology project, with 

support from Manulife 

Ryan River 

Investment Management, 

Conservation 

NCC recently completed 

Area, BC. 

modelling habitat 

suitability of the 

northern red-legged 

frog within its known 

range. The model 

combined community 

science observations with 

a suite of environmental 

predictor data, such as climate, 

topography and land cover, to 

produce high-resolution species 

distribution maps. These maps 

provide significant improvements to 

existing data on this species, for which 

surveying is limited, and species range is 

uncertain. NCC can better prioritize the areas for 

conservation that matter most for the species’ 

persistence and also enable communities’ needs 

and objectives to be effectively met. 

Future of species distribution 

modelling work 

To date, NCC has modelled the distribution of over 

1,000 endemic, representative and at-risk species by 

harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and 

cloud computing. This is one example of combining 

on-the-ground knowledge with modern data analyses 

to gain fresh perspectives. These models will significantly 

improve the scale and availability of species data 

across Canada and will better inform conservation 

decision-making.1 

* 0 = LOW LIKELIHOOD OF SUITABLE HABITAT; 1 = HIGH LIKELIHOOD. FERNANDO LESSA. 

RANGE 

This species’ range stretches 

from northwest California to 

western Oregon and Washington, 

to southwestern British Columbia, 

and as far north as Smith Sound. 

Most of the species’ known 

Canadian range is on 

Vancouver Island. 

Pacific 

Ocean 

Vancouver 

Island 

Probability of 

species occurrence* 

0 1 

BRITISH 

COLUMBIA 



PROJECT 

UPDATES 

1 

Recognizing community-driven 

nature conservation 

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR 

2 

THANK YOU! 

Your support has made these 

projects possible. Learn more at 

natureconservancy.ca/where-we-work. 

3 

1 

The communities of Indian Bay, Corner Brook, Elliston and 

Whitbourne, in Newfoundland and Labrador, have contributed 

to efforts to protect and conserve 30 per cent of Canada’s lands 

and waters by 2030. 

With the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) guidance and support 

from the Stewardship Association of Municipalities, over 2,600 hectares 

of public lands are now recognized as municipal protected areas. 

The natural areas include boreal forests, wetlands, scree and coastal 

habitats. The public will benefit from measures to safeguard public water 

supplies, stewardship zones and recreational areas in the future. 

This project is supported by the Government of Newfoundland and 

Labrador, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. Additional 

communities are joining this initiative, which continues to grow through 

the power of partnership. 

To learn more visit natureconservancy.ca/ncc-sam. 

2 

Growing our impact on BC’s grasslands 

CRANBROOK, BC 

Lewis’s woodpecker. 

NCC is conserving habitat for grassland-reliant species in BC's 

Rocky Mountain Trench with the acquisition of the Skookumchuck 

Prairie. Located north of Cranbrook, this 270-hectare 

conservation area protects vital valley-bottom grasslands, open forests 

and wetlands. 

The combination of urban development, agricultural conversion and 

forest ingrowth has reduced the amount of grasslands and open forest in 

the region, in turn shrinking usable habitat for species that rely on these 

landscapes. Skookumchuck Prairie is important for breeding long-billed 

curlew and Lewis’s woodpecker, while elk and endangered American 

badger also find habitat here. 

ISTOCK; JOLENE RUDISUELA/NCC. 

Skookumchuck Prairie, BC. 


Remembering a true 

friend of conservation 

Ray Dunsmore 

1935-2023 

Nature Legacy 

Society member 

“Ray Dunsmore grew 

up in Rocanville, 

Saskatchewan, on his 

family farm, surrounded 

by the magnificent 

beauty of the Prairies. 

He cherished this 

time, spending every 

chance he could outdoors, 

marvelling at 

the unique Qu’Appelle 

Valley landscape. 

“When Ray retired, he sold his farm in Saskatchewan 

and moved to Kamloops, BC. He 

could often be found hiking, walking among 

the trees and connecting with nature. 

Cockburn Island, ON. 

“Ray first learned about NCC in 2014 after 

attending an event at the Napier Lake Ranch 

Conservation Area, which he had read about 

in the paper. Here, he met with NCC staff and 

learned about NCC’s conservation goals and 

programs in that region and other areas in 

Saskatchewan that were close to his heart. 

ESME BATTEN/NCC STAFF; COURTESY OF RAY DUNSMORE. 

3 

Globally rare habitat protected 

SAUGEEN (BRUCE) PENINSULA AND MANITOULIN ISLAND ARCHIPELAGO, ON 

Intact forests and globally rare alvars are now protected for the long term along 

a major migratory bird route in midwestern Ontario. The Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula 

is a biodiversity hot spot in the Great Lakes region and home to many at-risk and 

rare species and habitats. An additional 65 hectares at the Sturgeon Bay Forest, northeast 

of Wiarton, will now be permanently cared for, building on existing work by NCC and 

conservation partners in the area. The Saugeen Peninsula is the Territory of the Saugeen 

Ojibway Nation (SON), which is comprised of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First 

Nation and the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. NCC and SON have been working 

together since 2014 to protect the Saugeen Peninsula. 

Meanwhile, on Cockburn Island, west of Manitoulin Island, an additional 40 hectares 

of forest and alvar habitat will also be cared for in perpetuity, safeguarding the at-risk and 

rare species it supports. Alvars are globally rare habitats characterized by shallow soils 

and areas of exposed dolostone and limestone bedrock. NCC now stewards more than 

60 per cent of Cockburn Island, almost 10,800 hectares of ecologically important lands for 

people and wildlife. Cockburn Island is the Territory of the People of the Three Fires — the 

Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi Nations — together known as the Anishinabek Nation. 

Cockburn Island is home to reserve lands of Zhiibaahaasing First Nation. 

With gratitude and respect, NCC acknowledges the significant and ongoing role of 

Indigenous Peoples on these lands and looks forward to continuing to engage with these 

communities in discussions about ways that these lands can continue to support the 

people with whom they are intertwined.1 


“Ray’s interest in conservation grew, and he 

was eager to experience first-hand some of 

the programs in his area. Shortly after his initial 

introduction to NCC, he had the opportunity 

to visit the Old Man on His Back Prairie and 

Heritage Conservation Area, with Nathalie 

Hassett, NCC’s Saskatchewan region program 

manager, as his guide. After retiring from farming, 

he travelled through Canada and especially 

enjoyed his time visiting NCC projects and 

Canadian national parks. 

“Ray felt that his personal values and interests 

were reflected in NCC’s conservation results. 

He greatly supported NCC’s work across the 

Prairie and mountain provinces. 

“Ray took great pride in his support of NCC 

and, through the years, built relationships 

with many staff from all provinces in all roles. 

He was a true friend of NCC. 

“Ray passed away last year. He will be fondly 

remembered by family and friends and all 

of us here at NCC who had the pleasure of 

experiencing his quick wit and charm, and 

sharing our collective love for nature.“ 

~Jackie Mersereau, NCC's 

senior director of planned giving 

and major gifts (acting)

FORCE FOR 

NATURE 

All the 

world’s 

a stage 

Don Carruthers Den Hoed’s time as a singing and dancing parks interpreter 

set the stage for his approach to leading the Parks+ Collective 

ALBERT LAW. 


Growing up surrounded by nature 

in the eastern foothills of the 

Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Don 

Carruthers Den Hoed began working 

for Alberta Parks at age 16. He later 

became an interpreter in Kananaskis Country, 

joining a long, local tradition of performing musical 

theatre to educate park visitors. 

He fondly recalls his time doing “Broadway in the Bushes,” 

researching and writing scripts, wearing costumes, singing and 

dancing, and seeing enthusiasm for the natural world being sparked 

through this alternative method. 

“Interpretation unfolded into everything 

else I did,” says Carruthers Den Hoed. “It was 

that opportunity to get somebody excited 

about a bat, or a tree or the night sky, and 

realizing how impactful that could be. You 

could surprise someone into thinking, 

‘Maybe I can live on this Earth differently.’” 

Now as a research associate at the 

University of British Columbia, where he leads 

the Parks+ Collective, a project funded by the 

Canadian Parks Council (CPC) and Parks 

Canada, Carruthers Den Hoed combines his 

academic work with professional development 

for parks, protected and conserved areas leaders. 

In 2018, he helped lead the formation of 

the Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation 

and Leadership (now the Parks+ Collective). 

doing the same thing who actually could help 

each other out,” he explains. “We could learn 

from each other, share resources and advice.” 

The Parks+ Collective is a pan-Canadian 

project that offers leadership programs and 

has expanded to include a research network 

and supports the development of a network 

of parks and protected areas professionals, as 

well as academics and students, guided by an 

inclusive and collaborative approach. 

Faced with the dual crises of climate 

change and biodiversity loss, working in conservation 

presents significant challenges. 

Building a community of mutual support for 

conservation professionals across organizations 

and differences can be the solution, 

Don Carruthers 

Den Hoed, 

research associate 

at the University of 

British Columbia. 

ALBERT LAW. 

There is a lot facing people in the conservation 

sector, and the time has never been more 

important to ask how we can help people 

maintain their mental health at work. 

His work has intersected with staff at the Nature Conservancy 

of Canada (NCC), who have taken leadership programs through 

the PARKS+ Collective. Carruthers Den Hoed’s transformative 

approaches to learning stretch back to his days as an interpreter. 

“That set the stage for all of my work; how to become a catalyst 

to encourage conversations that weren’t happening,” he reflects. 

“Although, I don’t do as much singing or wear as many costumes 

as I used to,” he adds with a laugh. 

Before his current roles, he continued his work at Alberta Parks, 

spending nearly three decades in education, inclusion, engagement 

and land management. 

Looking back, Carruthers Den Hoed sees how managers in 

parks and protected areas can end up working in silos, reacting to 

the most urgent thing each day, as he often did. However, attending 

a CPC leadership program helped him shift his perspective, while 

connecting him with other parks and conservation professionals. 

“What I learned was: there were people out there 

believes Carruthers Den Hoed, for those 

dealing with things like burnout and eco-grief. 

“There is a lot facing people in the conservation 

sector, and the time has never been 

more important to ask how we can help people 

maintain their mental health at work,” he says. 

Through academic research studying inclusivity, 

and collaboration with Indigenous 

colleagues, Carruthers Den Hoed says he has 

been fortunate to be exposed to many ways 

of thinking and living. He sees connecting to 

nature for professionals and researchers as 

an often-overlooked restorative practice, 

which can build resiliency within conservation 

organizations. 

“In a world where people are looking for 

control and certainty, or are scared by uncertainty 

and change, natural places are somewhere 

I can go and see that change is normal,” 

says Carruthers Den Hoed. “We can do this. 

We can get through it, and nature is teaching 

us. And I think that’s a place of hope and 

gratitude, because there’s a whole world out 

there we can draw on for support.”1 



CLOSE 

ENCOUNTERS 

Four-legged weeders 

By Alia Snively, NCC’s ecological restoration manager in Alberta 

The sunny, breezy days of summer out in the field 

remind me of a summer not long ago when I had 

the unforgettable pleasure to work alongside 

a unique squad of eager and wide-eyed colleagues in a 

field filled with invasives growing waist-high. Just a year 

ago, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) was 

faced with the challenge of tackling invasive species that 

had been taking over. The solution to our dilemma? 

A herd of 500 goats with a voracious appetite, contracted 

to help control the undesirable plants. 

NCC has been working to restore a formerly cultivated 

area back to grassland at the Nodwell property, located 

southwest of Drumheller, Alberta. Restoration work began 

here in 1998. Since then, 34 hectares have been seeded 

with grasses that now rustle in the wind. 

Guided by Jeannette Hall, a skillful and knowledgeable 

shepherd who knew the ins and outs of goat behaviour, 

management and care, the goats had a 10-day buffet of 

the invasive species before the plants went to seed. The 

goats’ grazing and movement also helped break up the 

plant litter to expose the native plants to more sunlight, 

creating the conditions for them to thrive. 

I’m not kidding when I say these goats were a playful 

bunch. Upon encountering machinery used to pound 

posts for fences on the field, a few jumped onto it to get 

a better vantage of the site. The most endearing moment 

had to be meeting the baby goats that were born while 

their mother was on the job. One was even named 

Nodwell, after the property. 

I loved watching the goats and admired their focus on 

targeting the invasive species while still finding some time 

to have fun. They moved methodically in a group. With 

some help from the shepherd, they made their rounds 

through the field quite efficiently. I gained much appreciation 

for this form of weed control and the dedication of 

the shepherd who looked after them and slept out at the 

site with them while they were at the Nodwell property. 

It’s a close encounter I won’t soon forget, and I look forward 

to welcoming the herd back for another season as 

part of a multi-year invasive species control strategy.1 

CORY PROULX. 


Life on Earth has changed. We are facing 

a crisis of climate change and species loss 

that threatens our way of life, and our future. 

But there is hope, and a solution that’s right 

before our eyes. A solution far bigger, and 

far more powerful than the challenges 

themselves: nature. 

Nature is, and always has been, the answer. 

It sustains us. It is resilient. It has the power 

to heal and inspire. Look at the waters that 

wave and the mountains that have stood for 

a million moments; the collective life of 

these very things enables us to live ours. 

But it’s never been about one tree, one creek 

or one person. We know the power of coming 

together is what allows us to create real, 

tangible change. 

At the Nature Conservancy of Canada, 

we are doers. Changemakers. Collaborators. 

And together, we can protect nature and 

champion its amazing ability to care for people 

and communities. So, let’s unite to conserve, 

restore and care for nature. Let’s rise to this 

challenge and unlock nature’s power, so life 

on Earth can not only continue to exist, 

but can thrive. 

naturemakesitpossible.ca

YOUR 

IMPACT 

A milestone in 

grassland conservation 

Conserving McIntyre Ranch in southwestern 

Alberta marks a significant milestone 

in grassland conservation in Canada. Made 

possible by its owners, the Thrall family, 

along with the Nature Conservancy of 

Canada (NCC), in collaboration with Ducks 

Unlimited Canada, this historic project 

exemplifies the power of sustainable 

stewardship and broad societal support. 

Spanning over 22,000 hectares, McIntyre 

Ranch’s grasslands and wetlands provide 

critical habitat for a diversity of grassland 

species, such as ferruginous hawk, pronghorn 

and American badger. The largest 

private grassland conservation project in 

Canadian history, McIntyre Ranch stands 

as a bastion of the spectacular Prairie 

grasslands. And now, NCC is proud to share 

that the campaign to raise $3 million to 

conserve and care for this special place for 

the long term is complete. This incredible 

achievement was made possible by the 

support of federal and provincial governments 

and private donors. 

A boon 

for birds 

and people 

Located in a highly agricultural 

environment in the Centredu-Québec, 

the Saint-Sylvère 

peat bog plays a major water 

filtration and regulation role 

in the community, and helps 

store carbon. It is part of 

a major wetland corridor that 

runs parallel to the St. Lawrence 

River. It is strategically located 

near other key natural spaces, 

like the réserve naturelle 

du Patrimoine-des-Hébert, 

Léon-Provancher Ecological 

Reserve and lac Saint-Paul- 

Rivière Godefroy waterfowl 

concentration area. 

Now, the future of 116 hectares, 

90 of which are wetlands, is 

ensured thanks to a donation 

by Cascades. Funded by the 

gouvernement du Québec's 

Accelerating Conservation 

in Southern Quebec project, 

the Government of Canada’s 

Natural Heritage Conservation 

Program and the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, this project 

is an example of unlocking 

nature’s power so life on Earth 

can not only continue to exist, 

but can thrive. 

L TO R: LETA PEZDERIC/NCC STAFF; JAYNE GULBRAND. 

Thank you for all you do for nature in Canada!

Building 

resilient 

landscapes 

together 

A Nature Conservancy of Canada 

and Parks Canada partnership

Nature 

needs 

resilient 

landscapes 

As vast as they can be, national parks 

are not immune to the impacts of 

climate change and human development, 

which threaten to degrade the parks’ 

important ecosystems and reduce the 

biodiversity they support. 

To protect these places and the benefits 

they offer to species and communities 

alike, we need to ensure that they can 

thrive in a changing world. 

That’s why the Nature Conservancy of 

Canada (NCC) and Parks Canada have 

partnered to identify and conserve 

strategic natural areas surrounding 

select national parks across Canada. 

These efforts will help ensure that 

animals can move through the 

ecosystems they depend on, beyond 

park boundaries, and that natural 

processes like seed dispersal and the 

water cycle can continue to support 

nature and communities. 

KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK, BC 

A grizzly bear’s impact on ecosystems 

The average grizzly 

bear roams more than 

200 kilometres annually 

in search of food, mates 

or a den to spend the winter 

in. As this at-risk species 

covers great distances, 

it leaves profound impacts 

on the ecosystems it 

encounters. This is what 

makes it a keystone 

species; its presence 

indicates that ecosystems 

are functioning well. 

3 

1 Spreading seeds with scat 

Grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountain Trench 

feast on huckleberries, buffaloberries and other 

plants in the summer. As they move about the 

landscape, they spread seeds through their scat. 

2 Seeking fuel for winter 

Bears need to consume a lot of food to stock up 

on fuel for their winter rests. If food like roots, 

late-season berries and fish are scarce, bears are 

more likely to come into populated areas, which 

can be dangerous for them and for people. 

3 Spring roaming 

Hungry from their rests, bears fill themselves 

with new plant growth, starting in the warmer 

valley bottoms, where spring hits first, then 

moving their way upwards as the season warms. 

Conserving a variety of ecosystems within their 

ranges, in and outside of the park, allows them 

access to the resources they need to survive 

and raise their young. 

LEGEND 

Kootenay National Park 

NCC conservation land 

First Nations Reserve Lands 

Protected area 

–– Bear trajectory 

COVER: JOHN E. MARRIOTT. THIS PAGE: JOHN E. MARRIOTT. MAP: JACQUES PERRAULT. 

KOOTENAY 

NATIONAL 

PARK 

2 

Invermere 

Windermere Lake 

1 

PHOTO CREDIT.

KEJIMKUJIK 

NATIONAL PARK AND 

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, NS 

A brook 

trout’s journey 

through 

waterways 

Just like our communities, brook 

trout need clean water and suitable 

habitats to thrive. These fish 

may even swim many kilometres 

through connected streams and 

lakes to find the right places to feed 

and spawn. Their mere presence 

can signal a healthy ecosystem. 

1 Springing into action 

In early spring, brook trout begin 

moving around Kejimkujik Lake or 

into streams. As they move closer 

to the surface, the fish find food, 

or become food for predators, like 

birds of prey, otters and mink. 

2 Seeking cool relief 

As water temperatures rise in the 

spring and summer, brook trout can 

travel more than 10 kilometres a day 

to find more oxygen in Kejimkujik 

Lake’s cool, deep waters or cold 

springs. Without these connected 

waterways, they can overheat. 

3 

3 Spawning grounds 

Brook trout need clean water and 

gravel-bottomed rivers, creeks or 

lake shallows to spawn. It is common 

for them to travel great distances 

within and beyond park boundaries 

to find the right conditions. 

PHOTOS: PHOTO ISTOCK. CREDIT. MAP: JACQUES PERRAULT. 

4 Staying put for the winter 

Brook trout may spend much of 

the winter deep in Kejimkujik Lake, 

moving very little to conserve their 

energy. Animals that don’t survive 

decay on the bottom, eventually 

returning nutrients to the lakebed. 

LEGEND 

Kejimkujik National Park 

and National Historic Site 

–– Fish trajectory 

1 

KEJIMKUJIK 

NATIONAL PARK 

AND NATIONAL 

HISTORIC SITE 

4 

Kejimkujik Lake 

2

Nature knows no bounds 

Parks Canada is contributing $15 million to help NCC 

identify and conserve natural areas around national 

parks. We’re raising matching funds to amplify our 

impact for nature. 

By working with Indigenous Nations and communities, 

property owners and other partners, we will conserve 

lands outside parks through land purchases, donations, 

stewardship agreements and other effective area-based 

conservation measures. 

We are concentrating conservation efforts supported by 

this program around more than 10 national parks across 

the country, including Kootenay National Park (British 

Columbia) and Kejimkujik National Park and National 

Historic Site (Nova Scotia). Park boundaries will stay the 

same, but nature will benefit. After all, as the grizzly bear’s 

range and the brook trout’s journey show, nature knows 

no bounds. By enhancing the network of protected areas 

around national parks, we are reinforcing landscapes’ 

abilities to thrive in a changing world. 

Learn more and support NCC’s efforts to 

conserve whole landscapes across Canada at 

natureconservancy.ca/resiliency 

COLIN WAY. 

PHOTO CREDIT.

NCC Magazine: Summer 2024

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