Georgian Bay has long been known as a unique landscape, with a dazzling array of diverse species and ecosystems. However, as Georgian Bay Land Trust staff have continued to work in the area, several discoveries have made it clear that there is still so much to learn about the eastern coast of Georgian Bay. With this in mind, the Land Trust has decided to complete a Multi-species Action Plan for the Georgian Bay coast. The plan will focus on gathering knowledge with the goal of improving conservation outcomes for all the species of conservation concern that we currently protect. (“Species of conservation concern” include officially designated species at risk, as well as species that are ranked as provincially rare, or are considered to have special significance to communities in the Georgian Bay area.)

Weak-Stalked Bullrush - Photo by Stefani Matis

The Multi-species Action Plan will consist of three distinct components:

1. Knowledge gathering: over the next four years, we will be conducting fieldwork and research to collect data on the population distribution and habitat needs of all identified species.

2. Conservation planning: we will use this data to target lands for protection, based on the presence of the most important habitats to support these species.

3. Public recommendations: our findings will translate into recommended actions that everyone can take to protect wildlife on their property or in their community.

Some of the first steps for the plan have already been completed, with many historic observations of species of conservation concern being documented throughout the region. This data, combined with recent observational data from the Georgian Bay Land Trust and partners, will form the foundation for the plan and allow us to establish our knowledge gaps and research priorities in the coming years.

Although we have larger data sets for some of the more well-known species, there are still many species that have been missed during field work. Species like the Ebony Boghaunter dragonfly, the Purplish Copper butterfly, and the Weak-stalked Bulrush have been studied far less because they are not formally designated as “species at risk”, despite their low populations. Part of the importance of the Land Trust’s Multi-species Action Plan is to identify the species that are at risk and not being monitored by other bodies. Our plan seeks to encapsulate all species of conservation concern on the eastern coast of Georgian Bay, including those of cultural significance to First Nations communities.

This plan will create long-lasting, positive effects for all of the identified species. Habitat suitability mapping will be completed for many of the species within the plan, which will highlight critical habitat across the EcoDistrict. Mapping data will inform management actions that can be taken by organizations and individuals to further protect species and ecosystems. It will also be used by the Georgian Bay Land Trust as part of our conservation planning process, guiding research and acquisition efforts to support permanent habitat protection across the entire Bay. This mapping, along with analysis of population changes and ecosystem requirements, will help prioritize key properties for acquisition, particularly those supporting species at increased risk or with more specific habitat needs.

We are excited to be undertaking this crucial step in the conservation planning process to increase our capacity to further protect the land and waters of Georgian Bay. To this end, we’ve hired Calder Stark as our Multi-species Action Plan Coordinator to support the completion of the plan. Over the next four years, Calder, along with myself and other Land Trust staff, will be conducting field work and research to make this plan a reality.

Introducing our Multi-species Action Plan: a new research initiative to protect wildlife

Port Severn Wetlands expanded with 7-acre land donation