OPINION | Onus is on us to preserve town’s natural heritage

This month, there were successful Earth Day cleanup efforts in Bridgeburg and Crystal Beach, and town staff picked up 33 bags of garbage that were collected by community volunteers in places like Ferndale Park.

On the heels of Earth Day, it is important to keep environmental stewardship moving forward.

For instance, those looking to organize future cleanup events can do so by contacting the town, which will supply cleanup kits that include garbage bags, gloves, safety tips, a tote bag, and stickers, and will pick up the collected garbage for disposal.

But garbage pickups aren’t the only initiative being organized by the Town of Fort Erie. In fact, environmental and climate change resiliency is a pillar of the 2023-26 Strategic Plan.

According to a news release issued late in January, Fort Erie becoming a Bee City Community will “demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship and the protection of pollinator populations, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for all. By fostering pollinator habitats, we aim to create a healthier ecosystem that benefits residents and local wildlife.”

Carrying this Bee City status comes with the responsibility to partner with local schools, organizations, and businesses to implement education and outreach programs, promoting the importance of pollinator gardens.

One such program will be available on Sundays at the farmers market in Crystal Beach for kids to learn all about bees and butterflies and other pollinators, as well as taking part in building a native plant garden.

Those seeking more information about this program or wishing to volunteer or donate are invited to contact crystalbeachfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

To further this initiative, bylaws are being amended to allow for the creation of naturalized gardens. Previously, all vegetative growth was to be kept below 15 cm but moving forward that wording only applies to grass and weeds.

Wildflowers and native plants with a less ornamental appearance will be welcomed and encouraged.

The Mill Greenhouse in Ridgeway has potted up some beautiful native planters, as well as offering single, well-marked plants that can be easily integrated into existing gardens.

Another exciting and family-friendly endeavour happening right now is the City Nature Challenge.

Until the end of Monday, locals are invited to download the free iNaturalist app and join the City Nature Challenge Fort Erie project. Participants are encouraged to take and upload pictures of wildlife, plants, and fungi.

Not only will this challenge allow Fort Erie residents to explore the town’s vast green spaces, but the data collected will make a significant contribution to scientific research.

For those hoping to make their private property a little greener, the town’s annual tree giveaway is happening on Saturday. The event takes place in the Leisureplex parking lot starting at 8 a.m, and Fort Erie Radio staff will be on scene for a remote broadcast.

More than 800 trees are ready for their new homes, and selection is on a first-come, first-served basis. Available species are redbud, sugar maple, tulip tree, white spruce, and white pine.

And lastly, when looking at the town’s Strategic Plan, we see it includes “reviewing and refining policies that preserve and enhance our natural heritage.”

Council recently took such a step by updating tree preservation bylaws pertaining to replacement conditions that go along with any tree removal permit.

These initiatives are a good starting point if we hope to preserve any of the town’s natural heritage, but the onus is essentially on us as community members.

We must stay informed about what is happening and be a voice for the environment.

If we want change, we must make it happen.

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