Environment
The leadership of the NWOMC are dedicated to ensuring the way of life that sustained our community for generations is protected for future generations.
The Environment and Climate Change (ECC) team of the LRC Branch supports various environmental monitoring programs in the NWOMC including community-based Water Quality Monitoring, Bat Monitoring, Native Bee Monitoring and Berry Monitoring. Through the coordination of dedicated citizens, leadership and program staff in the Region, our goal is to develop a network of Métis Guardians of the Lands and Waters, who will have an active and vital role in promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship, and biodiversity conservation.
Program Highlights
Water Quality Monitoring Program: tracks the effects of climate change and pollution on waterbodies and their aquatic ecosystems important to Métis communities. The monitoring streams in this program include: water chemistry, baitfish and benthic invertebrates.
Bat Monitoring: supports conservation efforts of Ontario’s endangered bat species in partnership with the Native Bat Conservation Program at the Toronto Zoo. Métis households place acoustic monitors that record bat echolocation calls, giving insight into bat species diversity and distribution.
Native Bee Monitoring: encourages Métis households to support native bee species like solitary species (mason, leafcutter, etc.) and bumble bees through the placement of bee hotels and planting of native wildflowers.
Berry Monitoring: assesses the impacts of herbicide spraying by forestry operations on berry populations. It will also assess the impacts of climate change on berries over time by monitoring bloom counts, berry production, and overall plant health.
To learn more about any of these programs or how you can be involved, please send an email to:
watermonitor@metisnation.org (for inquiries about the Water Quality Monitoring Program)
conservation@metisnation.org (for inquiries about the Bat, Bee and Berry Monitoring Programs)