An eastern Ontario farmer is optimistic that a conservation area she established on her property will contribute to Canada’s nature protection goals. Located near Winchester, Jackie Kelly-Pemberton has developed a wetland on her small beef farm, which used to be a dairy farm. The wetland serves as a natural filtration system for managing manure runoff from the cattle that graze outside year-round. It contains sedges, bulrushes, cattails, and ponds that filter the barnyard runoff before it reaches the South Nation River and eventually the Ottawa River.
Kelly-Pemberton emphasized the significance of water quality, stating, “Water has no boundaries, and fences cannot contain it.” The project received support and resources from ALUS, a Canadian organization formerly known as Alternative Land Use Services, dedicated to assisting farmers in implementing conservation projects on their lands.
ALUS President Jordan Sinclair highlighted the potential of nature-based farmland initiatives like Kelly-Pemberton’s wetland in contributing approximately 65,000 hectares towards the federal government’s nature protection targets. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently unveiled a new nature strategy aiming to protect 30% of lands and oceans by 2030, doubling the current protected areas.
Carney’s strategy, unveiled on March 31, involves leveraging private funding from businesses and investors for conservation efforts. It also involves recognizing “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs), which are protected areas managed by local communities and private entities. Carney stressed the need for substantial funding and public-private partnerships to achieve these conservation goals.
To be recognized as an OECM, an area like Kelly-Pemberton’s wetland must have a clear boundary, authorities to regulate activities within the area, and restrictions on activities conflicting with conservation objectives, as outlined by Environment and Climate Change Canada.