Serenity Wetland Alliance

SERENITY WETLAND ALLIANCE

In the Highlands East area of Ontario, bordering the Canadian Shield outside of Wilberforce, there is a pristine wetland in the middle of the rich ecotones of The Land Between. For millennia this wetland has supported a multitude of wildlife and plant species, and today Whitetail Deer, Moose, Canadian Beaver, American Bittern, Blanding's Turtles, Midland Painted Turtles, Garter Snakes and Blue-Spotted Salamanders call this wilderness home. Those who own land adjacent to, or near this wetland, are in agreement that public access to this special place should remain a low-impact nature trail, and be blocked to ATV traffic. Because of the presence of the Beaver Dam and the Blanding's Turtles, this wetland is now an Environmentally Protected Area according to the Ontario Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. But Serenity Wetland is still under threat from a plan by the Municipality of Highlands East to develop recreational ATV trails. We are seeking assistance right now to have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done, and our goal is to have the area designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland. Our coalition is seeking support, testimonials and other documentation to assist with this process. Please contact Pegi Eyers at [email protected] if you can help!

HIKE ONTARIO
An excellent guide to the benefits of walking trails without motorized vehicles!
Connectivity > pride in community, meeting places, community partnerships
Economics > benefits to local tourism and services, increased property values
Education > outdoor classroom, learning from nature experiences
Environmental > appreciation and respect for nature, protecting lands in perpetuity,
mitigate pollution, green space for environmental research
Health > social benefits, increased energy, stress relief, exercise, aerobics
Heritage > places and sites of historic interest, preserving heritage
Recreation > outdoor activities for health and fitness ~ walking, running, cross-country
skiing, biking, snowshoeing, geocaching
Transportation > hiking and biking
>READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE<

Pink Lady Slipper

Beaver Dam

SPECIES AT RISK
Serenity Wetland is home to many species at risk.
According to the the Endangered Species Act, the Blanding's Turtle was
confirmed as a threatened species in 2017.
ATV traffic would threaten all species of plant and animal life currently
living in Serenity Wetland.

photo of Blanding's Turtle by Robert Hood

photo © Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory

Miraculously, the elusive Blanding's Turtle was photographed at Serenity Wetland
from a kayak by Robert Hood in May 2021 (Left). The close-up on the right is courtesy
the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory in Illinois. For more information on Blanding's Turtles
see www.ontario.ca/page/blandings-turtle

WETLANDS
For more information on wetlands see:
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
http://www.ramsar.org

For a satellite map and a detailed look at identified species within Serenity Wetland, please see Robert Hood's observation list at iNaturalist >here<

GRATITUDE FOR WETLANDS

Beloved Wetlands, you are a sanctuary of Mother Earth, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you.

From mountains to oceans, you sustain life. Your marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and meandering waterways, orchestrate a delicate dance with the elements.

You are a vital source of purification, biodiversity and a haven for countless species.

You harbor the unnoticed, housing a rich tapestry of aquatic life, diverse flora, and a symphony of birdsong, croaking frogs, and buzzing insects.

You have silently witnessed the passage of time interwoven into the fabric of our human histories and traditions.

I recognize you and honor you. I thank you for your vital contributions to the web of life.

May you be cherished and protected.

May your waters, plants, trees, soils, and creatures be kept pristine and nourished.

May all humanity around our living Earth recognize you, and give gratitude for their Wetlands.

I send my profound love and appreciation to you.

Wetlands Gratitude Ceremony, Nature Evolutionaries >link<

Video View of Serenity Wetland

Slideshow of Photography, Serenity Wetland, Summer 2021/22

Mikinaak Mashkiig / Turtle Wetland

Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

In "Eager" environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern idea of what a healthy landscape looks like and how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s lakes and rivers. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: streams eroded, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-humans alike, than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are now hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. Eager is a powerful story about one of the world’s most influential species, how North America was colonized, how our landscapes have changed over the centuries, and how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, extinction, and the ravages of climate change. Ultimately, it’s about how we can learn to coexist, harmoniously and even beneficially, with our fellow travelers on this planet.
>AVAILABLE ON AMAZON<

Fundraising Projects by Pegi Eyers
for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre link >here<

For more information on helping injured turtles, turtle rehab,
and the work of the OTCC, please visit the website >here<
"Our mission is to Protect and Conserve Ontario’s Native Turtles and their Habitat"