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Dear Mayor Ellis & Councillors Kelly, Enright-Miller Seu, Brown, Chatten, Henderson , Carr & Thompson,

I am writing to you on behalf of QFN’s 188 members, 266 friends and 24 project advocates. QFN engages in conservation projects and supports other organizations in their conservation efforts in order to support and promote biodiversity in the Quinte Region. Biodiversity is our greatest natural defense against climate change: healthy ecosystems populated with a diversity of species have the the potential to significantly reduce the costs which can be incurred by natural disasters.

QFN is extremely pleased that the City of Belleville is considering becoming a Bird Friendly City. This proactive decision would help to maintain a diversity of healthy avian populations throughout the area which would provide crucial environmental benefits like pest control, pollination and seed dispersal as well as offering Humans the enjoyment of bird watching and learning more about different species of birds. Birds powerfully connect people with nature by providing accessible beauty, sound and activity. Their presence culminates in people caring more about protecting the environments where birds live. Designating Belleville as a Bird Friendly City would be a positive development for all life in the community.

In addition to advocating for increased support of birds in the area through the establishment of a Bird Friendly City status, QFN wishes to continue working with the City of Belleville, adding greenspace to the urban environment. QFN’s Tree Committee, under the leadership of Greg Parsons, has been working hard over the past three years to obtain funding for the planting of native trees and shrubs, and herbaceous pollinator plants. We understand that the City has had to decrease the funding allotted to tree planting and to parks due to financial concerns. Despite this barrier, we trust that we can continue to work with the City of Belleville to expand and enrich the greenspace throughout the urban environment.

QFN highly recommends the continued addition of trees to the City of Belleville because of their great contributions to the quality of life and their significant economic benefits. Trees offer immense benefits by cleaning air and water, combating climate change through carbon absorption, cooling urban areas with their shade, managing stormwater, and preventing erosion. Furthermore, they provide essential habitats for wildlife, boost human physical and mental health, create economic value through energy savings, and enhance community aesthetics and social connection. The City of Belleville and its inhabitants deserve to be recipients of all of the advantages offered by a diversity of native trees.

QFN trusts that we can continue to work with you and city staff in increasing the biodiversity across Belleville through tree planting and pollinator garden initiatives. We also are relying on you to support biodiversity and the quality of city life by committing to Belleville becoming a Bird Friendly City. These initiatives have the potential to attract individuals, families and businesses who are contemplating a move to the area. Achieving the status of a Bird Friendly City would also help to strengthen corridors and provide regional support for our neighbours in Kingston and Peterborough who, as Bird Friendly Cities, are working hard to make their urban ecosystems more resilient.

Thank you for your attention to our request, and for all that you are doing to enrich life in Belleville by attending to the natural environment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Elizabeth Churcher
QFN Corresponding Secretary

We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. But even though the holidays are upon us, Nature still needs our voice!

The Quinte Bird Friendly City will be presenting to Belleville Council on Monday Jan 12th at 4 PM. Our own Dan Guenther will be giving a 10 min presentation to council in hopes that council will pass a Motion supporting our initiative to have Belleville become a Bird Friendly City.  Councillor Garnet Thompson has been invaluable in moving this project forward and Councillor Barb Enright-Miller as chair of the Green Task Force has also been helpful in bringing this project to council. We very much would like to have some Quinte Field Naturalists in the gallery at City Hall for this presentation so that council is aware that people care about our local birds. In addition, we would love it if you can spare a few minutes to email the local council and mayor about how important it is to support nature in our community. See sample email attached.

Of course, QFN is also active in planting as many native trees, shrubs and pollinator plants on the landscape as we can. Unfortunately, with budgets tight throughout Ontario municipalities we hear that the funds for Tree Planting in Belleville have been greatly reduced. Our Tree Planting Committee led by Greg Parsons has been working hard together with the Quinte Urban Forest Network and Quinte Conservation to apply for a large Green Municipalities Grant. This grant (soon to disappear but still has funds to disperse this year) matches money from municipalities, nonprofits and charities to support the tree planting across Canada. Lindsay Nash through Quinte Conservation is doing the legwork to apply for this grant and did speak with Belleville municipal staff about having them participate in the grant application. In essence it would double the amount of money the city has for tree planting. Unfortunately, the answer from staff was that they were uninterested in collaborating with us on the grant.

If you feel, as I do, that we need to plant as many native trees on the landscape as quickly as we can, I hope you might consider writing a letter to our local councillors asking them to consider doing more tree planting and working with Quinte Conservation to facilitate this endeavor.

Thank you for your time.  I hope you might find a few minutes to advocate on behalf of nature!

Wishing a very Happy New Year,

Lori Borthwick

Advocacy,

QFN

The final tally is in!

2025 was a very successful year for the Quinte Field Naturalists’ alcohol container collection drive. When everything was cashed in and the monies tallied, we raised

$3,530.00!!!

Your gift was donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada on ‘Giving Tuesday’, December 2nd, thereby effectively doubling our contribution.

Coupled with last years contribution (also donated on Giving Tuesday) the QFN has put over $16,000 into the NCC’s coffers – all of which is earmarked to support local conservation efforts in the Quinte region.

A HUGE thank you to all those who collected and contributed. It really was a team effort.

The best of the season to you,

John Lowry

The following report was presented to the Parliamentary Assistant to the Finance Minister, MPP Dave Smith, and MPP Tyler Allsopp. This presentation had a 3minute time restriction.

I am Dr. Elizabeth Churcher, Corresponding Secretary of Quinte Field Naturalists, representing 188 members, 266 QFN friends, and 24 project advocates. (Total of 478)
Quinte Field Naturalists recommend that the 2026 budget include a substantial investment in:

• the conservation of wetlands, with an emphasis on preservation of existing wetlands
• the protection of species at risk, emphasizing habitat conservation
• the empowerment of local Conservation Authority experts
  People in the Quinte Region experience firsthand the value of many wetlands and the diversity of life. Southern Ontario has lost 70% of its wetlands. Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems and provide a disproportionately high number of ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood mitigation, and carbon storage. With a potential increase in flooding due to climate change, existing wetlands which serve as free and effective infrastructure for flood mitigation must be conserved.
  Wetland ecosystems and all other ecosystems require a complex web of life to function. Every species, including the 270 species at risk in Ontario, has a role to play: the removal of one species can result in entire ecosystems collapsing. Each species lost makes the system more fragile, decreasing its ability to provide services such as water purification, pollination and pest control. Ontario’s economy and health depend upon these free services. The government needs to commit to conserving habitat for all species.
  Empowering local Conservation Authorities who are familiar with local watersheds and have had experience managing floods and natural hazards would be a great benefit in keeping properties and people safe. The government needs to restore the funding and authority of the 36 Conservation Authorities across Ontario and to do a full assessment of the budgetary needs to meet their responsibilities.
  Our specific 2026 Budget Recommendations are as follows:
• Ontario commit $21 million to wetland conservation,
• An additional $17 million to species at risk recovery and conservation,
• And an increase of $10 million to Conservation Authorities to meet the increasing challenge of natural hazards.
  Further, we recommend that the government commit to these annual investments for the next four years, at a minimum, to protect and restore nature for the benefit of all of us.

The QFN Board welcomes volunteers interested in filling the position of Social Convener which is currently vacant. We would be delighted to have you join us. Description follows.

Social Convener Overview

Arrange the QFN annual May dinner in collaboration with Board members who will provide guidance.

1. Liaise with venue and provider to determine location, possible dates, menu options, cost and number of attendees.
2. Assist in booking a speaker for one of those dates.
3. Confirm date chosen with speaker and provider.
4. Assist in creation of promotional materials.
5. Print numbered tickets.
6. Liaise with the treasurer on payments.
7. Record purchases and choice of meal.
8. Manage email inquiries or confirmations.
9. Prepare a final report on the dinner.

If you wish to help QFN in this capacity, or have any questions, please contact

Nancy Stevenson Email: nlsriver@gmail.com Phone: 613-922-9566

Thank you.

The Provincial Government is recommending the amalgamation of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven conservation authorities. In order to urge the government not to proceed with the amalgamation, QFN is responding to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO-025-1257). The ERO comment period for this proposal ends on December 22, 2025. We also encourage you to send your own submission to the Environmental Registry of Ontario and/or contact your MPP and the Premier’s office.

For your convenience, quick summaries and links to the ERO have been provided in the chart below. An ERO account is not needed to submit a response, but those who choose to create a free account will be able to track their comments. Your personal information will not be made public.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Regards,

Elizabeth Churcher

QFN Corresponding Secretary

Consultation on Amalgamation of Conservation Authorities

ERO #025-1257

Submissions to this ERO are due on December 22nd, 2025.

Summary of Purpose: We need to urge the government not to proceed with the amalgamation of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into 7 regional conservation authorities. Conservation authorities should be supported meaningfully & empowered to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

Key Messages for Input:

Ø Conservation authorities were established in 1954 as a direct response to rising concerns about flooding and erosion. Central to their establishment was the recognition that conservation authorities must embody local needs and be led by local voices. Presently, flooding is the costliest natural hazard in Ontario and is expected to become an even greater threat in the coming years. The proposed amalgamation would concentrate decision-making power in the hands of the province rather than local experts. Decision-makers would be far less connected to the communities they are serving; consequently, it becomes far more likely that important local knowledge will be excluded from key decisions, leaving communities exposed to flooding and broader environmental losses.

Ø There is no indication that amalgamation would lead to more housing being built.

Ø The process for proposing amalgamation lacks transparency. The Environmental Registry does not mention the legislative changes proposed in Bill 68 (Schedule 3), to enable the amalgamation (Bill 68 is currently at 2nd reading). This means that there is no clear pathway for public consultation on these changes. This omission undermines the Environmental Bill of Rights, which exists to ensure that all people in Ontario have opportunities to comment on decisions affecting the natural Environment.

November 10, 2025 – ERO – Expanding Protected Areas in Ontario

The Provincial Government is recommending the expansion of protected areas in Ontario, a cause which is very important for QFN to support. We commend the province for its continued efforts in safeguarding Ontario’s habitats and biodiversity. In order to provide support, QFN is responding to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO-019-9306). We also encourage you to send your own submission to the Environmental Registry of Ontario and/or contact your MPP and the Premier’s office.

For your convenience, quick summaries and links to the ERO have been provided in the chart below. An ERO account is not needed to submit a response, but those who choose to create a free account will be able to track their comments. Your personal information will not be made public.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Regards,

Elizabeth Churcher

QFN Corresponding Secretary

The Provincial Government is recommending the expansion of protected areas in Ontario, a cause which is very important for QFN to support. We commend the province for its continued efforts in safeguarding Ontario’s habitats and biodiversity. In order to provide support, QFN is responding to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO-019-9306). We also encourage you to send your own submission to the Environmental Registry of Ontario and/or contact your MPP and the Premier’s office.

For your convenience, quick summaries and links to the ERO have been provided in the chart below. An ERO account is not needed to submit a response, but those who choose to create a free account will be able to track their comments. Your personal information will not be made public.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Regards,

Elizabeth Churcher

QFN Corresponding Secretary

Consultation on Expanding Protected Area Project

ERO #019-9306

Submissions to this ERO are due on November 24th 2025.

Summary of Purpose: We need to offer comments that will urge the province to commit to further expanding Ontario’s protected areas.

Key Messages for Input:

-Protected areas offer a practical and effective approach to conserving biodiversity and ecosystems that sustain us, while enhancing our resilience.

-Protected areas provide jobs and recreational opportunities for residents.

-Protected areas are a fundamental component of our national identity.

Ontario has only approximately 11% of land and water protected which is a significant shortfall from established targets. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Ontario Biodiversity Strategy, and the Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy all identify as the target “conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

-Ontario needs to support pan-national efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity decline. Approximately 20% of B.C., 17% of Quebec and 16% of Alberta is considered protected.

-86% of Ontario residents support the creation of parks and protected areas. The recent 2025 Abascus Data found that 91% of Canadians overwhelmingly agree that nature is one of the country’s most

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