Creating a New Nature Reserve: Malcolm Bluff Shores

Last week, Nature Canada joined Ontario Nature to celebrate the purchase of an important piece of forested land on the coast of Ontario's Bruce Peninsula. Ian Davidson, Nature Canada's executive director, and Mara Kerry, Nature Canada's director of conservation, traveled to Wiarton, Ontario for the celebration.

Thanks to the generosity of Hugo Germeraad, a nature advocate, naturalist and long-time member of Nature Canada, a stunning stretch of Bruce Peninsula is now protected forever. This was made possible when Hugo Germeraad bequeathed a gift in his Will for the acquisition of a nature reserve.

Located some 40 kilometres north of Owen Sound, amidst one of the largest unprotected expanses of woodland on the Niagara Escarpment, this biodiversity hotspot includes Georgian Bay shoreline, wetlands, woodlands, uplands, escarpment and cliff face. A 4-kilometer section of the Bruce Trail crosses along the top of the property’s terraced bluffs, and the views are breathtaking. Nature Canada has allocated the funds to our sister organization Ontario Nature to purchase a 233-hectare parcel – the largest of three spectacular adjoining properties that together constitute the Malcolm Bluff Shores Nature Reserve.

“This very generous bequest from Hugo Germeraad will help permanently secure habitat of exceptional importance for Canadian biodiversity, including part of a major flyway for migratory songbirds and raptors heading to and from their northern breeding grounds,” says Nature Canada Executive Director Ian Davidson. “Species at risk who live on this land, including the Eastern Ribbon Snake and the Peregrine Falcon, will be protected. We are deeply grateful to the family for their thoughtful gift to nature.”

Hugo Germeraad is remembered by his family as a man “completely in harmony with nature.” Local wild birds would eat right out of his hand. He provided nesting places for migratory song birds, birds of prey – and he was an avid birdwatcher, involved with many local naturalist clubs and a member of Nature Canada since the 1970s.

Supporting Communities and Conservation in the Dominican Republic

Children take a tour of a nursery in Oviedo

After visiting Formon near Macaya National Park in Haiti last week, our director of conservation, Mara Kerry, has spent the last few days visiting our partner, Grupo Jaragua, in the Dominican Republic.

Grupo Jaragua is working to promote sustainable livelihoods with the support of Nature Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency, just like our Haitian partner, Haiti Audubon Society, is doing in Haiti. As Canadian co-partners in BirdLife International, we are committed to working across borders for birds and people.

Grupo Jaragua’s work is centered on the community of Oviedo in southwestern Dominican Republic, and is aimed at improving the lives of people in the community while ensuring the conservation of the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve.

The Reserve is critically important for many endemic species of plants, birds and other animals in the Caribbean. The Bicknell's Thrush – an at-risk bird species facing habitat loss across its range – spends the winter in the Reserve, and many more migratory birds depend on the forests of Haiti and the Dominican Republic as safe wintering grounds and stop-over sites.

Here's what Mara had to say about her visit:

Upon my arrival in Oviedo, I was met by a large group including staff, volunteers and members of the local mothers', children's and livestock producers' groups. Many of the volunteers were the beneficiaries of the summer camps for children that Grupo Jaragua has been running in the area for years. As young adults, they are determined to make a difference and advance sustainable development and conservation.

One young man testified that he used to hunt wild animals and plants in the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve. Since participating in the workshops of Grupo Jaragua, he has changed his behavior – he has stopped hunting. He understands the unique value of the plants and animals in the region and that some are endangered and is now trying to influence his own family stop hunting. He would like his uncles in particular to stop hunting and learn to care for the forests and its animals. Another young man was inspired by the workshops to go to university to study biology so that he can contribute to his country's growth towards sustainability.

Grupo Jaragua has also been instrumental in building tree nurseries in Oviedo. I had the chance to pay them a visit – they’re really cool!

A volunteer inspects the trees inside a tree nursery in Oviedo.

The nurseries only use native plants. Grupo Jaragua is piloting several agroforestry plots with some of these native species, which also have an economic value to the community.

A volunteer waters a seedling planted as part of an agroforestry project in Oviedo.

Here’s the plan for these pilot projects: in the canopy there will be trees that can provide fuel for cooking, fruit, and wood for crafts and furniture. The really neat thing about this is that these resources can be harvested from just the branches – the tree does not need to be cut down.

In the understory, there will be trees that provide food, such as fruit, for the community. One tree in particular produces a berry that the people of Oviedo use to make the local wine which can be sold for a good price. Another is a shrub-like plant whose leaves can be used to make tea and the bark to make a perfume that is popular here and in Haiti. In addition, a local indigenous species of oregano can be grown along with crops like yuca and sweet potato.

Five families in the area are experimenting with agroforestry practices on their own land. And they haven’t stopped there – they are also experimenting with "live fences" that can produce food for animals (goats and cattle) in a sustainable manner.

Grupo Jaragua has also helped build the community centre where it hosts workshops on sustainable resource use and climate change adaptation practices. These workshops are open to everyone in the community, and as a result, more people know more about climate change, birds conservation and agroforestry. The building itself is wonderful and the main hall is used by the community for everything from the workshops to local weddings, birthdays and even funerals. In addition, the centre provides a source of income. The cabins can be rented out to visitors, technical experts and for other community events.

I’m very encouraged by what I’ve seen during my visit. The people of Oviedo have really embraced the idea of integrating sustainable practices into their daily lives and we’re thrilled to be part of that change. This would not be possible without the work of our partner, Grupo Jaragua. We are very proud to support this work. Projects in communities like Oviedo are making a tangible difference to people’s lives and it is our hope that they will continue to receive the support they need to build a better future.

Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods in Haiti’s Macaya National Park

Haitian children attend a school rebuilt by Nature Canada and its Partners

Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation, Mara Kerry, is on the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola this week to pay a visit to Nature Canada's conservation and development projects in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

We've been working with our BirdLife partner in Haiti, Haitian Audubon Society, on an integrated conservation and development project supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.

One of our projects has involved rebuilding the local school in Formon, hiring teachers and providing free education to the children of parents who adopt sustainable forest management practices.

Mara took the time to send us this video clip of her visit to Formon, in which the children thank Audubon and Nature Canada.



The community of Formon is on the edge of Macaya National Park, an important wintering habitat for Canadian migratory birds like the Bicknell’s Thrush, a secretive and threatened songbird that breeds in Atlantic Canada. Threats to the songbird, which has declined in Maritime Canada (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) by 15% annually over the last two decades, include atmospheric pollution, climate change and loss or degradation of its forest habitats.

The project provides an incentive – children attend school for free if their parents agree to stop cutting down the forest and help with reforestation – for the community to adopt sustainable forest management practices which relieve pressure on important habitat for migratory birds. Over 80% of the parents have agreed, and for second year in a row, the school has offered hope for 300 girls and boys.  

Our work is also supporting projects that help bring water to the community, freeing up hours of daily excursions to collect water, which is mostly done by girls in the community.



In addition, four tree nurseries have been established for agroforestry and reforestation of areas of the Macaya National Park that have been degraded. The park is one of few small patches of forest remaining in Haiti. The forest plays a critical role in supporting the surrounding communities – the forest provides clean water and clean air, prevents erosion and helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Supported by BirdLife and Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants, these projects improve the lives of the people of Formon while protecting and conserving Haitian forests and migratory birds. They are part of a coordinated effort to conserve areas across a bird's entire hemispheric range - the only truly effective way to conserve migratory bird populations like the Bicknell's Thrush.

We will be hearing from Mara as she visits the Dominican Republic next week, so stay tuned!