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Advocacy

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2023

  • July 28, 2023 - Quinte Field Naturalists presented a deputation to the Green Task Force of
    Belleville.  The objective was to clarify the position of QFN regarding the importance of
    coexistence with wildlife, especially beavers as they are critical for the creation and
    maintenance of wetlands.  Information was provided on the wildlife policies of other Canadian
    cities that have beaver management plans focusing on non lethal mitigation measures
    implemented by wildlife management professionals.  
    This science based approach allows beavers to remain in place while minimizing any negative
    consequences of their activities.  It is cost effective and sustainable, unlike trapping and killing
    wildlife.  QFN urged the GTF to recommend to the Council of Belleville that they amend their
    current Wildlife Conflict Policy as it focuses almost entirely on trapping and killing
    beavers.  Twenty eight beavers have been killed in the last two years.
     Also present at the meeting were representatives from three other local organizations - Jess
    Pelow from Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, Jonnathon Marconi, president of the Highland Waters
    Metis Council, and Marilyn Lawrie, executive director of The Humane Society of Hastings Prince
    Edward.  They read statements from their organizations supporting the recommendations of
    QFN to the City of Belleville.

  • February 22, 2023 - Disappointment re Reversal to Purchase Bakelite Property - The QFN expressed its deep disappointment and concern to the City of Belleville's mayor and councillors regarding the reversal of council's decision to purchase 8.4 acres of Bakelite property. Without this purchase, an environmentally sensitive area will remain in the ownership of developers.

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2022

  • November 21, 2022 - Opposition to Provincial Government’s ‘Bill 23’ – The QFN was instrumental in cooperatively organizing two events locally in opposition to the Government’s ‘Bill 23’, which will result in the overwhelming majority of local wetlands loosing their protected status. A rally was held in Rossmore and a ‘requiem’ at the market square in Belleville to voice opposition to this bill.

  • October 24, 2022 - Historical Plaque – The QFN worked co-operatively with the Hastings CountyHistorical Society to see the installation of a bronze plaque commemorating the local connection to JohnMacoun, Canada’s first Dominion botanist. The plaque has been installed at Albert College, DundasStreet West, where Macoun was once a teaching master.

  • October 7, 2022 - Regional Junior Field Naturalists Club – The QFN is promoting a regional initiative toconsider establishing a junior field naturalists club in the surrounding region.

  • October 4, 2022 - Cassidy Block Cleanup – The QFN, working cooperatively with Quinte Conservation,successfully cleaned up several piles of refuse from the woods of the Cassidy Block (a large QC propertyto the east of Vanderwater Conservation Area.)

  • September 30, 2022 - Tree Planting – The QFN worked co-operatively with the Belleville HomeHardware store and the City of Belleville to secure $3,000 in funding with which to plant five large RedMaple trees at the Clarence Bird Park in the Fall.

  • September, 2022 - Turtle Nest Protectors – A group of club volunteers constructed 55 turtle nestprotectors for distribution to individuals to protect turtle nests on their property.   All 8 Ontario turtlespecies are listed as Species at Risk due to declining numbers.

  • July 26, 2022 - National Marine Conservation Area for eastern Lake Ontario – The QFN has lent itssupport to the call by Nature Canada for the establishment of a National Marine Conservation Area ineastern Lake Ontario, which would include the waters around Prince Edward County’s southern shore.

  • July 25, 2022 - Bakelite Property – The QFN was supportive of the City of Belleville’s initiative topurchase the former Bakelite property along the Bay of Quinte shoreline. The naturalized property is tobe preserved as a nature reserve.

  • June 15, 2022 - Bell Creek Watershed – The QFN has been supportive of the initiative to procureprotection of the green corridor of the Bell Creek Watershed that lies between the CN and CP rail lines,in the city’s east end.

  • May 10, 2022 - Pollinator Gardens - A group of club volunteers planted a demonstration pollinatorgarden at the Tweed Post Office in the Spring.  In addition, QFN has also established a partnership withthe Heart of Hastings Hospice to help them establish a pollinator garden on their property.  This is allin an effort to educate the public about declining pollinating insect populations and encourage theplanting of flowers that provide food and habitat for these species.

  • May 2, 2022 - Cigarette Butt Blitz – Several members of the QFN were active in collecting discardedcigarette butts in cooperation with the environmental organization ‘A Greener Future’. A local teamplaced third in Ontario for the number of butts collected.

  • January 28, 2022 - Nellie Lunn Park (Wollaston Township) – The QFN has actively supported thoseresidents of Wollaston Township who wish to see the natural area, Nellie Lunn Park, retained andpreserved for future generations of the township.

  • January 15, 2022 - Climate Protection Program Participation – The Quinte Field Naturalists actively advocated for all of the municipalities in this region to be participants in the ‘The Partners for Climate Proteciton’ Program, developed by the ‘Local Governments for Sustainability’ organization. The City of Belleville for one voted to participate in the program, with other municipalities agreeing to consider this option.

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2021

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2020

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2019

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2018

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2017

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2016

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