Transcript With nature being vital to our health and economy

Conservation Authorities Contribute
to Healthy Watersheds & Healthy
People
Major Impact- 90% of Ontarians
More important now than ever…
With nature being vital to our health and economy, and
with increasing climate change impacts, the mandate of
Conservation Authorities remains as relevant now as
when it was initially formulated.
Programs Contributing to Watershed
Health
• Watershed Planning
• Watershed Management
Initiatives (Low water response,
land use planning, water
management infrastructure)
• Climate Change Strategies
• Flood Hazard Management
• Science and Monitoring
• Natural Heritage
• Stewardship Initiatives
• Water Quality/Quantity
Linking Watershed Health to Public
Health
Goal 4: Quality of Place Experts for
Healthy Living
•Build new partnerships within
health sector
•Reinforce & demonstrate
connections between healthy
local environments and
social/health care goals
•Encouraging healthier, active
lifestyles through Conservation
Areas programs
Outdoor Recreation & Education
• Nearly 147,000 ha of lands
• 7 million visitors annually
• Nearly 300 publicly accessible Conservation Areas have
over 8,400 campsites and 2,500 km of trails
• Environmental education programs for 431,000 students
(nearly 3900 schools) per yr
Making Health Connections
• Province-wide CA/CO
campaign that engages
people with nature
• Uses a contest to challenge
Ontarians to get active in
nature
• Provides online and printed
learning resources to help
public learn about health and
environment
www.healthyhikes.ca
Healthy Hikes Partners
“Healthy Hikes provided me with the guidance, resources,
and motivation to take up hiking as a new pursuit…Several
of the nature walks I completed were with CMHA Elgin's
Mood Walks group…I incorporated our weekly hikes into
my routine and it was life-changing. During the challenge,
I noticed that my physical health improved, my moods
became more positive, and my outlook on nature was
transformed… I also came to realize that Ontario has some
wonderful parks, trails, and conservation areas to
experience and explore!”
Thank you!
Jayme Crittenden
Communications Officer
Conservation Ontario
[email protected]
905-895-0716 x. 233