Postcards from the Field: Chris Near
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| Shell Conservation Intern Chris Near |
Greetings from Ontario!
I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in the small town of Huntsville, Ontario. Although Huntsville is not far from the area that I’m spending my summer, I’m amazed at the diversity of habitats and species found in this area. Right now, I’m busy with field work. Just recently I visited a NCC property in the Lower Maitland River Valley (near Goderich). The property makes up part of one of the largest areas of natural cover in southern Ontario. It is a beautiful site characterized by large mature forest, a river valley and low cliffs, which all greatly influence the diversity of plant and animal communities and species present. This past spring, 300 trees were planted here by volunteers. While on the property, I checked on the health of the planted tree saplings, removed some invasive Black Locust, and walked the property as part of NCC’s ongoing monitoring program.
I just finished my first year of a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies at York University. In my studies, I’m focusing on the benefits of engaging local community groups in stewardship and conservation initiatives. I’m truly inspired by the conservation success of NCC and the balance they have found between science and stewardship. The opportunity to work for the NCC and engage with local conservation groups was exactly the experience I was hoping for to complement my ongoing studies.
Today we leave for the Northern Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island with plans of visiting potential conservation sites, meetings with local landowners and conservation groups, and conducting biological inventories for NCC owned properties.
Cheers,
Chris
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