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Visitors walk on snowshoes during the 2023 World Wetlands Day event at Cooper Marsh. The 2024 event will be held on Saturday, February 3rd.Posted photo
January 16, 2024 —
Upcoming events in eastern Ontario combine outdoor recreation with learning about the natural environment and Indigenous culture.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesane’s Environmental Program and the Raisin Area Conservation Authority are inviting communities from north and south. Kaniatarowanenne – St. Lawrence River – Join us for the World Wetlands Day Celebration on Saturday, February 3rd from 10am to 2pm at RRCA’s Cooper Wetland Reserve in South Glengarry, Ontario.
Cooper Marsh is part of the larger Charlottenburg Marsh, one of the most important wetlands in all of Ontario. RRCA actively maintains, protects, enhances, and restores this natural area. The wetlands are home to more than 130 bird species, and the preserve includes 11.5 kilometers of trails. In addition to great viewing of marsh wildlife, this area offers expansive views of the St. Lawrence River and the Adirondack Mountains.
Visitors to the Cooper Marsh Visitor Center during a free family-friendly public event on February 3 will learn about Cooper Marsh and other wetlands through a variety of interactive exhibits and activities from local environmental organizations, and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate. You can also enjoy light snacks. Have a campfire, go on a guided snowshoe tour around the wetland, and have a chance to win several wetland-themed prizes. The event will also highlight recent improvements to the marsh achieved through the Cooper Marsh Biodiversity Project.
“Today is an ideal day for communities to come together in recognition of our common environment and the importance of wetland conservation,” said MCA Environmental Educator Melanie Algaia. “Wetlands purify water by trapping pollutants, act as green infrastructure that mitigates both droughts and floods, and provide habitat for important plant and wildlife habitats and refuges for migratory species. Promote diversity.”
For local indigenous peoples, such as the Mohawks of Akwesane, wetlands have traditionally served as a source of medicine, food, and supplies for making string, weaving mats, and making old-fashioned fish traps. I did.
Frequent conservation partners such as the Cooper Marsh Biodiversity Project, MCA and RRCA have been actively working to protect and restore local wetlands for the benefit of the local environment, wildlife and people for decades. It’s done.
The Cooper Marsh Biodiversity Project is a multi-year effort to protect and enhance the marsh’s rich biodiversity through habitat planting and enhancement, invasive species management, biodiversity monitoring and advocacy. is.
This project was implemented with financial support from the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, a Government of Canada Department of Environment and Climate Change program in partnership with Conservation Ontario. Funding for the project was also provided by Ontario Power Generation.
Cooper Marsh Reserve is located on County Road 20020 near South Lancaster, 11 miles/18 kilometers east of Cornwall in South Glengarry, Ontario. To access the preserve from Highway 401, use Exit 814 at the County Road 2 and County Road 34 interchange.
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