Hello Friends and Supporters of the Long Point Biosphere Region,

The Long Point Biosphere Region team has been very busy in 2024 expanding our programming and growing our funding relationships.

Our road ecology team led an expanded and highly successful ‘Save the Turtles’campaign. Excavated turtle eggs were transported to the Marshview Welcome and Education Centre at Long Point Eco Adventures to incubate for the 2024 summer. These eggs are the first ever collected for the Long Point Biosphere Region Turtle Hatchery and Exhibit!

They include midland painted, snapping, and norther map turtle eggs. Our mentors and colleagues at the Turtle Lab in the London Watershed Conservation Centre graciously took in many more clutches when we reached our processing capacity.  This included all of our threatened Blanding’s turtle eggs. Shout out to our partners at Long Point Eco adventures, Lauren Nightingale, Eco-Kare, and the many volunteers who delivered a highly successful initiative.

LP Biosphere hosted its first Eco-Crawl labour Day weekend with funding under the Norfolk County Community Grants Program. Thanks to the enthusiasm, creativity, and generosity of local businesses and other partners, the first Eco- Crawl was a tremendous success, setting the stage for a fun and educational annual event in the region. Residents learned more about conservation organizations such as Birds Canada, Long Point Basin Land Trust, Turkey Point Provincial Park, and Long Point Provincial Park as well as sustainable businesses such as Long Point Eco-Adventures,  Burning Kiln Winery, Inasphere Winery and Farm, South Coast Gardens, Meuse Brewery. and more. 

While we have enjoyed a busy summer, the Biosphere team has been also planning for the fall.  I am pleased to announce our AGM will be held at Bird Studies Canada offices in Port Rowan on Tuesday September 24, 2024, details are available on our Long Point Biosphere homepage. Our program teams will provide exciting updates immediately following the Members meeting. We are also planning for our 12th Annual Conservation and Research Conference, which will be held on November 1st, and we are calling for papers and poster presentations and expect another record turnout!

We are very fortunate to have many engaged and dedicated people who continuously make meaningful contributions to the preservation of our Biosphere. I encourage you to go to our website to find out more about how the Long Point Biosphere team has been making a difference in Norfolk County in the areas of protecting our Biodiversity and keeping Conservation top of mind!

All the best,

Tom Via

Chair, Long Point Biosphere Region