The Niagara Parks Commission has a mandated duty to protect, enhance and manage both cultivated and environmentally sensitive lands along the Niagara River corridor. The Park was created in 1885 by an Act of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario, to preserve and enhance lands adjacent to Niagara Falls. From its beginning with a small parcel of land at Niagara Falls, the Park has grown to a comprehensive system of more than 1720 hectares (over 4250 acres) along 56 kilometers (35 miles) of the Canadian side of the Niagara River.
This "ribbon of green" contains many jewels such as the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, old growth forest, sensitive riparian habitat and culturally significant heritage gardens. Niagara Parks is proud of recent partnerships which have fostered the development of a Natural Heritage Resources Management Policy, Inventory and Plan as well as a vibrant ecological restoration program supporting these lands and as well as our mandate in perpetuity for the benefit of today's and future generations.
The 40 hectare (99 acre) Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens has developed from the inception of the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture in 1936. At the Botanical Gardens, both live plant collections and a herbarium collection (pressed plant) are used along with associated policies, for education (as a campus for the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and for the general public), as a visitor attraction (the world famous Niagara Parks' gardens are a tourist destination) and to support scientific research including preservation of the environment.
As you scroll through our pages we hope you will be inspired to visit us here in Ontario, Canada, to enjoy and support some of the most magnificent natural and cultural landscapes in the world. Niagara Parks are entirely self-funded and every purchase made by visitors to our properties helps to preserve this heritage.
Download your copy of NPC's DRAFT Environmental Land Management Plan. Comments can be mailed to Marika Kozachenko, hand delivered to Oak Hall, mailed to Box 150, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6T2, faxed to 905-356-7262 or emailed to enviro@niagaraparks.com. Phone contact Marika (905)356-2241 ext. 246. Deadline for submitting comments is Noon October 19th, 2008.
Niagara Glen Action Plan and Volunteer Weekend
Niagara Falls, ON – The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) will be hosting a Niagara Glen Roundtable on the future of the Niagara Glen followed by a Green Symposium. NPC is giving first consideration to the Niagara Glen as a means to promote continuing education, access control and visitor activity monitoring for this unique ecosystem. By doing so, this will help to counter the degradation by vandals and other uncaring and/or unknowledgeable individuals to this vitally important environmental habitat.
To coincide with the Roundtable and Symposium, volunteer work will be happening over several weekends in September to repair and upgrade the access stairs into the Whirlpool area of the Niagara Gorge, as a volunteer initiative of the Niagara Falls Fire Department in conjunction with NPC staff and Niagara Parks Police. NPC will also be working in partnership with Ontario Nature's ‘Volunteer for Nature’ program to further preserve the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, which contains one of the largest concentrations of Species at Risk anywhere in Canada. Volunteers, together with NPC staff will help preserve this special place by marking hiking trails and closing unsanctioned trails to keep visitors a safe distance away from vulnerable habitats and species.
According to NPC Executive Director of Parks, Debbie Whitehouse, “It is important for us to continue this initiative, and since this activity was planned for a time when Niagara Parks Naturalist Robert Ritchie is retiring, we decided to seize the moment to both honor his work as our Naturalist and to promote the need for attention and input on the future protection of Niagara Glen.” NPC Chairman, Jim Williams echoed these sentiments, stating “As a Commission, the preservation of the environment is one of our most basic tenets. The stewardship role assumed by NPC has been an important aspect of the Commission since its inception. As guardian of a national trust, we are expected to preserve and commemorate the historical, cultural and environmental significance of all the lands within the Niagara River corridor.”
NPC will be hosting several important upcoming environmental events:
Niagara Glen Green Plan Events Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 14
Volunteer Involvement: Building on last year’s successful effort of Ontario Nature (Federation of Ontario Naturalists) working with Niagara Parks staff and other partner organizations at Queenston Heights Forest and the Niagara Glen, we envision multiple activities being undertaken, such as Niagara Glen trail improvements, trail marking, and continuation of invasive species removals at Queenston Heights Forest. This work is dependent on the number of volunteer participants who register to work along with NPC staff on these projects.
Niagara Glen Roundtable: September 12 at 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Topics to be discussed:
• Glen/Gorge Geology - Guest speaker, Dr. Andrew Miall, University of Toronto
• Glen flora/fauna – Guest speaker, Mike Oldham, Ministry of Natural Resources
• Niagara Glen Current Status Report – Rob Ritchie, NPC
Roundtable discussions – input/suggested actions for the ongoing protection regarding Glen/Gorge to include, but not limited to:
• Access Control
• Tree Walk
• Possible establishment of a “Friends of Niagara Glen Association”
• Bouldering
• Geo-caching
This event is free of charge. Please RSVP to 905-371-0254 x 2.
Green Symposium: September 12 at 5:00 p.m.
To be held following the Niagara Glen Roundtable held at the Niagara Glen Pavilion.
$50 registration includes “Green” reception, in honour of the retirement of Niagara Parks Naturalist Robert Ritchie (ALL proceeds to benefit Niagara Glen projects). Tax receipts will be issued for $25.00. Please RSVP to 905-371-0254 x 2.