The Bruce Peninsula, as one of the most intact natural areas in all of Southern Ontario, is a critically important stronghold for native flora and fauna. It has been identified as one of the Great Lakes' biodiversity "hotspots" for its abundance of rare and endangered species and natural communities. 

The Community Conservation and Stewardship Plan (CCSP) is a community-based project initiated by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association in 2012 that is intended to guide and coordinate local action to address critical issues that may compromise local biodiversity in the Bruce Peninsula. It offers a suite of recommended actions that diverse community partners--including property owners, farmers, businesses, industries, Aboriginal communities, government and non-government organizations, and academic institutions, among others--can work towards in partnership over a five year period (2012-2019) to protect, restore, and maintain biodiversity and the natural processes that sustain it.

Based on broad input from the community and partners, the purpose of this plan is to:

- Create a unified vision and strategic focus for local conservation and stewardship efforts;
- Enable coordinated multi-stakeholder action to address complex and multi-jurisdictional issues;
- Compile key information on the region's biodiversity and ensure that it is broadly accessible to the community and partners;
- Facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and ideas, and;
- Strengthen access to human and financial resources to enable action.

The most critical step is to translate this bold, yet achievable plan into effective action on the ground. This requires long-term organizational partnerships, a secure and diverse funding base, and the engagement of local communities. To facilitate the implementation of this plan, a multi-stakeholder network has been formed, which will facilitate community dialogue, help to access information and resources, and monitor the success of the plan. Furthermore, it should be recognized that many of the identified strategies and actions are built upon existing programs on the Bruce Peninsula, providing a solid foundation for success.      

Read the full report here: