For Immediate Release:  April 30, 2009

NPCA CELEBRATES IT’S 50th ANNIVERSARY AND ISSUES
“SIMPLY TREE-MENDOUS” CHALLENGE

Established April 30, 1959, the driving force behind the Conservation Authority movement was its grassroots land stewardship focus and its involvement with water programs.  Today, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority serves approximately 500,000 people and covers an area of 2,424 square kilometres including the entire Niagara Region, 21% of the City of Hamilton and 25% of Haldimand County.   

It’s our 50th Anniversary and we have many activities planned to mark this momentous occasion.   Along with the special events that will take place throughout the year, the Conservation Authority would like to introduce the ‘Simply Tree-mendous Challenge’ to our watershed municipalities, residents, groups, service clubs and businesses.    

The ‘Simply Tree-mendous Challenge’ was kicked-off this morning, April 30, 2009.  The Mayors of all 12 Regional Municipalities, Haldimand County and Councillor Dave Mitchell of the City of Hamilton, along with the Niagara Region Chairman planted the first 50 trees at the Ball’s Falls Conservation Area.  They were assisted by several members of the 9th Welland Scouting Group.

The ‘Simply Tree-mendous Challenge’ event is a friendly challenge/competition between our watershed municipalities.  The goal of the ‘challenge’ is simple – to have 50,000 native trees and shrubs planted across the watershed by municipalities, residents, groups, service clubs and businesses over an anticipated 2 year period.  This ‘challenge’ is in addition to the Authority’s current tree planting activities which are focusing on establishing riparian belts for wildlife, etc. as laid out in our Watershed Plans. 

The ‘Simply Tree-mendous Challenge’ will expand on this, with the major focus being on the benefits of incorporating native species in urban environments.  

The Conservation Authority will provide information, including our “Guide to Celebrate Niagara Peninsula’s Native Plants”, and list of suppliers to everyone interested in participating in the ‘challenge’.  A special web page will be set up on the NPCA website where participants will be asked to record the number and type of native plants that have been planted either on their own lands, or municipal properties.  At the end of the ‘challenge’, a special award will be given to the municipality that has planted the most native species.

Tony D’Amario, CAO of the Conservation Authority who was also on hand with the Chairman and Vice Chairman comments: “traditionally, NPCA planting programs are undertaken as partnerships with rural landowners and with focus on establishing riparian buffers and wildlife habitat linkages. The “Simply Tree-mendous” Challenge is a significant departure from this, with a physical goal to plant 50,000 native trees and shrubs in urban and rural development environments across the watershed.”  He states further “in addition, to the actual planting component of this initiative, of equal importance is the outreach aspect of the program, which has the potential for far greater benefits in the long term. The key difference between this initiative and planting initiatives by other government and non government agencies is the dedicated focus on the use of native plant species.”

Doug Ransom, Chairman of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority remarks:  “throughout the past 50 years our efforts have focused on a variety of natural resource programs.  Our resources are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and general well being of the citizens in our watershed.  It is hoped that watershed residents will take up the “Simply Tree-mendous” challenge by incorporating native species into their landscape, but also encourage their municipalities to incorporate native trees and plants species into their development standards and urban design guidelines.”    

Over the next several weeks Conservation Authority staff will be making presentations to the watershed Councils who will then be requested to pass a resolution indicating their participation in the ‘Simply Tree-mendous Challenge.’  Municipal plantings, including boulevard trees and other plantings in new developments will count towards a municipality’s score.  Projects of the Conservation Authority will not be part of the challenge.                            

Contact: 
Mary Stack, Director of Communications,
905-788-3135 Ext. 242
Email:  mstack@npca.ca
Cell:    289-213-2420