The Niagara Escarpment Commission - Related and Helpful Organizations

Bruce Trail Conservancy

The Bruce Trail runs the length of Ontario's Niagara Escarpment, linking natural features and parks. It is Ontario's oldest and most popular long distance footpath. The trail was the first in Canada to be developed and maintained by volunteers. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a volunteer-based charitable organization. Much of the trail runs across private property thanks to the generous consent of landowners.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program in 1971 with the goal of improving human involvement with nature, in ways which satisfy human needs and support the long term health of the natural system.

Formed in 1970 by a group of concerned law students and community activists, the CELA works with the community to achieve common goals. The CELA helps other under-resourced groups gain understanding of complex environmental law and policy issues. This website includes information about cases and campaigns, as well as the association's quarterly newsletter.

The Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association (CBRA) supports this interdependence by helping Biosphere Reserve communities to mobilize government agencies, industries, businesses and individuals needed to support economic and environmental well-being. CBRA coordinates the collaboration of many communities in national projects and supports community initiatives to address local conservation priorities and sustainability concerns.

Escarpment Centre Ontario (ECO), is a world class interpretive and research centre dedicated to the Niagara Escarpment. ECO is scheduled to begin operation shortly and will be located just south of Owen Sound on Grey Sauble Conservation Authority property. The Centre will feature displays and programing on the geological, natural and cultural history of the Niagara Escarpment, and encourage visitors to experience the Escarpment first-hand by such activities as hiking on the Bruce Trail.

The Ontario Birding website includes recent Birding Reports for various regions in Ontario, including Brantford Area, Bruce & Grey County, Dufferin, Peel, and Halton, Durham Region, Hamilton Area, Niagara Area and Simcoe County.

Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) is an organization dedicated to the study of bird life in Ontario. It was formed in 1982 to unify the growing numbers of field ornithologists across the province, and to provide a forum for ideas and information among its over 800 members.

Ontario's Agricultural Training Institute

OATI (Ontario Agricultural Training Institute) is a not-for-profit corporation that provides training services to the agricultural industry. OATI was established in 1989 in cooperation with public, private, and non-profit sectors of the agricultural industry with the intent of providing an initiative for training. OATI functions as the Provincial Coordinating Group for the Canadian Farm Business Management Program (funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) to improve Ontario farmers' farm business management practices.