We are proud to announce the launch of our new program, Strengthening Species Conservation in Ontario (SSCO), made possible through the generous support of the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Species Conservation Program.
Ontario has experienced significant biodiversity loss in recent decades, driven largely by habitat destruction and degradation. As stewards of critical ecological landscapes — often located within the province’s economic and population hotspots — Ontario’s land trusts are uniquely positioned to help reverse this trend. The Strengthening Species Conservation in Ontario (SSCO) program empowers land trusts to protect and steward vital habitats that are essential to the survival and recovery of species at risk.
Through SSCO, land trusts will implement targeted conservation activities to benefit species such as the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler, the threatened Blanding’s Turtle, and the endangered Jefferson Salamander, among many others.
Program initiatives will include land securement, habitat restoration and enhancement, threat mitigation, and focused on monitoring and survey efforts for species-at-risk.
Building on the Success of the Conserving Species at Risk program
SSCO builds on the strong foundation established by OLTA’s previous Conserving Species at Risk (CSAR) program. During the last iteration of the program between 2023 and 2026, CSAR supported species at risk recovery actions across 90 land trust properties, restoring or enhancing 111 hectares of critical species-at-risk habitat. Over the entire course of the CSAR program, from 2016 to 2026, we have supported species conservation actions on 150 properties, engaging 43 organizations through technical training, one-on-one support, and recruiting over one thousand volunteers. This incredible program has been a great resource for strengthening the long-term capacity of land trusts to carry out conservation initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Land Securement: the Game Changer
A key new feature of SSCO is its ability not only to enhance habitat on existing protected lands, but also to secure new properties that provide essential habitat for species at risk. By increasing both the quantity and quality of protected habitat, SSCO represents a significant step forward in safeguarding Ontario’s biodiversity.
The Strengthening Species Conservation in Ontario program would not be possible without the generous support of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
