A new grant from the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) is offering financial support to landowners and farmers in eastern Ontario to convert land into grasslands, an effort aimed at preserving one of the province’s most endangered ecosystems. Launched this summer, the grant covers up to 100 per cent of project costs and targets areas within the City of Cornwall and parts of North and South Stormont, as well as North and South Glengarry.
Although the official deadline for the grant has passed, the RRCA continues to accept expressions of interest throughout the year, encouraging more landowners to participate in grassland conservation projects. Grasslands play a vital role in stabilizing soil, filtering water and air, and providing habitats for various species.
Since 2012, the RRCA has partnered with 70 landowners, converting 700 acres into grasslands through various conservation programs. One such participant, Dino Intrevado, has noticed a significant increase in local bird species after converting part of his 161-acre property. The RRCA aims to continue these efforts by encouraging landowners to use unproductive land for grassland restoration, helping to maintain biodiversity and combat climate change.