FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE WATERSHED
Giving Nature a Voice and a Helping Hand
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT!
Protect
FRW works with community groups and volunteers to protect and restore ecosystem, watershed and human health. We promote a scientific and community stewardship approach to environmental assessment, planning, protection and restoration. We help to create and implement Rouge Park, Watershed, Greenbelt, and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plans.
Educate
We provide educational presentations, nature walks and environmental stewardship events which increase youth and community awareness about the inter-connections between ecosystem, watershed and human health. We motivate volunteers to be environmental and community leaders by nurturing environmental knowledge, values and stewardship skills.
Restore
We involve volunteers in forest, wetland, stream and meadow habitat restoration to help implement scientific recommendations for improving ecological integrity, water quality and human health. We repair past damages to natural systems, processes and biodiversity; reverse habitat loss and fragmentation; control invasive species; and combat the impacts of pollution, climate change, urban sprawl and flooding.
Monitor
We work with many groups and government agencies to monitor key indicators of watershed, ecosystem, park and community health. We share this knowledge with the public and decision-makers to improve environmental assessment, planning, protection and restoration.
Did You Know?
The Carolinian Forest, one of Canada’s most endangered eco-zones, is home to approximately one-third of our endangered species. The Rouge Watershed contains designated Carolinian forests, and is home to an estimated 30+ species at risk.
Did You Know?
Ecological integrity means supporting public use without going over the Rouge National Urban Park carrying capacity. Ecosystem protection needs to be a priority while visiting the park. Stay on trails, leave no trace, take only pictures. Please practice responsible use of the park.
Did You Know?
Since 1991 Friends of the Rouge Watershed has planted over 727,108 native trees, shrubs, and flowers in the Rouge Watershed - providing rich habitat for native fauna. Biodiversity loss is a global issue. Combat loss on a local scale by supporting conservation efforts, like FRW. Support native species!
Did You Know?
Environment Canada recommends a minimum of 10% wetland cover per watershed or 40% of the historic wetland cover. With only 1% wetland cover, both the Rouge and Little Rouge watersheds fall far short of these targets for achieving ecological integrity.
Did You Know?
Ecological integrity is important! Friends of the Rouge Watershed continues to push for strengthened ecological integrity, as prioritized in the Rouge National Urban Park Act and Management Plan. Ecological integrity refers to the ability of an ecosystem to sustain ecological processes and biodiversity. This means increasing native species and diverse communities in Rouge National Urban Park.
Newsletter
Thank you to all our friends from Guildwood Public School who helped FRW plant 100 native trees including white spruce, white pine and white birch trees in the Rouge this week! pic.twitter.com/h3ytA3vauE
FRW kicked off our Spring Restoration Programming last week with students from Duke of Connaught P.S. This class of grade 4's planted 100 white pine trees!
Thank you for helping to give Mother Nature a helping hand by restoring native biodiversity in the #RougeWatershed! pic.twitter.com/FV6SQW1pZe
Meet Aby, Elaine and Joanna - our new Spring and Summer Conservation Technicians! Our crew has been busy planting thousands of native trees at various FRW restoration sites this spring. We can't wait to see how these sites will look in the future! pic.twitter.com/lXkhQohzBa
Join FRW and @EBTSOYP on May 9th as we take a walk through #RNUP and learn more about spring wildflowers including trillium, trout lily and bloodroot 🌸
Tune in live using the link in our bio! pic.twitter.com/J0FP1dObJJ
Thank you to Evelyn Lurz, former Education Coordinator at FRW, for organizing such a wonderful event for your birthday and to all your family and friends that came out to plant 200 native trees on April 30th.
What a wonderful way to spend a sunny Saturday in spring! pic.twitter.com/6h68u6eRik
Thank you to WWF Canada and Aviva for your partnership with FRW in 2022!
It was great to have Aviva out for their first planting of the season with us! On April 29th the Aviva team helped us plant 200 native Eastern White Pine and White Cedar! pic.twitter.com/jvJuXTT2Jg