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
It's #MysteryMonday! This image depicts a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between a fungus & the eggs of an insect species. This phenomenon occurs on goldenrod leaves throughout the growing season, darkening with time.
Can you guess which insect species these eggs belong to? pic.twitter.com/ZuoS5LM7hI
FRW is wrapping up our Fall 2021 Tree Planting Program and would like to extend a TREE-mendous thank you to our fall crew: David-Angelo, Thivyah, Stefani, Luke & Lucas & all of our volunteers this year.
Thank you for helping to give Mother Nature a voice & a helping hand 👋🌎🌱 pic.twitter.com/aSr1vIZr8x
It's #GivingTuesdayCA today! 🎁
Please consider supporting FRW today. Support from our donors allows us to continue our local, community-based initiatives to combat climate change & biodiversity loss in the Rouge. Visit the link in our bio to donate. Thank you for your support! pic.twitter.com/LrczHDcmYu
It's #MysteryMonday! This spider alternates between sitting in the center of its web & hiding amongst vegetation. In order to maximize its hunting potential, this species also eats the remnants of its old webs and builds a new one every day!
Do you know what this species is? pic.twitter.com/jFHsLISWgG
As our newly planted 🌳s begin to enter dormancy in the early winter weeks, cell growth slows as the amount of ☀️ & 🌡️decrease & 🍃s are shed to conserve energy.
While trees naturally prepare for winter, FRW assists our younger trees by adding leaf litter & mulching these trees. pic.twitter.com/FP6XU9tXHA