SAM Newsletter #38: Summer 2023

Point Riche Lighthouse, Port au Choix 2023 Spring AGM Thank you to the Town of Port au Choix municipal staff, Mayor and Town Councillors for being such amazing hosts for our 2023 Spring AGM! We are grateful for all your efforts in organizing and delivering a wonderful meeting, and your support and participation was really appreciated. We had wonderful community outings, lots of municipal engagement, and stimulating takeaways. We would also like to thank each of the municipality representatives for coming and participating in the weekend events. Your participation always strengthens our organization.  SAM Spring AGM attendees in the Town of Port au Choix We would like to specifically recognize the efforts below who helped contribute: Lizeta Gould, Town Manager with the Town of Port au Choix Angie Roberts with the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre United Towns Lions Club for hosting our Meeting and Networking Dinner Port au Choix French Bread Oven for hosting our Meet and Greet Event Davey Jones for his live entertainment at both the Meet and Greet and Networking Dinner SAVE THE DATE: The SAM 2023 Fall Meeting will be hosted by the Town of Bay Roberts on October 20th-21st, 2023! More information on SAM Meetings can be found here. Thank you Cynthia! We want to sincerely thank Cynthia Downey of Stephenville Crossing, for serving on the SAM Board of Directors as one of our longest tenured Director's for six years. As treasurer for SAM, Cynthia was an extremely dedicated volunteer. When called upon, she was always there to answer the phone, provide financial advice, sign off on expenses, or just lend a smile. Her presence will be greatly missed, and we want to thank Cynthia for her commitment to and service with SAM. We appreciate all of her valuable and important contributions over the years! Cynthia Downey, past Board Member Welcome Frank Deering! A New Addition to the Board of Directors SAM member representatives at the 2023 Spring AGM elected Frank Deering of Bay Roberts to serve on the Board of Directors. Since his first attendance at the 2021 SAM Fall Business meeting in Deer Lake, Frank has proudly been involved in SAM and will be a great addition to the Board. We are very excited to have you on board, Frank! Frank Deering of Bay Roberts, new SAM Board Member Conserving the Special Barrens of Cape Freels In March of 2023, the Town of New-Wes-Valley expanded upon their existing Stewardship Agreement (Business Pond Conservation Area and Queens Meade Conservation Area) to add the vulnerable Cape Freels Conservation Area, which includes a wetland complex, sand dunes, tidal marine flats (Pinchard's Bight), a sandbar, Cape Island, and Shoal Arm Pond. Within Cape Freels you can find important species of flora and fauna such as: Red knot (Calidris canutus), Piping plover (Charadrius melodus), Leach’s storm petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous), Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), Marsh felwort (Lomatogonium rotatum), and Little yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor). The well maintained and meandering Cape Freels Hiking Trail - The Wonder Shore takes you through this impressive habitat, allowing the public to safely view various avifauna feeding on the rich shoreline, wetlands, intertidal zones as well as the coastal barens. With the newly added Cape Freels Conservation Area, the Town of New-Wes-Valley now conserves approximately 4,820 acres of significant hyper-oceanic barren habitat for nesting shorebirds, seabirds, waterfowl, and some critically listed species. Picturesque Cape Freels Conservation Area Thank you to the Town of New-Wes-Valley for your continued support and demonstrating your municipal leadership in the conservation of biodiversity! We are excited to share your story of environmental stewardship. Picturesque Cape Freels Conservation Area What has SAM Been Up To? Out East: In April, SAM's Outreach Coordinator Karleena attended the 2nd Annual Environmental Non-Governmental Organization (eNGO) Conference event held in New-Wes-Valley. This event was spearheaded by Birds Canada, Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation, SAM, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature NL, CPAWS-NL, and Council for Canadians Avalon Chapter, and was held at Norton's Cove Cafe. NL ENGO Conference attendees in the Town of New-Wes-Valley. This event gathers eNGOs from across the province (over 20 of which were represented) to work together , foster relationships for future projects, partner collaboration and general sharing of conservation ideas. Conference events included a Nocturnal Owl talk and walk through the Town of Lumsden, various trainings on topics like volunteer management, a panel with post-secondary students on careers in eNGOs, speed networking (one-on-one), a networking dinner with special guest Mayor Tiller from Town of New-Wes-Valley, and a public nature walk at the Town of Carmanville Wetland Interpretation Centre.  NL ENGO Conference attendees in the Town of New-Wes-Valley. Thank you to everyone for an eventful weekend! If your organization would like to be a part of planning the 2024 eNGO Conference, or if you would like your organization to be on the invite list, please reach out to engocommunitynl@gmail.com. This event was possible thanks to funding through Memorial University's Catalyst Conference Fund For Public Engagement. Nocturnal Owl Survey in the Town of Lumsden during the NL ENGO Conference: Jana and Danielle with Ducks Unlimited Canada, Karleena with SAM, Catherine with Birds Canada, and Kaylene with Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation. On May 14th, SAM Staff traveled to the Shearstown Estuary to engage the residents of Bay Roberts and Spaniards Bay on World Migratory Bird Day, in partnership with Birds Canada. We held an interpretive walk along the Estuary and unveiled a new interpretive sign in the newly designated green space. Thanks to Mayor Yetman and the town of Bay Roberts, the town of Spaniards Bay, and all of the public that attended the event. New interpretive sign for the Shearstown Estuary in Bay Roberts/Spaniard's Bay Other Engagements: Outreach Coordinator Karleena presented Wetlands 101 to Smallwood Academy in the Town of Gambo. She also met with Girl Guides from the City of St. John's to clean up around Mundy Pond, a local walking trail. Conservation Biologist Sam presented Forests 101 programming to Beachy Cove Brownies in the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, provided an interpretive walk and nest box installation and monitoring program to Girl Guides and Scouts in Paradise, and nest box installation and monitoring program to an after-school program in the Town of Bauline, and an interactive presentation to a summer camp in City of St. John's. Sam also has been engaging the Town of Torbay Conservation Corps NL Green Team with environmental monitoring orientation and field training. Outreach in Eastern NL Out West: Conservation Biologist Ashley has been busy with several outreach and engagement events on the western side of the Island. In April she helped the Upper Humber Rod and Gun Association in the Town of Deer Lake with an outdoor education event for students from Xavier Jr High, providing basic compass training and a waterfowl ID game, complete with a Bird Identification book prize! Outreach with the Upper Humber Rod and Gun Association in the Town of Deer Lake In May, Ashley presented our Atlantic Salmon Habitat Conservation Programming to Stephenville Crossing Girl Guides, which included a short interpretive walk and a few fun salmon-themed activities. Did you know? Girl Guides and Scouts who complete SAM Programming can earn a special SAM Crest! Stephenville Crossing Girl Guides Later in May, Ashley virtually presented the first Limestones Barrens programming in partnership with Parks Canada to the Caribou Kids Klub in Port au Choix. Bonnie Lou, a Parks Canada Public Outreach and Engagement officer, facilitated the program activities. Thanks to Bonnie Lou and Parks Canada for organizing this event! While on the West Coast for the SAM Spring AGM, SAM staff participated in Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol-Atlantic Canada (WESP-AC) field training with Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and other EHJV Partners. While on the Great Northern Peninsula for the Spring AGM in Port au Choix, SAM's Outreach Coordinator, Karleena, presented the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Conservation Programming to students at French Shore Academy in Port Saunders in partnership with Angie Roberts of the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre. SAM Staff, along with Angie, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Birds Canada staff, also led a public nature walk along the John Hogan Trail in Hawke's Bay. Outreach at French Shore Academy At the beginning of June, Ashley spent some time assisting Intervale Associates with their important work, and attended a Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) Index Count in Port aux Basques. Despite the damage that Hurricane Fiona caused to coastal dunes and beaches in the area in 2022, there were still Piping plover sightings and even a few nests spotted! Piping Plover Index Count with Intervale Associates in the Town of Port aux Basques Later in June, Ashley presented our Wetlands 101 programming to students of C.C. Loughlin in Corner Brook with the help of Ducks Unlimited Canada intern, Jessica, where they eventually returned to Margaret Bowater Park for a Duck ID game, a scavenger hunt, and an activity to learn about food chains/webs. Wetlands 101 Outreach at C.C. Loughlin in Corner Brook Social Media Did you know? You can follow SAM on a variety of Social Media Platforms! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SAM_Stewardship   2022 Stewardship Anniversaries We would like to recognize some significant Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement signing anniversaries. Congratulations and we look forward to many more years of conservation and stewardship! 30 years since signed (1993) Whitbourne Gander 25 years since signed (1998) Grand Falls-Windsor 20 years since signed (2003) Channel-Port aux Basques 15 years since signed (2008) St. Anthony Hawke's Bay 10 years since signed (2013) Flatrock Bonavista Frenchman's Cove Garnish St. Lawrence 5 years since signed (2018) Corner Brook Do you have a conservation story you would like to see featured in a future newsletter? Send an email with the details to samengagement995@gmail.com!

Copyright © Stewardship Association of Municipalities NL, All rights reserved. Contact us: samconservation@gmail.com Stewardship Association of Municipalities 36 Patrick's Path - Torbay, NL - A1K 1J2

SAM Newsletter #37: Spring 2023

Above: French Bread Oven Site, Port au Choix (Photo Credit: Town of Port au Choix) Below: Flora of the Limestone Barrens, Port au Choix 2023 Spring AGM In February, we sent out a Save-the-Date announcement for the upcoming 2023 Spring SAM AGM, in the beautiful coastal community of Port au Choix on the Northern Peninsula. We look forward to seeing everyone in person from May 26th-27th. The SAM bi-annual business meetings are opportunities for representatives from our member municipalities, invited guests and our partner organizations to share conservation and stewardship success stories and challenges. The meetings are also a chance to network and partner with other SAM communities on your next Stewardship project! Attendance is highly encouraged, and we offer a travel incentive to cover some of the associated costs. SAM meetings are by invitation only - look for them to be emailed out within the coming weeks. Contact samconservation@gmail.com for more information. SAM Fall Meeting attendees in the Town of New-Wes-Valley Constitutional Changes for SAM With a strong cast of municipal members, the Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc, continues to cultivate and strengthen conservation leadership across the province. From 1993 to 2023, the Stewardship Association has grown from a small contingent of member municipalities to an incorporated non-profit organization with 46 members and counting. The increased awareness and corresponding need for conservation action and stewardship over the past thirty years has demonstrated a necessary need to expand as an organization. At the 2022 Fall Business meeting in the Town of New-Wes-Valley, the SAM membership voted and approved changes that would allow the hiring of an Executive Director. As SAM takes its first step in this exciting direction, Board of Directors Chair Pat Woodford says, “SAM is about to embark on a new path, and we look forward to seeing how the results benefit our member municipalities. Year after year, the Stewardship Association continues to grow, and this is a wonderful step in the right direction for the organization.” As well as a significant partner in the Stewardship Association, the Provincial Municipal Habitat Conservation Program Manager and Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Director for NL Jonathan Sharpe will continue as a representative of the province in an Ex-Officio capacity. With several years of environmental stewardship experience, an optimistic enthusiasm for conservation, and passionate love of Newfoundland and Labrador wildlife, the Stewardship Association is excited to have Zachary Burrows step into the role of Executive Director. Zach has rooted himself on the rock, with his wife and young son, and is dedicated to helping the municipal leaders in this province in their conservation efforts. As a new day emerges, SAM is poised to better serve its larger community of environmental municipal stewards. Zachary Burrows, SAM Executive Director Click here to meet SAM's Board of Directors and Staff Welcome to SAM's New Staff Member - Conservation Biologist Sam Zabudsky! Originally from Ontario, Sam grew up spending time with her family in Northern Ontario hiking, fishing and boating. After moving to Ottawa to complete an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology and Geology, Sam spent her summers conducting fish community assessments in the Great Lakes, which led to an interest in fieldwork and marine ecosystems. She worked with various environmental organizations before returning to school for her Master of Science in Fisheries Science and Technology, this time at the Marine Institute of Memorial University. Here, she has been lucky to discover Newfoundland's uniqueness and natural spaces and has been exploring as much as possible. In her free time, Sam loves hiking the east coast trail with her dog Nelson, reading, and travelling. SAM Conservation Biologist, Sam Zabudsky New Outreach Programming -  Species at Risk Habitat Conservation and All about the Limestone Barrens! SAM has had a very successful year of Conservation Outreach and Education! Our staff have delivered over 60 presentations to people of all ages (700+ youth, and 200+ adults!) across the province! SAM's Outreach Coordinator Karleena has been busy and is pleased to announce the launch of two new Outreach Programs: Species at Risk Habitat Conservation and All About the Limestone Barrens! To book one of our new programs, or one of our previously developed programs (Wetlands 101, Forests 101, and Atlantic Salmon Habitat Conservation) please email Karleena at samengagement995@gmail.com! We offer our programming free of charge to groups (schools, Girl Guides/Scouts, day camps, other organizations, municipalities, etc.) of all ages across Newfoundland and Labrador, in person and virtually. Or download the programming for free here. SAM's new Outreach Programs! Annual Christmas Bird Counts Citizen Science Projects are a great way for community members to engage in conservation research and contribute to a greater understanding of biodiversity in your municipality through data collection. Plus you get to explore the outdoors and experience the beautiful environment around you! Started in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has grown into North America’s longest-running and widely supported Citizen Science project that can be found in more than 2000 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere each year, including SAM member municipalities the cities of Corner Brook and St. John's. For years, SAM has assisted/participated in the CBC along with other organizations like Birds Canada, Nature Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Humber Natural History Society (HNHS). This past December, SAM's Conservation Biologist Ashley helped organize the Christmas Bird Count for Kids along with the HNHS in the City of Corner Brook. What a wonderful turn out with great weather! Both kids and their parents joined SAM and HNHS at the Corner Brook Public Library to learn about the various bird species they might see and a quick orientation on binocular use. The group then went to Margaret Bowater Park to see what birds they could identify. While there were no unusual species of note, they did see some American Black duck, Black-capped chickadee, and Red-breasted nuthatch, among others. The event was capped off with some snacks and fun games back at the library. Thanks to the Corner Brook Public Library for helping us host the event, HNHS, and to Intervale Associates for providing the binoculars and staff support. Participants in the 2022 CBC for Kids in the City of Corner Brook On the East Coast, SAM's Outreach Coordinator participated in the CBC on Boxing Day. Overall there were 28 participants in the region who recorded 69 different species of birds. Notable species included: Pink-footed goose, Wood duck, Yellow-breasted chat, and Eurasian Green-winged teal. SAM Outreach Coordinator Karleena participating in the CBC in the City of St. John's Spotted! Yellow-breasted chat eating a lone apple near Quidi Vidi Lake Karleena also participated in the family-friendly Winter Bird Count (February) in Bowring Park, along with Nature Newfoundland and Labrador (organizers), and Jared from Bird the Rock in Bowring Park. Another great turn out with some who were seasoned birders, and others who were new to birding. The event was held on February 19th to coincide with the Great Backyard Bird Count (February 16th-19th, 2023). Species spotted included: Brown creeper, American Black duck, Muted swan, Northern pintail, Black-capped chickadee, Boreal chickadee and more! Participants in the Winter Bird Count in Bowring Park in the City of St. John's World Wetlands Day World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on February 2nd to highlight the value of wetland ecosystems. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an intergovernmental treaty in 1971. Wetlands are critically important ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, filter our water supply and provide water, protect us from storms and floods, and store carbon. By recognizing World Wetlands Day, we aim to increase public awareness about how much wetlands do for our communities, and to encourage actions to protect, conserve and restore them. World Wetlands Day is for everyone to recognize as these ecosystems are important to us all! The theme for World Wetlands Day 2023 was ‘Wetland Restoration’ which highlights the need to prioritize wetland restoration, conservation, and to revive and restore degraded wetlands. This year SAM marked the occasion with several special events: We worked with Public Libraries across Newfoundland and Labrador to run programming for kids all about Wetlands. We hosted story time takeovers with wetland themed books and educational programming, and we held a World Wetlands Day Poster Contest for kids across the province! The poster contest received entries from municipalities across the province (Deer Lake, Stephenville Crossing, St. John's, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Lourdes, and Codroy Valley). Congratulations to the winners!   SAM Conservation Biologist Ashley delivering our Wetlands 101 Programming to kids at the Deer Lake Public Library The Town of Torbay signed a proclamation, declaring February 2nd, 2023 as World Wetlands Day and publicly demonstrating their support for wetland conservation and stewardship. Check out their social media post about the occasion! Town of Torbay declares February 2nd, 2023 as World Wetlands Day! We also want to thank The Fluvarium for hosting our World Wetlands Day Family Fun Day along with several other organizations such as Nature Newfoundland and Labrador, Ducks Unlimited, Birds Canada, and Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd. Municipal Leadership and Evidence of Stewardship Jonathan Sharpe, Wildlife Division Biologist NL Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Stewardship - “The careful and responsible management of something entrusted into one’s care.” The first municipal habitat stewardship agreement was signed in 1993 between the province and the Town of Whitbourne. The Town of Gander came onboard later that same year. Did you ever consider (and admire) the leadership of those councils to become involved in something completely new and, at that time, untested? I was not part of those conversations but I give immense credit to those early towns who wanted to contribute to conservation and tangibly demonstrate careful and responsible management of the municipal lands entrusted into their care by the citizens who elected them. Initial SAM Members: Town of Whitbourne and Town of Gander In 2007, the Wildlife Division gave me the privilege to become involved with the municipal habitat stewardship program. By that time, 18 municipalities had signed agreements with the province to conserve important wildlife habitat found within their respective jurisdictions. Since that time an additional 27 municipalities have signed similar agreements. Today municipal agreements impact well over 50,000 acres of the province’s special places which have been conserved through the leadership of municipal leaders in all corners of this province. We are proud of this legacy built on the vision and leadership of those initial councils. Jonathan Sharpe, Wildlife Division Biologist with the NL Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture The Province also remains committed to the ongoing implementation of these agreements and to continuing to identify productive wildlife habitats found within other municipalities as we together seek a balance that meets the needs of present generations but also ensures the conservation of the habitat to support wildlife into the future. Social Media Did you know? You can follow SAM on a variety of Social Media Platforms! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SAM_Stewardship   2022 Stewardship Anniversaries We would like to recognize some significant Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement signing anniversaries. Congratulations and we look forward to many more years of conservation and stewardship! 30 years since signed (1993) Whitbourne Gander 25 years since signed (1998) Grand Falls-Windsor 20 years since signed (2003) Channel-Port aux Basques 15 years since signed (2008) St. Anthony Hawke's Bay 10 years since signed (2013) Flatrock Bonavista Frenchman's Cove Garnish St. Lawrence 5 years since signed (2018) Corner Brook Do you have a conservation story you would like to see featured in a future newsletter? Send an email with the details to samengagement995@gmail.com!

Copyright © Stewardship Association of Municipalities NL, All rights reserved. Contact us: samconservation@gmail.com Stewardship Association of Municipalities 36 Patrick's Path - Torbay, NL - A1K 1J2