August 25, 2020
Earlier this month, EBC collaborated with Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) on a site visit to assess our Phillips Peel Property. The property is located in the town of Mapleton in Wellington County. We used OLTA's Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool to determine the impact of climate change on our property and our conservation efforts. This in turn will enable us to more effectively work on climate change adaptation activities to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on the habitats we protect.
The Phillips property is of particular importance because it is surrounded by farmland and it is part of the Upper Conestogo River which has poor forest cover. The riparian area within the property is well vegetated. Forested areas and wetlands prevent flooding and provide shelter for many birds, reptiles and amphibians. During the visit, EBC staff were also lucky enough to spot species of special concern - the Painted Turtle, Eastern Wood-Pewee and Monarch Butterfly!
