Keswick roadside meadow plot one of 407 ETR’s GTA restoration projects
A partnership between toll highway operator and Canadian Wildlife Federation is yielding results as more than a dozen pollinator-friendly projects take root across southern Ontario
In recognition of Pollinator Week, 407 ETR is announcing its pollinator conservation efforts with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) have surpassed the 12-hectare goal of roadside restoration.
The initiative is on track to restore 15.8 hectares of habitat restoration — the equivalent of approximately 30 football fields, according to a news release. There are 15 projects underway within local municipalities and conservation areas in the Greater Toronto Area. The restoration work includes Kingsford Gardens in Oakville; boulevard restorations in Toronto; roadside restorations in Halton Hills; and a roadside meadow plot in Keswick.
“Our collaboration with 407 ETR enables restoration of native meadow habitat along rights-of-way in the GTA,” says Carolyn Callaghan, senior conservation biologist, terrestrial wildlife at CWF. “By establishing thriving meadow ecosystems, we’re helping native pollinator species, like the monarch butterfly, flourish while also enhancing the natural pollination of flowering plants and increasing biodiversity on the landscape.”
The Pollinator Pathway expansion by Oakvillegreen Conservation Association, located by a roadside at Kingsford Gardens, in the path of monarch migration, is flourishing thanks to the collaboration. With additional native plants added in 2024, the site became more welcoming to pollinators and monarch butterflies were spotted in the fall of 2024.
The next few years will be critical for other meadow projects that are in their “creep phase” as the native seeds develop roots to grow into successful plant communities, supporting the monarch butterfly and other pollinators around the GTA.
“As stewards of a vital transportation corridor in the GTA, we recognize our responsibility to protect and enhance the biodiversity along our rights-of-way,” says Javier Tamargo, President & CEO, 407 ETR. “At 407 ETR, we want to be part of the solution by supporting land restoration efforts in the communities we serve, and it’s great to see these spaces turning into thriving ecosystems, contributing to a healthier environment for generations to come.”
For a full list of project locations, please click here.
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