beyond your backyard

building community projects

a community project for wildlife usually involves a group of people. It can be a great focus for service clubs, naturalist or youth groups, or the families on your block. If you already belong to an organization, talk to other members and ask if they're willing to tackle a community project. If you don't already belong to a group, why not organize one? Talk to like-minded friends, neighbours, place an ad in your local newspaper, or put a notice up at the library.

organizing a community project | partners and funders for habitat projects | local businesses | remember little details

organizing a community project
There are several steps involved in putting together a successful community habitat project. If you go through these steps thoroughly, you should be able to create a worthwhile project that will benefit your community and local wildlife.

  1. Choose your project. Look around your community for project ideas. For instance, is there an abandoned lot, roadside ditch, or ravine that could be enhanced? Adapt backyard projects for the community. For example, install a whole network of bird houses throughout your municipality's parks. Or if you are stuck for ideas, talk to wildlife biologists at your provincial or territorial wildlife department. Ask for suggestions on a community project that will benefit local wildlife.
  2. Seek advice before you start. Consult with the experts. Start by contacting your federal, provincial, or territorial government wildlife office. Even though we mean well, we can sometimes cause terrible problems for wildlife - simply because we don't know any better. So be sure to get advice from the proper authorities.
  3. Establish a network. Good information and advice can help you create a beneficial project. Talk with wildlife biologists, naturalists, municipal employees, plant nursery employees, conservation officers, and anyone else you can think of. Contact your Town Hall or Chamber of Commerce for a list of local environmental or naturalist groups who can provide useful information and contacts.
  4. Make use of government departments. In tracking down information from government departments you may have to make quite a few phone calls to locate the right department. Remember that the three levels of government, federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal, are listed separately in the blue pages of the telephone directory. If you can't track down the information, call Reference Canada at 1-800-667-3355, unless you live in Manitoba or Quebec, which have their own inquiry lines. In Manitoba, call 1-800-282-8060; in Quebec, call 1-800-363-1363. Reference Canada can help you locate federal as well as provincial or territorial government numbers. Or you can check Environment Canada's website which has links to the environmental departments of each province.
  5. Develop a community action plan. Ask landowners or the proper authorities if they're agreeable to your project. After obtaining approval, prepare a detailed, written plan. Be clear about what groups and how many people will be involved. Specify what you're going to do; where, how, and when it will take place; who is going to do what; and how wildlife and your community will benefit. Be sure to keep landowners or the proper authorities up-to-date on your project's progress.
  6. Assess your project. Even well-meaning plans to help wildlife can sometimes upset the balance of an ecosystem. That's why an environmental assessment review is a good idea before you begin. This should describe the purpose of your project and consider what vegetation and animals already exist at the site and how your plans and any plants you're planning to introduce will affect them. You should also consider how the site is currently used by humans - examples, for walking, biking, or dumping garbage. How will your project improve the site for wildlife? How will you minimize any disturbance to existing wildlife? (For instance, don't hold work sessions when birds are nesting or conduct a stream cleanup during spawning season.)
  7. Create a committee. If there are a lot of people involved in your project, you'll need to set up a committee. Members with diverse backgrounds will help ensure the project's success.

partners and funders for habitat projects
The following is a list of potential partners or funding sources for habitat projects. This list is not exhaustive and some may not be appropriate for your particular project. Consider these suggestions but also think about other organizations and groups within your community who might be interested in getting involved in or sponsoring your habitat project.

  • community leaders, city councillors
  • local conservation societies
  • local businesses
  • youth groups
  • seniors groups
  • 4-H clubs
  • schools/teachers, daycares
  • service clubs (e.g., Lions, Rotary, Legion, or Kiwanis)
  • church groups
  • horticultural societies, gardening clubs, native plant societies
  • garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores
  • landscapers, landscape architects

local businesses
Businesses like to be involved in community projects. Ask them if they're interested in supplying you with materials and equipment. In return, you can give them free publicity by acknowledging their contribution in a newsletter. Or you can erect a sign at your project site which says, "This project was made possible with help from (name of sponsor)." It's also a good idea to send thank-you notes to sponsors.

The following are some examples of businesses you could contact and materials they could supply:

  • nurseries - trees, shrubs, and plants;
  • landscaping companies - soil, plants, and rocks;
  • excavating companies - backhoe services;
  • hardware stores - shovels, rakes, and trowels;
  • co-ops - seeds for wildlife gardens;
  • drugstores or pharmacies - plastic gloves and bags for collecting garbage; and
  • lumber companies - wood scraps for building bird feeders, nesting boxes, bat houses, and other shelters.

remember little details
As you move your project through its various stages, don't forget small but important details.

  • Writing formal thank-you notes to anyone who helps along the way is a nice touch.
  • Invite people who have helped to any special events connected with your project; for instance, a ceremonial sod turning, or putting up the first nesting box in a municipal park.
  • Keep sponsors up-to-date on your project's progress with a brief, typed fact-sheet. Invite them to any special events.
  • Keep the media informed of what you're up to. Lots of publicity will help educate your community about wildlife and motivate others to take action too.
  • Create photo opportunities with your project and invite the mediaflower