June 26, 2025 — Conservation Halton
The Conservation Halton Foundation (Conservation Halton) is pleased to announce a $101,891 grant from the Greenbelt Foundation. This funding expands Conservation Halton’s Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program (WQHIP), which provides outreach and education, plus financial assistance to landowners to implement projects. The Greenbelt Foundation grant will engage dozens of private landowners with land management practice recommendations that protect the Greenbelt’s natural assets and realize those recommendations through ecological improvement projects.
Since 1994, Conservation Halton has provided technical and financial assistance to private landowners to assist them in implementing best management practices and conservation projects that improve and protect water quality and wildlife habitat.
The purpose of the broader Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Program (WQHIP) is to support landowners with financial assistance towards the cost of eligible projects they undertake on their land to improve local surface and ground water quality as well as fish and wildlife habitat through improved land management practices. All projects implemented under this program are voluntary.
Funding from the Greenbelt Foundation is allowing us to work closely with landowners in the Greenbelt to make a meaningful impact. Conservation Halton has already begun supporting projects with Greenbelt landowners, with work including culvert upgrades to reduce flooding, invasive species removal, and native meadow and forest improvements and creation. These projects – which have received funding based on ecological value – reflect a strong commitment to restoring and enhancing natural systems across the Greenbelt.
— Crystal Allan, Manager, Landscape Restoration, Conservation Halton
With this grant from the Greenbelt Foundation, Conservation Halton will conduct more than 30 site visits and ultimately work with more than 15 Greenbelt landowners, providing financial assistance and tailored land management recommendations that promote ecological resilience and sustainability, overseen by Conservation Halton’s Project Technical Advisory Committee.
To promote awareness and empower residents within the Greenbelt, outreach activities include direct mail-outs to residents, presentations at workshops and community events, participation in conferences and forums, public project tours, and private site visits to provide property-specific recommendations. These efforts continue to strengthen resident relationships and knowledge, support ecosystem health, and advance both Conservation Halton and the Greenbelt Foundation’s goals across the region.
The Greenbelt Foundation has played a role in supporting Conservation Halton’s restoration efforts and community programs for several years.
