Biodiversity Conservancy International (BCI) is an Ottawa-based non-profit, which is doing habitat restoration in the Greenbelt. Historically, Pinhey Sand Dunes was a vast open sand dune and meadow habitat until it was planted with pine trees in the 1950s. BCI is bringing back the open dune habitat to protect the rare species that rely on this environments.
Their focus is on reintroducing pollinator-friendly native species and butterfly host plants interspersed in the sand. Their current plan is to create suitable habitat for the reintroduction of the Mottled Duskywing butterfly to Eastern Ontario in the next few years. The open area is currently about 400 square metres.
See the blog post about the WPP tour of the dunes: Visiting Pinhey Sand Dunes
Contact: Griffin Wright-Brown
Biodiversity Conservancy International