Eastern Habitat Joint Venture in Ontario

Working together to conserve Ontario’s wetland biodiversity

What is the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture?
The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) is part of a unique collaborative waterfowl conservation strategy, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). Canada and the United States signed the Plan in 1986 in reaction to critically low numbers of waterfowl. Mexico joined in 1994, establishing a truly continental effort to assure the survival of waterfowl populations primarily by preserving and restoring quality wetland and upland habitats.

A model for international conservation
Throughout the continent, the NAWMP establishes regional partnerships called Joint Ventures to undertake conservation projects. The EHJV was formally established in 1989 with the signing of the EHJV Agreement. Signatories include the governments of Canada, Ontario, Quebec, the four Atlantic provinces, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Wildlife Habitat Canada. By signing the agreement, each province agreed to develop and implement its own EHJV program.

In Ontario, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources, and Agriculture and Food, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Wildlife Habitat Canada came together to build and implement the provincial EHJV program.