South Georgian Bay Conservation Economy Report 2024 *SURVEY EXTENDED TO AUGUST 23*

The Escarpment Corridor Alliance has engaged wilderness conservationist Natalie Knowles to produce the region’s first South Georgian  Bay Conservation Economy Report.

A conservation economy is an ideal economy where wealth and prosperity are harvested from natural and cultural resources in a way that meets local communities’ needs and restores rather than depletes natural and social capital. Considering that South Georgian Bay draws a wealth of residents, visitors and local businesses to the region for the rich small-town culture, healthy lifestyle and beautiful landscapes, a new Conservation Economy report on this topic is long overdue.

Southern Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment region draws a wealth of residents, visitors, and local businesses for the rich small-town culture, healthy lifestyle, and beautiful landscapes. Understanding that the diverse natural ecosystems along the escarpment and Bay form the backbone of our region, our vision is to formalize the importance of an economy centered on protecting, conserving and restoring our shared natural and cultural assets so that this incredible region can continue to attract, captivate and provide for the wide community of constituents long into the future.

The South Georgian  Bay Conservation Economy Report will investigate how to expand a thriving local economy centered around protecting, conserving and restoring our shared natural and cultural assets. The aim of this report is to identify and prioritize new and existing policies, industries, products, services, people and practices to ensure that the incredible South Georgian Bay region can continue to attract, captivate and provide for the wide community of constituents long into the future.  By protecting, conserving and restoring local landscapes to be more natural, resilient and wilder, a conservation economy is vibrant, innovative, and entrepreneurial, creating new opportunities for visitors, residents and business owners alike to live, work and play in the Southern Georgian Bay region.

A conservation economy is an economy that sustains itself on income earned from activities that conserve and restore rather than deplete the natural capital of the region (geology, soils, air, creeks/rivers, wetlands, aquatic ecosystems, archaeological sites, forests, and all living organisms).- Mike Robbins, global responsible tourism consultant

The South Georgian  Bay Conservation Economy Report will be released Fall 2024.

Take the ECA Business Survey 2024 by August 23: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N8W39G8