Lambton Wildlife Inc.


Lambton Wildlife Inc. is the leading field naturalist, conservation and environmental group in Lambton County , and one of the foremost naturalist groups in Southwestern Ontario . It has a long and proud record of environmental leadership not only in promoting the natural environment but also by acting to secure and preserve important habitats in Lambton County .
	LWI was founded in 1966 as the Lambton Field Naturalists by seven visionaries living in Sarnia . The seven charter members were Dr. Peter & Elizabeth Tasker, Dennis and Sue Rupert, Roy and Stephanie John and Gerry Clements. In 1970 the club reorganized to become the Lambton Wildlife Trust with a new constitution and in 1973 the club was incorporated as Lambton Wildlife Inc. and was registered as a charitable organization, complete with a charitable number. It's purpose as described in the by-laws was to encourage and promote the conservation, preservation and protection of the natural environment, and in particular to be concerned with the natural history of Lambton County .
In the intervening years LWI has grown and prospered to where today it has over 400 members and is widely recognized as a model of what a local naturalist group can accomplish. It has worked to conserve and protect many natural areas such as the purchase of Mandaumin Woods and the Karner Blue Sanctuary at Port Franks, was instrumental in the purchase and management of the Port Franks Forested Dunes and the Ipperwash Dunes and Swales Nature Reserves, and was decisive in preventing the Howard Watson Nature Trail from being sold to adjoining land owners. Other important projects included financial assistance in the form of seed funding for the purchase of the Wawanosh Wetlands, creation of the Ausable Trail near Arkona, financing of an important study of molluscs in the Sydenham River, early and important support for the establishing of the Carolinian Canada Coalition, funding for a widely recognized insect study in the Port Franks area, ongoing management of several natural areas as well as many other projects.
LWI also runs monthly indoor meetings where talks on natural subjects are given as well as an ambitious outdoor program to expose members and others to the natural environment, operates a Young Naturalists program, publishes a club newsletter 8 times a year and operates this website.
	LWI has received many awards and recognition for the work it has done including several from the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, the Mayor's Honour List, the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Recognition, Imperial Oil Volunteer Excellence Certificate, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Award, the Sarnia Lambton Visitor and Convention Bureau Ambassador Award, Carolinian Canada Conservation Award and the St. Clair River Waterways for Wildlife's 2002 Environmental Stewardship Award. LWI looks forward to continuing its important work in the future in order to protect and enhance our natural environment .