.....MORE ON THE CNF CONFERENCE

Since the last newsletter a press felease has come in from the organizers of the CNF conference to be held in Guelph in May. Read on for details of what's shaping up to be a very excellent and exciting conference.

WOOLLY MAMMOTHS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO YOU SAY?

What do woolly mammoths, rattlesnakes, lungless salamanders, piping plovers and Robert Bateman have in common? Two things -- . they all occur in Canada's deep south and they will all be featured at the Canadian Nature Federation Annual Conference, "South of 45 in 81: A Naturalist's View," Friday May 8 to Sunday May 10 in

-Guelph, Ontario.

The Canadian Nature Federation is a national organization of naturalists' organizations, local societies, and individuals across Canada. Among its goals is to ensure that Canada's development as a technological and industrial nation takes place in harmony with the preservation of our wild animals, plants, and places. The Federation serves an invaluable educational function in spreading this conservation message and fostering a widespread understanding of the inter-relationship between the prosperity of man and the preservation of a healthy natural world.

Through presentations, and field trips and exhibits at the CNF 1981 conference this spring, you can experience "total immersion" in the unique Canadian ecosystems of southern ontario. Paul Keddy, program committee chairman, observed, "Many Canadians and residents of southern Onatrio are unaware of the many special plants and animals which occur only in the extreme southern part of Canada. This conference.will be an opportunity to increase personal awareness of the rich ecosystems and life forms of southern Ontario, as well as to meet people with similar interests from across Canada."

The indoor conference program on Friday will provide an over- view and,introduce you to "Ontario south of the 45th parallel". Presentation topics will include:

The Foundations of Ontario (the bedrock of Ontario and the

effects of the Ice Age on the landscape)

The Greening of Ontario (early vegetation changes after the

Ice Age, and early Man)

The Megafauna Before Man (big mammals of bygone days when

woolly mammoths and giant beaver did abound)

Birds of Southern Ontario (the special birds of the area, their

natural communities and distributions)

Herptiles of Southern Ontario (the frogs, snakes, lizards,

toads and turtles special to southern Ontario)

On Saturday, more specialized interests will be persued with workshops, panel discussions and presentations such as "Naturalists and the Planning Process", "The Niagara Escarpment's Past, Present and Future" and "Natural Values of the Great Lakes Shorelines".

The day will conclude with a banquet featuring as guest speaker Robert Bateman, Canada's internationally-acclaimed artist and naturalist. Also, a copy of Bateman's limited edition print, "The Hooded Merganser", will be a door prize at the banquet.

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