/R E P E A T -- Media Opportunity - Not all Savannahs are in Africa/

GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - As unusual as it may sound, Canada has a protected savannah in Point Pelee National Park which is at the southernmost tip of the country. This savannah happens to be key to one of the most important and globally threatened ecosystems in Canada.

On October 8, the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah Restoration project, one of the many projects under Parks Canada's Action on the Ground initiative, is undertaking a "seed gathering" with the help of students and local businesses. Forty volunteers will be collecting seeds from native species in the national park. These seeds will then be grown in the greenhouses of several local high schools. In the spring, with the help of many volunteer "citizen scientists", these will be re-seeded in several re-habilitated savannah habitat throughout the park. All of this collaborative conservation effort will help enhance the ecological integrity of Point Pelee National Park.

The savannah is home to many endangered species and is crucial in conserving the ecosystem. This gentle oasis holds a fragile and unique variety of flora and fauna, such as the flowering Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus and the Monarch butterfly, among many others. The Park will be expanding conservation and restoration efforts that will re-establish the delicate balance in our ecosystem. The "seed collection" event is an opportunity for media representatives to explore with our experts "life in the savannah" and to take part in the seed gathering along with our roster of volunteer "citizen scientists": a unique ritual in an unusual part of the country.

Valerie Minelga, Project Manager for Action on the Ground, is available to speak with you on ecosystem restoration and other integrated ecological projects in the Savannah.

SOURCE: Parks Canada

For further information:

To book an interview, please contact Francine Huot at 819-953-8371, or at [email protected]