About the Conservation Areas Workshop
The Conservation Areas Workshop (est. 2007) is a training and development conference attended by more than 100 industry leaders in Conservation Land Management and Park Operations.
Supported by Conservation Ontario, attendees of the Conservation Areas Workshop (CAW) come together annually for networking, sharing best practices, training and building capacity for future conservation experiences.
Learning and training opportunities at the CAW adhere to our three foundational pillars:
People
Planning
Places
Session topics include but are not limited to:
Staff and visitor health and safety
Recreational opportunities and products
Innovative development and technology in outdoor recreation
Design elements of park infrastructure (signs, kiosks, pavilions etc.)
Ecosystem management including Species at Risk and Invasive Species
Visitor management and reservation system technology
Managing liability and insurance needs
Indigenous engagement
Enforcement and compliance
Forestry, arboriculture, and hazard tree management
Trail, bridge, and boardwalk building and facility infrastructure management
Property maintenance and operational plans
Additionally, the CAW provides annual site visits to Conservation Areas in Ontario, keynote speakers, an Exhibitor Marketplace, a Newcomers Welcome and more.
Host Authority
Each year, the Conservation Areas Workshop is planned by a volunteer committee of representatives from various Conservation Authorities. A host Authority takes on the responsibility of chairing (or co-chairing) the committee, overseeing the Workshop’s finances and coordinating the annual workshop. In 2024 the host Authority is the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.