TAWA Strategic Plan
Introduction
The Toronto Area Wildlife Association (TAWA) is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting wildlife in the Greater Toronto Area. Established in 1986, TAWA is a non-profit organization that works in close partnership with local, provincial, and federal wildlife organizations. The mission of TAWA is to promote a safe and healthy environment for wildlife, and to ensure that our local wildlife populations remain diverse and abundant.
TAWA has set its strategic plan in order to direct the organization and its activities over the next five years, 2021-2025. This plan outlines a vision and a mission which specifies the main objects of TAWA, as well as an overarching goal, program objectives, and strategies that will enable TAWA to achieve that goal.
Mission Statement
TAWA’s mission is to safeguard, protect, and promote healthy and diverse wildlife populations in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding communities. We strive to raise awareness, provide education, and empower individuals to take action to ensure the continued health of wildlife in our region.
Vision Statement
TAWA’s vision is to create a world in which wildlife and people live in harmony. We envision a future in which wild spaces are abundant and well-protected, and people serve as responsible stewards of nature and its many creatures.
Goal
The goal of TAWA’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan is to ensure the conservation, protection, and promotion of healthy and diverse wildlife populations in the Toronto area, and to create understanding and appreciation of wildlife and its many benefits to society.
Program Objectives
TAWA has identified three main program objectives to accomplish its goal:
1. Increase public understanding and appreciation of the value of wildlife to the ecosystems and communities in which it exists
2. Develop and implement strategies to protect and enhance wildlife habitat
3. Strengthen relationships with local, provincial, and federal wildlife management authorities in order to strengthen and expand TAWA’s impact
Strategies
1. Increase public understanding and appreciation of wildlife:
a. Create and implement education and outreach programs to promote appreciation and understanding of wildlife
b. Establish an online presence to increase awareness of TAWA and its campaigns, engage with a wider audience, and spread information through digital media
c. Develop partnerships with other organizations to share resources and engage with a greater number of individuals
2. Develop and implement strategies to protect and enhance wildlife habitat:
a. Work with local, provincial, and federal authorities to identify areas of ecological importance and create strategies to protect and enhance such areas
b. Develop creative solutions to reduce the impact of development and other human activities on wildlife habitat
c. Identify and support existing conservation and stewardship projects, as well as executing our own initiatives
3. Strengthen relationships with local, provincial, and federal wildlife management authorities:
a. Increase communication with authorities to gain insight and understanding of existing strategies, regulations, and current issues
b. Leverage our expertise to create and implement effective solutions to current wildlife management issues
c. Participate in cross-agency collaborations and forums to share information and resources
Conclusion
The Toronto Area Wildlife Association is dedicated to the conservation and protection of wildlife in the Greater Toronto Area. This five-year strategic plan provides direction and a framework for TAWA and its members to ensure the continued health of our regional wildlife populations and minimize the impact that human activities have on our natural ecosystems. TAWA’s dedicated team of activists, conservationists, and professionals will work together to ensure that our strategy succeeds and that our vision of a world in which wildlife and humans coexist is a reality.
