abandon some old customs in favour of new has to be pointed out. The 

 geographical nature of conservation problems and the need for co-operation 

 among a number of different governing bodies has also to be explained and 

 accepted by the people concerned. To do this, it is necessary to take advantage 

 of every means that may become available. Lectures, articles, films, displays 

 and field demonstrations can all be used to keep the idea of conservation before 

 people of the country and explain its meaning to them. 



A great deal has been accomplished in the field of public relations and 

 education in the field of conservation during the past sixteen years, but a great 

 deal still remains to be done. Each new Conservation Authority constitutes a fresh 

 problem in public relations, and the demand and need for public information will 

 continue. 



With the actual beginning of conservation work in any area, the importance 

 of public relations increases and the character of the work changes. It is of vital 

 importance to secure the willing support and co-operation of those individuals 

 directly affected by the schemes proposed. Without this, not only may local 

 proposals be delayed, but the future growth of the whole conservation movement 

 in that watershed may be endangered. Although arbitrary powers to enforce 

 co-operation are a necessary part of any Conservation Authority, it is the policy 

 of all Conservation Authorities to leave these powers in abeyance and carry out 

 the work as far as possible with the willing consent of all people concerned. The 

 delicate negotiations and personal diplomacy needed to bring this about are an 

 important part of the public relations program of all Conservation Authorities. 

 This public relations program is carried out by the Authority members themselves, 

 by the field officers assigned to the Authorities by this Branch, and by the staff 

 of the Authority. 



To achieve the necessary ends, the Authorities do not limit themselves to 

 the standard public relations channels of the press, television and radio. Their 

 representatives frequently lecture to service clubs and other public-spirited bodies. 

 They set up exhibits at major exhibitions and county and district fairs. Authorities 

 inaugurate and help carry out soil-judging competitions. In the spring they hold 

 tree-planting days and competitions for school children and boy scout and girl 

 guide organizations. During the school year they organize conservation scrap- 

 book competitions, birdhouse building competitions, and leaf collections. 



Conservation Authorities have an extensive library of black and white slides 

 showing conservation problems and conservation projects in their watersheds. 

 Several Conservation Authorities have made movies of their watershed and their 

 conservation projects. Notable among these films are the Metropolitan Toronto 

 and Region Conservation Authority's "A Town and Its River", "Legacy of the 

 Valley" and "Pioneer Village". A number of Authorities have published for 

 public distribution summaries of their activities, either annually or on a longer 

 term. 



History 



The first conservation reports on watersheds contained, among their pages, 

 sections dealing with the history of the area. These reports were being issued 

 at a time when there was a revived interest in local history. These history 

 sections proved of interest to many readers because they approached the subject 

 from a somewhat different angle than the majority of the local histories then 

 available. 



Ten years or so ago, no government agencies were interesting themselves 

 in historical conservation. The efforts of private individuals or groups were 



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