Fragile Inheritance
Understanding
ecological change
in Canada
mission cray fish
Mission: Fragile Inheritance promotes and supports the long term study of species and habitats, human & environmental effects on them, and the conservation of biodiversity, based on the lifetime work of Fred Schueler & Aleta Karstad.

"These examples continue to reinforce to me the value of good inventory and the valuable contribution of many of the contributors on the NatureList."

Kerry Coleman, biologist Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Fragile Inheritance
6 St-Lawrence St
Bishops Mills Oxford Station
Ontario, Canada KOG 1T0
(613) 299-3107
info@fragileinheritance.ca

Awards

  • 2005: CARCNET Silver Salamander award presented to Fred for local herpetological conservation.

  • 2007: Limerick Forest Advisory Committee, Fred presented with Volunteer Award

  • 2011: Ottawa Field Naturalist Club presented the Mary Stuart Education Award to Fred and Aleta to recognize their commitment to natural history education, including the Nature List and “Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills”

  • 2012: Tri-Valley Conservation Award presented to Fred and Aleta by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

  • 2014: North Grenville Heritage Award presented to Fred and Aleta by the North Grenville Historical Society and the North Grenville Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee for preserving, protecting, and promoting local heritage and history.

  • 2018: Robert Bateman Award, presented to Aleta by the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

  • 2020: Canadian Herpetological Society Michael Rankin Distinguished Canadian Herpetologist award presented to Fred

  • 2020: Glen Davis Conservation Leadership Prize awarded by World Wildlife Fund and Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society - Ottawa Valley, to Fred and Aleta

  • 2021-present: Fred and Aleta named honorary members of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club
2020 award Fred and Aleta

What can we do to increase awareness of habitat loss, invasive species, and human impact on nature?

There is no other independent organized group in Canada which is dedicated to promoting long term monitoring. This is your chance to support the work of Fragile Inheritance.
About the book...
FRAGILE INHERITANCE:
a painter's ecology of glaciated North America

lavishly illustrated with watercolours and
descriptive prose from sea to sea
drawing the baseline for
a legacy of beauty and
change - Aleta Karstad
and Frederick W .
Schueler's life work