2009: The need for such a network was identified at a 2009 workshop organized by Shashi Kant at the University of Toronto.
2010: The name and Terms of Reference for this network were drafted, and a volunteer steering committee was established. Members of this committee (and their affiliations at that time) were:
- Dave Reid (Alternative Land Use Services)
- Elizabeth Holmes (Eastern Ontario Model Forest)
- Eric Miller (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
- Janet Wong (Peel Region)
- Jeff Wilson (Green Metrics)
- Jo-Anne Rzadki (Conservation Ontario)
- Kathy Macpherson (Greenbelt Foundation)
- Mike Halferty (Ontario Forest Association)
- Mike Puddister (Credit Valley Conservation Authority)
- Peter Sykanda (Ontario Federation of Agriculture)
- Shashi Kant (University of Toronto)
- Tatiana Koveshnikova (Credit Valley Conservation Authority)
2011: A logo for ONES was designed by Edwin Niemeyer. The domain name ONEcosystemServices.ca was registered by Eric Miller, who also designed a website. The network was formally launched at the November 15 2011 ONES Forum in Alliston Ontario with 80 registrants present.
2012: The Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University sponsored Jennifer Wang to be a part-time Graduate Assistant in support of ONES. On November 13, ONES held a workshop in Alliston Ontario called Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services in Ontario with 50 registrants.
2013: ONES members began to upload material to the website in order to build the ONES inventory of data and information about ecosystem services. ONES was endorsed by the Ontario Biodiversity Council as an ecosystem services working group, with the purpose of to advising Council about the role and relevance of ecosystem services in implementing Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy.
2014: ONES developed By-Laws to replace its earlier Terms of Reference. In fulfillment of these By-Laws, a Board of Directors was established, from which three officers were chosen. A bank account was opened at Meridian Credit Union.