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Identifying and Protecting Significant Woodlands in an Urbanizing Landscape

Identifying and Protecting Significant Woodlands in an Urbanizing Landscape. Sandra Malcic Regional Greening Co-ordinator Natural Heritage and Forestry Services Roads Branch Transportation and Works Regional Municipality of York.

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Identifying and Protecting Significant Woodlands in an Urbanizing Landscape

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  1. Identifying and Protecting Significant Woodlands in an Urbanizing Landscape Sandra Malcic Regional Greening Co-ordinator Natural Heritage and Forestry Services Roads Branch Transportation and Works Regional Municipality of York

  2. Identifying and Protecting Significant Woodlands in an Urbanizing Landscape Presentation Overview 1. Getting to know York’s Forests – The York Region Significant Woodlands Study 2. Opportunities and Challenges in an urbanizing landscape 3. Protecting and restoring Large Woodlands 4. Securing Public and Political Support 5. Conclusions

  3. Significant Woodlands Study Deliverables • Updated Forest Cover Geographic Information Systems (GIS) dataset • Criteria for determining Significant Woodlands in York Region • Guidelines to assist with directing rehabilitation and securement efforts • Comprehensive scientific report supporting all of the aforementioned

  4. Existing Woodland Cover

  5. Significant Woodland Criteria • Woodlands containing species of conservation concern • Riparian Woodlands • 3i.Two ha woodlands within 100m of another significant feature • 3ii.Two ha woodlands within the Regional Greenlands System • 4.Woodlands south of ORM ≥ 4ha • 5.Woodlands north of ORM ≥ 10ha • 6.Woodlands on the ORM as per the requirements of the ORM Conservation Plan

  6. Significant Woodland Cover

  7. Findings • York Region has 22.5% Forest Cover ranging from 6.1% in southern urban municipality to 39.9% in the northern most municipality • 97.5% of existing woodland area is deemed significant (80% of patches) • York Region has a forest cover target of 25% by 2026 • 4,362ha of new forest is required (net gain of 229ha/year)

  8. Study Recommendations • Refine Regional Official Plan policies to protect Significant Woodlands in York Region • Continue with programs to meet or exceed the Regional Official Plan forest cover target in order to achieve a linked natural heritage system. • Undertake additional GIS analyses to assist with determining 2-3 top priority areas for restoring large areas (>500 ha) of native woodland. • Continue to refine the regional forest layer to provide an accurate representation of the woodlands in York Region. • Continue to implement and expand Greening securement, naturalization and stewardship programs and partnerships using the Securement Guidelines recommended in this report.

  9. ORM & Greenbelt 69% of Region Existing Urban 26.5% of Region White belt Areas 4.5% of Region

  10. Protecting What We Have Rural Opportunities • Significantly strengthened policy for the protection of rural woodlands • Increased public awareness and private land stewardship Rural Challenges • Forest conservation by-laws and protecting trees from existing uses

  11. Adding to the System Rural Restoration Opportunities • Lands protected from development are good candidates for private land stewardship including tree planting • Affordable opportunities to increase public ownership of natural areas Rural Restoration Challenges • Removing lands from agricultural production • Forest Conservation By-law Concerns

  12. New Housing* Distribution 153,000 85,000 York Region 2031 Growth Forecasts • New Population 570,000 (current 935, 000) • New Employment 345,000 (current 455,000) • New Housing Units 238,000 (current 278,000)

  13. ORM & Greenbelt 69% of Region Existing Urban 26.5% of Region White belt Areas 4.5% of Region

  14. Protecting What We Have Urban (growth areas) Opportunities • The identification of major stream corridors as part of the natural heritage system of the Greenbelt within urbanizing areas • The requirement for the delineation of a natural heritage system within growth areas through sub-catchment area assessments Urban Challenges • Highest and best use of land within growth areas while adequately protecting/restoring natural heritage systems

  15. Adding to the System Urban Restoration Opportunities • As valley lands and floodplains come into public ownership through development they are available for restoration Urban Restoration Challenges • Too many people, too little land…

  16. Getting more in our Urban Areas No net loss principle Criteria for protection levels

  17. Securing Public and Political Support • CONSULT, CONSULT, and CONSULT some more… • Explain your data (% cover vs. # of patches) • Education • Be sensitive to your stakeholders (agricultural community) • Make links to legislation (PPS, Greenbelt, ORM)

  18. The No Net Loss Principle

  19. The No Net Loss Principle S SEVERAL

  20. Thank You Sandra Malcic Regional Greening Co-ordinator Regional municipality of York 17250 Yonge Street Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z1 Phone: (905)830-4444 Ext. 5274 Fax: (905)895-7735 Email: sandra.malcic@york.ca

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