Ontario Biodiversity Strategy

Variety is the spice of life!
Imagine what life would be like without a blue-eyed, blond or red-headed granddaughters!

How sad it is that I live in Lanark County, the 'back off government', libertarian capital of Ontario.

No sign of Ontario enacting biodiversity strategy: Report
The Kingston Whig-Standard
Budget cuts expected in the spring will only weaken the ability of the government to respond to environmental threats, Ontario's environment commissioner, Gord Miller warned.

Ontario has an obligation to meet the objectives of international treaties Canada has signed.
We risk our international reputation if we do not do so.
Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy, 2005, identified five major threats:
pollution, climate change, habitat change or loss, invasive species and unsustainable use of resources.

Biodiversity of species
The cycle of life depends upon the predator/prey cycle. If one part of the circle dies out, others become too prevalent, harming other species.

Biodiversity of ecosystems
Ontario has a wide variety of systems: tundra, wetland, woodlands, prairie. Our slash and burn development harm many. Coyotes are now a problem in cities.

Biodiversity of genetics
Genetics means variations within species. Imagine if we lost the red fox or grey fox.

The big factor is loss of habitat, but other factors include legal and illegal hunting, humans encroaching in areas where these animals live, eat and breed.

Endangered or at-risk
For example...
Snapping Turtles
Massassagua rattlers in Georgian Bay – I'll never forget the blasting when they put in new highway 11 roads. The rattlers were on the move in our forests. Loss of habitat and clearcutting destroyed Native lifestyles. Silt flooded fish breeding grounds. Criminal.

Milling in Georgian Bay peaked by the decade of 1910, rivalling that of Ottawa, something Sir John A McDonald complained about. . Shaped by the West Wind quotes James Angus,  writing about A.G.P. Dodge, the owner of the Georgian Bay Lumber Company:

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Invasive species

Purple Loosestrife

There are several species who are beginning to invade Canada from parts afar.

• Water soldiers
• Zebra mussel
• Sea lamprey
• Round goby
• Purple Loosestrife
• Spiny Water Flea in the Great Lakes Region - competes with fish for food



Giant Hogweed
Bala, Muskoka

• Giant hogweed.

Ontario Biodiversity Strategy

Interim Report on Ontario's Biodivesity

In May 2008, the Ontario Biodiversity Council released the Interim Report on Ontario's Biodiversity. This interim report is an important milestone towards reporting on the state of Ontario's biodiversity in 2010. The interim report is not a comprehensive report, but instead is a gathering of information from existing sources, presented in plain language and illustrated with focus stories. The goal of the interim report is to initiate the process leading to the 2010 report. The interim report contains background information on Ontario's biodiversity, a discussion of threats to biodiversity and a description of some of the efforts underway across Ontario to conserve biodiversity. Download a copy.

Ontario's Biodiversity Poster

To download a copy of a poster developed by the Ontario Biodiversity Council and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, please click here.

South March Highlands: Ottawa's Fragile Urban Wilderness

*Our* World Tuesday

House hunting in Eastern Ontario, we discovered housing developments that didn't look like typical suburban growth.

Some are spending more money, e.g., Dunrobin Shores west of Ottawa, and investing in 2 acres lots. It really changes the landscape. Unlike Toronto, you can drive an hour and find yourself in one of the greenspaces. This allows flora and fauna to continue on in their natural habitat.

In many urban centres people are taking up Guerilla Gardening! What a great idea. In my penultimate house I was creating more garden than grass on the front lawn. It is becoming more frequent.

The destruction of habitat is something happening all over the world. Here is a story from Kanata, now part of greater Ottawa in that great Harris amalgamation. (That is another blog post topic!)

Kanata forest development spurs public meeting

The South March Highlands, located in Ottawa, Canada, are home to hundreds of native species of life, including 18 recognised species-at-risk. The dense biodiversity of the area will soon be lost, marred by road construction and urban development.

No audit for South March development

www.ottawacitizen.com

Three major green spaces in E. Ontario

To speak out against the destruction of this ecologically precious region, send your opinions to the people listed at the end of the video, and join the Facebook group "I want to save the land North of Beaver Pond Park in Kanata, Ontario"!