• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Renewing Our Commitment Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy Protecting What Sustains Us 2011 Ontario Biodiversity Council Recommended citation: Ontario Biodiversity Council. 2011. Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2011: Renewing Our Commitment to Protecting What Sustains Us. Ontario Biodiversity Council, Peterborough, ON. ISBN 978-1-4435-6955-2 (Print) ISBN 978-1-4435-6956-9 (PDF) Ontario Biodiversity Council Formed in 2005 to guide the implementation of Ontario’s first biodiversity strategy, the Ontario Biodiversity Council is a group of volunteers from environmental and conservation groups, government, academia, Aboriginal organizations and industry. The Ontario Biodiversity Science Forum, the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network and the Stewardship Network of Ontario all work alongside the Council to guide the implementation of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy. ONTARIO BIODIVERSITY COUNCIL Name Organization Name Organization Jon K. Grant, Don Pearson Conservation Ontario Chair Dawn Sucee Ontario Federation of Cynthia Robinson Ontario Stone, Sand & Anglers and Hunters Gravel Association Terry Rees Federation of Ontario Julie Cayley Ducks Unlimited Canada Cottagers’ Associations Sue Chiblow Chiefs of Ontario Caroline Schultz Ontario Nature George Finney Bird Studies Canada Mark Stabb Nature Conservancy of Canada Carla Grant Ontario Forestry Association Lesley Hymers Ontario Mining Association Steve Hounsell Ontario Power Generation L.G. “Len” Ugarenko Wildlife Habitat Canada Scott Jackson Ontario Forest Industries Joe Voccaro Building Industry & Land Association Development Association Linda Jeffrey Ontario Ministry of Tom Whillans Trent University Natural Resources Ag Care Jason Laronde Union of Ontario Indians Ontario Biodiversity Don McCabe Ontario Federation Science Forum of Agriculture A Message from the Ontario Biodiversity Council Ontario has the largest economy in Canada safeguard Ontario’s variety of species and and a high quality of life that attracts people ecosystems and puts forward an ambitious from around the world. Our wealth and pros- but practical conservation agenda. perity, our quality of life and our well-being Through the development of this strategy, the are directly tied to the province’s biological Ontario Biodiversity Council has been encour- diversity—or biodiversity. aged and inspired by the level of participation Biodiversity—the variety of life—is the province’s from all sectors, government and individuals rich natural bounty of plant and animal species, who came together to share ideas, knowledge land, lakes and rivers, forests and other ecosys- and a vision for the future. tems that provide us with a healthy environment, Council recognizes that no single government, clean air, productive soils, nutritious foods, and conservation organization or sector can deliver safe, clean water. This natural infrastructure the scale of change required but, together, we 2011 Strategy, Biodiversity Ontario’s also supports our forest, farming, fishing and can build upon the progress made and renew recreation and tourism industries. i our commitment to conserving our wealth— The Ontario Biodiversity Council recognizes our biodiversity. the importance of biodiversity and is taking “Protecting the diversity of life on Earth—of steps to conserve it as an essential part of which we humans are an integral part—requires building a strong and prosperous future for broad societal consensus and participation. our province. Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, It is a challenge not for some of us, but for all 2011 provides a renewed commitment to of us (Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2005).” Photo: Jenn Manley, OMNR Photo: Wayne Eardly Tree planting to commemorate release of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2011 (Steve Hounsell and Jon Grant). Executive Summary Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2011 is the guiding recreation that nourishes our physical and mental framework for coordinating the conservation of health. Ontario’s biodiversity also has inherent our province’s rich variety of life and ecosystems. value and deserves to be recognized, appreci- It builds on the positive achievements of Ontario’s ated and conserved for its own sake. 2005 Strategy and sets out new and updated Ontario residents are stewards of more than one direction for the next 10 years. The Ontario million square kilometres of land and water, and Biodiversity Council led the renewal process, this landscape is home to a rich diversity of life. with support provided by the Ontario Ministry Although the ecosystems that support this of Natural Resources. The front half of this diversity are dynamic and resilient, they are lim- document provides context on Ontario’s biodi- ited in their ability to respond to rapid change. versity and the threats acting upon it. The A recent province-wide assessment showed that second half outlines the strategic framework many threats to biodiversity are increasing and Executive Summary Executive for the conservation of Ontario’s biodiversity that biodiversity losses are occurring, particu- over the next decade. ii larly in southern Ontario. Similar results have Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It been found in countries around the world. There includes all living things and the ways in which are six main threats to Ontario’s biodiversity: they interact with one another and their envi- • habitat loss ronment. Simply put, biodiversity is life. There are three levels of biodiversity: • invasive alien species • population growth • genetic diversity—the variety of genetic infor- mation contained in individual plants, animals • pollution and micro-organisms • unsustainable use • species diversity—the variety of species • climate change • ecosystem diversity—the variety of These threats to biodiversity often act together habitats, ecological communities and to produce a much greater negative effect than ecological processes they do on their own. In addition to the identi- Conserving Ontario’s biodiversity is very fied threats, there are several challenges that important because healthy ecosystems sustain must be addressed to conserve Ontario’s biodi- healthy people and a healthy economy. We versity. There are also opportunities associated derive benefits from the ecosystem services with the wealth of natural capital that remains provided by biodiversity including food, fibre and with the conservation frameworks that have and medicines, clean air and water and outdoor been established. Executive Summary The vision of this Strategy is a future where Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy, 2011 biodiversity loss is halted and recovery Targets is advanced. People value, protect and 1. By 2015, biodiversity is integrated into the elemen- enhance biodiversity and the ecosystem tary, secondary and postsecondary school curricula, services essential for human health and including schools of business. well-being. 2. By 2015, 50 per cent of Ontarians understand biodi- versity and its role in maintaining their health and Three goals define the conservation path well-being. proposed in this Strategy: 3. By 2015, the number of Ontarians who participate in Goal 1: Mainstream biodiversity biodiversity conservation activities is increased by by incorporating biodiversity 25 per cent. considerations into decision- 4. By 2015, all sectors have initiated the development making across the province, of implementation plans in support of Ontario’s in different sectors and in our Biodiversity Strategy, and by 2020, those plans homes, workplaces and schools. are implemented. Goal 2: Protect, restore and 5. By 2020, all relevant policies and programs inte- grate biodiversity values. recover Ontario’s genetic, species and ecosystem diversity 6. By 2015, plans for climate change mitigation are and related ecosystem func- developed and implemented and contribute to tions and processes. Ontario’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 per cent below 1990 levels. Goal 3: Use Ontario’s biological 7. By 2015, strategic plans are in place to reduce the assets sustainably. threats posed to biodiversity by invasive species. The Strategy highlights four strategic direc- 8. By 2015, the release of pollutants harmful to 2011 Strategy, Biodiversity Ontario’s tions that reflect the critical components biodiversity is reduced. required to conserve Ontario’s biodiversity: 9. By 2020, the growth of Ontario’s per-capita iii resource consumption and waste generation • Engage People is halted and reversed. • Reduce Threats 10. By 2015, the status of species and ecosystems of • Enhance Resilience conservation concern in Ontario is improved. 11. By 2015, the proportion of private lands in Ontario • Improve Knowledge that are managed for biodiversity is increased. Each of the strategic directions is supported 12. By 2015, natural heritage systems plans and by long-term objectives, outcomes and biodiversity conservation strategies are key actions. The success of this Strategy developed and implemented at the municipal will be tracked through 15 specific targets and landscape levels. representing key areas of focus for biodi- 13. By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and versity conservation in Ontario. The aquatic systems are conserved through well- progress will be monitored and assessed connected networks of protected areas and other over a 10-year time frame to encourage effective area-based conservation measures. people across all sectors to take on ambi- 14. By 2020, programs and policies are in place to tious actions—actions that we hope will

Load more

  80

Copy Link