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What Does This Mean?
Why Is This Important?
How Are We Doing?
Taking Responsibility
- What You Can Do
We Must All Be
Accountable – Improving Trees, Parks & Natural
Areas - Find Out More
What Does This Mean?
Wetlands within the
City of London are designated within the
Official Plan as Provincially Significant or Locally Significant based on
the ecological functions. Wetland classes and
boundaries have been identified according to the
evaluation methodology adopted by the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources.
Why Is This Important?
Wetlands consist
of habitats formed by the interface between aquatic
and terrestrial systems. The
ecological, social and economic benefits that
can be ascribed to wetlands are substantial.
They are among the most productive and
biologically diverse habitats for plants, fish
and wildlife in Ontario. They also influence the
quality and temperature of water flowing through
them and may provide flood storage capacity to offset
peak flows associated with storm events. By
protecting wetlands, we contribute to the
protection of plant and animal species, and to
the protection of surface water and groundwater
resources.
Since the time of European settlement, more than
70 to 80% of the original wetlands in southern
Ontario have been lost through encroachment,
land clearance, drainage and filling (Statistics
Canada, Human Activity and the Environment
2000). It is therefore very important that we
protect and enhance the remaining wetland areas
from encroaching development.
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How Are We Doing?
æ
Getting
Better
28 hectares of land
has been added to Wetland designation since 2000.
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Taking Responsibility – What You Can Do
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Advocate for the
protection of wetlands and surrounding areas.
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Get involved in the
Planning Process.
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Support local
stewardship initiatives.
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Donate land (or
money for land) - The
Thames Talbot Land Trust works to protect significant natural
areas by buying them, or by securing long-term
conservation easements.
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Restore your local
habitat. There are many groups involved in
habitat restoration projects. Contact:
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Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
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The Urban League of London can get you
in contact with local initiatives
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Ducks Unlimited Canada, a national,
private, non-profit organization is
Canada’s Conservation Company. They have
been committed to
wetland
conservation for more than 65
years. Their efforts take many forms –
research, education and wetland
rehabilitation and creation.
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Stewardship
Ontario is a program of the
Ministry of Natural Resources that links
ministry staff with landowners, local
groups and agencies to ensure that good
management practices flourish on private
land.
We Must All Be Accountable – Improving Trees,
Parks & Natural Areas
-
Find Out More
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