Education Goal: Achieve broad awareness of the importance of ecosystems, natural communities and endangered species in the Carolinian region by the general public, farmers and other landowners and gain their support for measures to protect these species and habitats.

This broad education goal supports all the other goals and strategies since it provides the understanding and motivation for volunteer work, landowner stewardship and fund raising as well as community support for protective measures such as watershed and municipal planning. The following are year one objectives.

OBJECTIVE 1:

Develop a strategy for education of youth concerning conservation of natural communities and biodiversity in the Carolinian Region of Ontario

ACTION PLAN 1-1

Convene a workshop of educators, including interested organizations such as Federation of Ontario Naturalists, the Heritage Resources Centre (University of Waterloo), Ministries of Education, Natural Resources, Conservation Authorities and Provincial agencies to:

Identify barriers to education of youth about biodiversity and natural communities in the Carolinian Region (e.g., lack of materials, distribution problems);

Identify specific actions to enhance education of youth with respect to biodiversity and natural communities in the Carolinian Region.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Develop a conservation Marketing Strategy for natural communities and biodiversity in the Carolinian Region that targets adults, including groups and organizations not traditionally focussed on conservation, e.g., Service Clubs, Municipal Councils and Officials.

ACTION PLAN 2-1

Request that the World Wildlife Fund of Canada (WWF) convene a workshop of interested parties such as the Heritage Resources Centre to discuss a marketing strategy for protection and rehabilitation of natural communities and biodiversity in the Carolinian Region. Such a strategy might include:

• Speakers and presentations for service clubs
• Media material, educational material
• Special events and presentations.
  

ACTION PLAN 2-2

Request that the Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, University of Guelph, in consultation with interested parties, develop a concise and persuasive "Case for Carolinian Conservation" that explains in common language why this is an important public issue.

OBJECTIVE 3

Secure a sponsor and an operator for a Carolinian Canada Web site.

ACTION PLAN 3-1

The Stewardship Information Bureau (SIB) in Guelph has already created such a page. It is recommended that:

SIB is commended for this initiative;

Environment Canada, FON, and other organizations provide supporting material and "hot links" to Carolinian information on their home pages; and

Carolinian Canada Coalition (CCC) secretariat should publicize this information source with particular emphasis on potential educational and media users and find a funding source to develop the potential of this site.

Community Action Goal: Achieve broad community action to support conservation of native ecosystems, communities and endangered species throughout the Carolinian region, including the cities and towns.

OBJECTIVE 4:

Distribute "Best Management Practices" and other information to support the protection of native ecosystems and communities in the Carolinian Region to all participants in Environmental Farm Plans.

ACTION PLAN 4-1

Enlist the support of Environmental Farm Plan Working Group and the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association to encourage wide distribution of material supportive of protection of natural communities in the Carolinian Region:

To all farm plan workshops and participants; and

To all Stewardship Councils in the Region.

OBJECTIVE 5

Evaluate past land owner contact programs, recommend a model strategy and identify funding sources for new programs.

ACTION PLAN 5-1

Request that the Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, University of Guelph, and Wildlife Habitat Canada share their evaluations of stewardship models through the Coalition.

OBJECTIVE 6

Develop a model official plan policy to support and encourage protection of biodiversity and natural communities in the Carolinian Region.

ACTION PLAN 6-1

Request that Ontario Professional Planning Institute (OPPI) develop a model policy to support and encourage protection of natural communities and biodiversity in the Carolinian Region, in consultation with other interested parties such as the World Wildlife Fund, FON, the Association of Rural Municipalities, Conservation Authorities, Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Forest Goal: Achieve no further loss of native forest cover and a substantial increase including an appropriate proportion of interior forest.

"Substantial" will vary by region but generally a 30-50% increase from existing forest cover would be considered substantial. "Appropriate proportion of interior forest cover" should be more than 10% of forested area 100+ metres to the edge, and more than 5% 200+ metres from the edge.

Protecting and expanding forest area, particularly interior forest, is expected to have many important benefits. Large forest blocks are disappearing, habitat that is critical for interior forest birds and other species that will not compete with edge species. In addition to providing critical habitats for endangered species, forests provide water recharge, flood control, aesthetic benefits and forestry income. Thanks to improved mapping it is possible to identify areas where a little regeneration in holes and gaps could achieve significant improvement in the extent of forest interior by connecting existing forest blocks. With many County Plans in preparation, the time is right to make progress.

OBJECTIVE 7

Identify a minimum of 12 "Forest Opportunity Areas" (at least one per County or Region) where potential large forest blocks might be assembled through filling gaps, reconnecting existing blocks etc.

ACTION PLAN 7-1

Recommend that all Remedial Action Plan Areas (RAPS), Counties completing official plans, and Conservation Authorities completing watershed plans:

• Complete forest patch mapping as part of their current process, where possible in a compatible GIS format;
• Identify "forest opportunity areas"where interior forest could be recreated;
• Adopt measures and policies to support and encourage protection and rehabilitation of large forest blocks within their areas of interest; and
• Work cooperatively with "opportunity area"landowners, including First Nations, farmers and rural non-farm landowners, to increase large forest blocks.

ACTION PLAN 7-2

Convene a "scoping workshop" including the Stewardship Councils, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, the World Wildlife Fund, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Forestry Association, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authorities, MNR, Environment Canada and other interested parties to develop a strategy to protect and restore large forest blocks in cooperation with landowners. Such a strategy might include:

• Education, stewardship support materials for landowners
• Recommendations for new incentives; and
• Financial and other enabling measures.

OBJECTIVE 8

Complete a feasibility plan/study to provide an adequate stock of native tree species

ACTION PLAN 8-1

Request that the Ontario Forestry Association and the Forest Gene Conservation Association, in consultation with other interested parties, initiate a study to ensure an adequate stock of native tree species. (E.g., a proposal for the St. Williams site)

ACTION PLAN 8-2

Maintain a registry or links to directories of nurseries and other sources of native tree nursery stock to assist municipalities and other groups who wish to plant native species.

Stream/Wetlands Goal: Halt the loss and achieve a substantial increase in quality and extent of stream and wetland habitats.

"Substantial" will vary by region but generally represents a 30 % improvement. "Quality" should be defined by stream base flows, fish and indexes of diversity, percentage of banks with vegetation cover, provincial water quality standards for contamination, sediment input to wetlands.

Contaminated water can pose serious problems for livestock, farms and urban communities as well as wildlife. Protecting streams and water quality can seldom be achieved by an individual. It requires cooperation and community action. The benefits of healthy streams like fishing and swimmable water are large but occur downstream, making combined action necessary. Streams and wetlands are essential to many species including some that are endangered, additional reasons to take action now.

OBJECTIVE 9

Identify a minimum of 12 "Wetland and Stream Valley Opportunity Areas" (at least one per County or Region) where potential significant large wetland or stream valley blocks might be protected or restored through stewardship, conservation easement, or purchase.

ACTION PLAN 9-1

Recommend that all Remedial Action Plan Areas (RAPS), Counties completing official plans, and Conservation Authorities completing watershed plans:

• Complete stream valley and wetland mapping as part of their current process, where possible in a compatible GIS format;
• Identify "wetland and stream valley opportunity areas"
• Adopt measures and policies to support and encourage protection and restoration of significant wetlands and stream valleys; and
• Work cooperatively with "opportunity area"landowners, including First Nations, farmers and rural non-farm landowners to secure protection of significant wetlands and stream valleys.

Best Management Practices identify practical ways to protect surface and groundwater from contamination. Gradual progress is evident in the form of windbreaks, conservation tillage improved manure management and other practices. The challenge is how to speed up the awareness and participation. The Environmental Farm Plan Program is a practical program developed by farm organizations, but currently reaches less than 10 % of farms. A much higher participation rate is needed to ensure protection of the resource.

OBJECTIVE 10

Develop a strategy to increase participation in Environmental Farm Plans (EFP's)

ACTION PLAN 10-1

Meet with Environmental Farm Plan Working Group and the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association to discuss barriers to greater participation and to offer assistance.

ACTION PLAN 10-2

Recommend to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that the Carolinian region be designated as a pilot area for programs arising from their "Three Year Action Plan for Biodiversity"

OBJECTIVE 11

Develop a land stewardship program for rural non-farm property and hobby farms that corresponds to the Environmental Farm Plan.

ACTION PLAN 11-1

Encourage the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association to complete and distribute its plan.

Request that CLAWS, University of Guelph, in consultation with parties such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Federation of Ontario Naturalists etc., evaluate and report on the Carolinian Canada component in the "Master Steward Plan" and any complimentary plans, and recommend means to encourage wider application of suitable plans.

Prairie/Savannah Goal: Protect all significant remaining prairie/savannah habitats and restore the full range of native prairie/savannah communities in appropriate locations.

Prairie and savannah areas were identified as important remnant habitats in terms of diversity and rare species. However additional planning and action are needed to restore sites and protect the gene pool.

OBJECTIVE 12

Complete and publish a review of existing prairie and savannah sites, identify opportunities and priorities for action, and initiate at least one additional restoration site.

ACTION PLAN 12-1

Finalize the draft status report on tall grass prairies, and request that Ministry of Natural Resources convene a meeting of the Tall Grass Prairie Association and the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network to develop priorities for action and means to encourage appropriate local initiatives.

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