Topical issues in the Carolinian zone.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is an insect pest of all ash trees and is native to eastern Asia. It was discovered in Canada in 2002 and killed a large number of ash trees in Windsor and Detroit, Michigan area. More information at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. One aspect of the CFIA's response is the removal of all ash trees from an "ash free zone" between Chatham and Tilbury (see map). For more information see our April 2004 newsletter.

Marcy's Woods

Marcy's Woods is a property on Point Abino in the Town of Fort Erie, Niagara Region. Point Abino was identified as a Carolinian Canada site in 1984. It contains portions of a provincially significant wetland and Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. The Bert Miller Nature Club of Fort Erie have been working to protect Marcy's Woods for some time. In September, a Minister's zoning order was issued for the property preventing any development for a year while conservation options are pursued.

Mid Peninsula Highway, Niagara

The mid-peninsula highway is a highway proposed to run from Halton Region to the Niagara Region to provide a new controlled access highway through the middle of the Niagara Peninsula.

A draft Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference for the proposed Mid-Peninsula Highway across Hamilton and Niagara Region was proposed in early 2003. A Terms of Reference is the first formal stage in approval of an Individual Environmental Assessment. A Terms of Reference shapes how an Environment Assessment study will be carried out and what issues are included and excluded. This terms of reference has now been withdrawn.

More information: http://www.midpeninsulahighway.on.ca/

The proposed routes of the divided highway is shown on the map above. There are potential cumulative impacts on Carolinian species and habitats. Many natural areas could be affected by the highway and the development it would spawn.

Five leading environmental groups have said the proposal is too narrow in scope and too focused on a new highway as the only transportation solution for the region: http://www.ontarionature.org/news/template.php3?n_code=142

Also see: http://www.cope-nomph.org/

Smart Growth Panels and their Reports

The Ontario government has appointed a number of advisory panels to examine a "smart growth" strategy for Ontario.

Ontario government's Smart Growth web site and reports.

Federation of Ontario Naturalists stop urban sprawl page.

Read Carolinian Canada's comments on the Central Zone Panel report in PDF format. One key comment provided was that a natural heritage system for southern Ontario should be developed based on the "Big Picture" natural heritage analysis, watershed plans, environmentally significant areas and other natural area inventories.

St. Williams Crown Forests

The St. Williams Crown Forest is one of the largest tracts of forested land in Carolinian Canada. The Ministry of Natural resources has proposed to protect these lands as a Conservation Reserve, a move that Carolinian Canada wholeheartedly supports. Two separate tracts of public land (Nursery and Turkey Point Tracts) would be regulated as a Conservation Reserve under the Public Lands Act. The location of these two tracts are shown on the map to the left and in more detail in the map below (areas in green). A portion of this land, the Manestar property was purchased under the 1987-94 Carolinian Canada land acquisition program.

St. Williams was proposed as a protected area under a "signature site" proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources in April 20002. A Technical Advisory Group has made recommendations about the site's management. Their report can be found here.

Read Peter Carson's article about St. Williams Forests from the Wildlands League's Wildland News.

Red Hill Creek Valley

The Red Hill Creek Valley is Hamilton's natural area facing the threat of highway construction.

See the Friends of Red Hill Creek web site.