Report to the Premier on

Ontario’s Living Legacyby Hon. John Snobelen,

Minister of Natural Resources

March 29, 2001

March 29, 2001

Dear Premier Harris,

When you announced Ontario’s Living Legacy in March 1999, it represented a major milestonein natural heritage protection, and provided a land use strategy for an area covering 45 per cent ofour province. On the second anniversary of its launch, I am pleased to report that we have notonly exceeded our expectations for initial implementation of this strategy, we have expanded itinto a province-wide program. Today, Ontario’s Living Legacy is a cornerstone of thegovernment’s commitment to protect natural heritage and to build strong communities in everyregion of the province, balancing environmental and economic interests.

Ontario’s Living Legacy makes possible the establishment of 378 new parks and protected areastotalling 2.4 million hectares – the largest single expansion of parks anywhere. Included are ninesignature sites such as the Great Lakes Heritage Coast. Signature sites are areas with exceptionalnatural heritage features that warrant special protection and promotion. Ontario’s Living Legacyalso provides new and better opportunities for outdoor activities including fishing and hunting, aswell as expanded tourism potential.

Through its key component – the Ontario Forest Accord – Ontario’s Living Legacy providesgreater long-term security for resource-based industries, and is fostering a local business climatefor northern and rural communities that encourages growth and attracts investment. And, asrecent events have proven, the Forest Accord is helping Ontario’s forest industry to seize globalopportunities.

On March 23, 2001, I was privileged to begin a negotiation process with the Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) leading to formal recognition that Ontario’s forest management and forest industrypractices meet world environmental and social standards. The Forest Stewardship Council is aninternational non-profit organization with a mission to promote the environmentally appropriate,socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. Ontario will bethe first jurisdiction in the world to gain FSC certification. This is an outstanding achievementfor our province. Certification will improve our industry’s capability to assure people in theinternational marketplace that products produced from Ontario’s Crown forests are the result ofsustainable practices that do not damage the environment.

2

I believe the confidence shown by the Forest Stewardship Council in our provincial forestmanagement standards and practices can be related directly to the partnership among the forestindustry, the environmental community, and the government that is the basis for the historicOntario Forest Accord. Ontario has fundamentally changed the relationship between the forestindustry and the environmental community, setting an example for the world to follow.

The Ontario Forest Accord Advisory Board is responsible for overseeing the on-the-groundimplementation of the Accord. The Board comprises equal representation from the forestindustry, the Partnership for Public Lands (an environmental coalition) and the Ministry ofNatural Resources. The Board’s recent interim report to me showed progress in key areas, mostnotably agreement on a mechanism for sharing the forest resource into the future. The reportexpressed confidence that there will be room for growth in new parkland, room for growth inwood supply for industry, and room for growth in jobs for the people of Ontario.

We are proud of our success to date in implementing the first steps toward achieving the goals ofOntario’s Living Legacy and the Ontario Forest Accord. This success is built on a solidfoundation of widespread support and partnership from industry, environmental groups, anglers,hunters, cottager associations, local municipalities, tourism associations, and individuals. Successcan also be attributed to the work of the three Round Tables, whose recommendations during theLands for Life consultation process formed the basis of Ontario’s Living Legacy.

Over two years, the public’s support and enthusiasm for Ontario’s Living Legacy has allowedus to broaden its mandate. In November 2000, Mr. Premier, you announced more than $100-million in funding to expand Ontario’s Living Legacy into a province-wide initiative – making itthe most comprehensive, long-term program of natural heritage protection in our province’shistory. The expanded program includes new funding for species at risk, programs to improvefish and wildlife habitat, the acquisition of ecologically sensitive lands, and jobs and training foryoung people in resource management. We featured the many facets of Ontario’s Living Legacyat the recent Toronto Sportsmen’s Show and received a wonderful response from show visitors.

I am pleased to submit this report on our progress to date and future directions. We look forwardto maintaining momentum, adding to our achievements, building new partnerships, and meetingthe challenges of implementing this ambitious and far-reaching initiative.

Hon. John SnobelenMinister

Ontario’s Living LegacyProgress Report to March 2001

Ontario’s Living Legacy is a major milestonein protection of natural heritage,ecosystems and biodiversity. It is also animportant economic strategy, providinggreater long-term security for resource-based industries such as forestry andmining, more opportunities for outdoorrecreational activities including fishing andhunting, and a boost for resource-basedtourism. Announced on March 29, 1999, thisinnovative and comprehensive strategy isthe product of the broadest publicconsultation on land use in Ontario’shistory.

New Parks and Protected Areas

Ontario’s Living Legacy established 378 newparks and protected areas, bringing the totalamount of provincial parks and protected areasin Ontario to 9.5 million hectares. Whencompleted, Ontario’s system will total 650parks and protected areas. The process toformally regulate the new provincial parks andconservation reserves under the ProvincialParks Act and the Public Lands Act includesundertaking public consultation and Aboriginaldiscussions.

• Regulation of new parks and protectedareas is well under way. Forty-six newparks have been regulated so far. (All 378new areas are under interim protection untilthe formal regulation process is completed.)

• Reconnaissance Inventories, 70 RecreationalReconnaissance Inventories, and six detailedEarth and Life Science Inventories willconfirm the presence of significant naturalvalues.

• Interim management statements have beendrafted or completed for 16 of 20 newparks. Statements of Conservation Interesthave been prepared, drafted or completedfor 28 of 30 new conservation reserves.These statements set the managementobjectives for the protected areas.

• Proposals have been submitted for designand project management of visitor centres inKillarney, Killbear, and Lake Superiorprovincial parks, and the French River ParkVoyageur Historic Centre.

The Ontario Forest Accord

The Ontario Forest Accord is a precedent-setting approach by government, the forestindustry and the environmental community towork together to establish new protected areaswhile considering the needs of the forestindustry for a sustainable wood supply. TheAccord forges an important new relationshipfor the protection of natural features in Ontario.It also affirms that Ontario’s forest industrymeets sustainable forest managementstandards.

• Minister Snobelen has visited Europe,Australia, New Zealand and Mexico topromote the Ontario Forest Accord andOntario’s Living Legacy.

• A bilateral negotiation process began inMarch 2001 that will lead to formalrecognition from the Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) that Ontario’s forestmanagement and forest industry practicesmeet world environmental and socialstandards. Ontario will be the first

jurisdiction in the world to receive thisinternational “green stamp” of approval.

• A State of the Accord interim report wassubmitted to Minister Snobelen in February2001 by the Ontario Forest AccordAdvisory Board (OFAAB) outliningprogress in key areas.

• An agreement has been reached by theOFAAB members on the “Room to Grow”principle, which provides a mechanism forsharing the forest resource into the future.

• The OFAAB expects to reach anunderstanding on all 31 Accordcommitments by December 31, 2001.

• A comprehensive review of forestmanagement guidelines is complete and anaction plan is being prepared.

Nine Signature Sites

Signature Sites are areas containing significantnatural or cultural heritage values that warrantspecial protection and promotion. They are:Great Lakes Heritage Coast, KawarthaHighlands, Nipigon Basin, AlgomaHeadwaters, St. Raphael, Nagagamisis,Killarney, Spanish River Valley and WoodlandCaribou.

• Public consultation has begun on threesignature sites – the Great Lakes HeritageCoast, the Kawartha Highlands and theNipigon Basin.

• Work is under way to consolidate availableinformation on natural resources values anduses, some data collection, and preliminaryconsultation with stakeholders and FirstNations.

Great Lakes Heritage Coast

The Great Lakes Heritage Coast signature siteis a spectacular sweep of shoreline, stretching2,900 kilometres from Port Severn on GeorgianBay, up and across the North Channel of LakeHuron to Sault Ste. Marie, and around thenorth shore of Lake Superior to theinternational border. There are 25 FirstNations reserves and more than 20communities within or near the Heritage Coast.The people, communities, industries andorganizations along this coastline are workingtogether to determine the best ways to shape,develop and implement the concept of the GreatLakes Heritage Coast.

• Extensive public consultation on the GreatLakes Heritage Coast signature site tookplace from August to October 2000,following release of a discussion papertitled Imagine the Possibilities.Recommendations based on thisconsultation will be provided to theMinister in April 2001.

• Communications materials to promotepublic participation in the consultationprocess and to promote the natural andcultural values of the Heritage Coast includea video narrated by Pierre Berton, posters, abook of text and photographs outlining thehistory of the area and its people, and aweb site.

• Champions of the Coast are individuals whohave excelled in various walks of life andwho grew up along the Coast or have aspecial appreciation for the area. To datethere are 19 Champions: Bobby Orr,Roberta Bondar, Morley Torgov, Phil andTony Esposito, Ken Danby, Pierre Berton,Paul Shaffer, Ted Nolan, CharlieFarquharson (Don Harron), DomenicFilane, Dr. Fred Gilbert, Al Hackner, CurtHarnett, Bob Izumi, Gary and JoannieMcGuffin, Gary Polonsky, and GregLotysz.

Kawartha Highlands

The Kawartha Highlands signature site is thelargest protected area south of AlgonquinProvincial Park, covering 35,518 hectares andincluding Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.Situated on the southern edge of the CanadianShield, 50 kilometres north of Peterborough,Kawartha Highlands features a rugged, rollinglandscape of small lakes, wetlands, forest androcky barrens.

• Minister Snobelen launched the publicconsultation process on the KawarthaHighlands signature site in July 2000.

• A stakeholder committee is leading the publicconsultation process to developrecommendations for the most appropriatedesignation for the area, to finalize theboundary and to develop managementpolicies.

• The stakeholder committee has hosted sixopen houses. More than 50 presentationswere made, involving approximately 400persons.

• A tender has been awarded to map all roadsand trails in the area, and a public web sitehas been established with informationcovering a range of topics including mapsshowing trap lines, current access andwatersheds.

Nipigon Basin

The Nipigon Basin signature site covers morethan one million hectares and stretches fromWabakimi Provincial Park in the north to theGreat Lakes Heritage Coast in the south. Thecentrepiece of this signature site is Lake Nipigon,the largest lake contained entirely withinOntario’s boundaries. The lake is known for itsunusual green-black sandy beaches and toweringshoreline cliffs and is home to many rare andunusual plants and animal species.

• Minister Snobelen launched a publicconsultation process on the Nipigon Basinsignature site in January 2001.

• A project team is working with municipalitiesand First Nations to develop a strategy thatwill protect the basin’s ecosystems, whileallowing for tourism and recreationaldevelopment. The team is gathering scientificdata, public input, and backgroundinformation to be presented at public openhouses in late spring 2001.

• A newsletter is being distributed to the publicand is available at MNR District Offices inThunder Bay and Nipigon.

Fish and Wildlife

The Fish and Wildlife component of Ontario’sLiving Legacy aims to increase and enhancefishing, hunting and outdoor recreationopportunities. This will be accomplished throughlocal community projects to increase fishstocking, restore habitat, accelerate wildlifespecies reintroduction programs, and acquirenew knowledge to improve resourcemanagement. Projects will also be undertaken tomarket Ontario as a destination for anglers,hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Examples of the more than 200 projects underway or completed include:• Increased fish stocking• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

invading species hotline• Support for a provincial elk re-introduction

program• A wild turkey trap-and-transfer partnership• Partnership funding with the Eastern Habitat

Joint Venture for wetland purchase andimprovements

• Increased levels of enforcement activity,including a Deputy Conservation Officerprogram

• Bobwhite quail trap-and-transfer program insouthwestern Ontario

Species at Risk

Ontario's Living Legacy is helping to protectprovincial plants, animals and birds at risk byproviding funds to develop and implement speciesrecovery programs. Funds are also being usedto encourage public participation in conservationand protection efforts, and to support publicresource stewardship programs.

• Memoranda of Understanding have beensigned with:§ World Wildlife Fund Canada for the

Endangered Species Recovery Fund;§ The Royal Ontario Museum Foundation

to do initial stages of construction of abiodiversity display at the ROM and aweb site;

§ Bird Studies Canada for mapping and forwork on Vulnerable, Threatened andEndangered birds in conjunction with thenext phase of the Breeding Bird Atlas;

§ World Wildlife Fund Canada for TallgrassPrairie project.

• Ontario’s contribution to the NationalPeregrine Falcon Survey, conducted everyfive years, is completed. MNR confirms 53breeding sites and 40 nest sites, and haslocated 18 new sites and more than 100potential cliff sites.

• Additional inventory, monitoring andassessment work is under way for woodlandcaribou, wolverine, deepwater cisco, andother species – as a basis for developingrecovery strategies.

• Recovery teams will lead the developmentand implementation of recovery strategies fora number of threatened and endangeredspecies, including Woodland Caribou, theWood Turtle and the Spotted Turtle.

• A bilateral agreement with the federalgovernment is being drafted on jurisdictionalroles and responsibilities on the protection ofspecies at risk in Ontario.

Legacy Landmarks

Ontario’s Living Legacy is providing funds forcapital works projects to showcase naturalresources, promote recreational activities, andexpand recreational and tourism potential.

• The Ministry of Natural Resources isworking with partners to develop LegacyLandmarks such as visitor centres, naturetrails, signage, wildlife viewing platforms,interpretive and cultural centres.

Resource StewardshipAgreements

A key objective of Ontario’s Living Legacy is todevelop tourism potential. Resource StewardshipAgreements between the resource-based tourismindustry and the forest industry will help achievethis objective by providing greater certainty aboutavailable land base. This in turn providesgreater long-term investment security.

• Tourism and forestry industryrepresentatives, and the Minister of NaturalResources, the Minister of NorthernDevelopment and Mines, and the Minister ofthe former Ministry of Tourism signed aMemorandum of Understanding to negotiateresource stewardship agreements.

• A draft “Guide to Resource StewardshipAgreements” has been developed,incorporating criteria for mapping tourismvalues.

• Tourism Guidelines have been revised andposted on the Environmental Bill of Rightsregistry.

Science, Data and Information

Work to improve information on Ontario’snatural resources has begun in all resourcemanagement programs including Fish andWildlife, Forest Management, Parks, CrownLands and Waters, and Fire Management. Thirtymajor projects and many smaller projects linkedto these are being carried out across the province

Projects supported by funding from Ontario’sLiving Legacy include:• Creation of a database that will set, upgrade

and verify simple factors for the accuratecalculation of volumes of wood harvestedfrom Crown land for use by the forestindustry and MNR.

• Completion of Silvicultural EffectivenessMonitoring Manuals, updated records anddesign for an electronic database.

• First phase of a network of WildlifeAssessment Permanent Sample Plots to beused in long-term monitoring of wildlifeindicators used in the evaluation of forestecosystem health.

• Efforts to improve the ability of resourcemanagers to quantify water use by watershedand drainage basin.

Round Table Recommendations

Ontario’s Living Legacy is the direct outcome ofthe Lands for Life public consultation process.Three Round Tables – each containingrepresentatives of environmentalist groups,tourist operators, recreational users, the forestindustry and people who work in resource-basedindustries – toured the province to get publicinput before making recommendations to theMinister of Natural Resources. Most of the 242recommendations from the Round Tables wereaccepted, and implementation is progressing onseveral fronts.

• Science partnerships have been or are beingestablished for:§ Ontario Science and Information Council§ Science management forum for Ontario§ Research and Technology Transfer with

Tembec, Bowater and the CanadianForest Service.

• A new approach to future land use andnatural resource planning on Crown land isunder development to meet land use planningrecommendations made by the Round Tables.

First Nations

Discussions with First Nations are an importantcomponent of Ontario’s Living Legacyimplementation and are being conducted at theprovincial Treaty Organization or Tribal Councillevel.

• A Memorandum of Understanding has beensigned with the Union of Ontario Indians fora Resource Management Council.

• A Memorandum of Understanding has beensigned with Grand Council Treaty #3.

• A Memorandum of Understanding has beendrafted for two Union of Ontario Indian staffto co-ordinate Living Legacy communityconsultations and support.

• Initial contact has been made withNishnawbe-Aski Nation to develop animproved relationship with MNR.

• Jobs and economic developmentopportunities are being created as a result ofconstruction of a fire attack base in thePikangikum area north of Red Lake.

Jobs for Young People

The Ministry of Natural Resources places a highpriority on involving young people in hands-onworking and learning programs to supportimplementation of Ontario’s Living Legacyobjectives and other stewardship programs.

• In 2000, $10-million was approved bygovernment to create more than 2,000 jobopportunities for youth.

• Through six employment programs, theministry created a unique opportunity toinvolve young people directly in Ontario’sLiving Legacy and in other MNR resourcestewardship programs to expandunderstanding and appreciation of our naturalheritage.

Future Directions

Over the next year we will be working tomaintain momentum and move forward with newinitiatives. We will continue to regulate newparks and protected areas. We will create moreoutdoor recreation opportunities through parksand signature sites. We will expand existingpartnerships and develop new ones. We willcontinue to implement the Forest Accordcommitments, and maintain the strong workingrelationship with environmentalists and the forestindustry. We will create new opportunities forinvestment in resource-based tourism and expandOntario’s tourism potential. We will continue toraise awareness of the importance of Ontario’sLiving Legacy and encourage more publicparticipation in resource management projects.The public is invited to experience Ontario’sLiving Legacy first-hand. Living Legacy Day inProvincial Parks – with free day-use admission –will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2001.

For more information please visit:www.ontarioslivinglegacy.com

Ontario’s

Living Legacy

announced

• 378 new parks and

protected areas

• resource security

• tourism potential

• more hunting

and fishing

March 29

Interim protection

extended to parks and

protected areas

Living Legacy Trust

established

Ontario

Forest Accord

signed

Forest Accord Advisory Board

established. Hold first meeting

Province contributes to

acquisition of Glen Eagles

property for addition to

The Rouge

June 22

Public consultation begins

on 64 new parks and

protected areas

MNR and partners

purchase 3,100 hectares

of alvar lands on

Manitoulin Island under

Ontario Parks

Legacy 2000 program

October 19

Great Lakes Heritage

Coast project

established

January 27 GLHC public

consultation launched

April May June July August September October November December January February March

Ontario’s Living Legacy ImplementationMarch 1999 to March 31, 2000

March

660 hectares donated

to The Rouge and

funds allocated for

future expansion

April 15

Cheltenham Badlands

purchased through

Natural Areas

Protection Program

December 15

600 hectares added to

protected areas on the

Niagara Escarpment

March 21

Ontario Invests

$10 Million for youth

employment

April 13

Minister promotes Good

Forest Management in

Europe

June 2

Ontario Forest Accord

Serves as Global Model

June 6

Process launched to make

Kawartha Highlands Signature Site

a reality

July 13

Great Lakes Heritage Coast

discussion paper released

August 9

GLHC public consultation tour

Kawartha Highlands

public meetings

September to November

Living Legacy Trust

funds projects

September 27

Progress report on

implementation of

Forest Accord

March 8

“Living Legacy Day in Ontario

Parks” announced - free day

use at provincial parks on

June 24th

March 3

Government commits

$100 million to expand

Living Legacy into the most

comprehensive natural heritage

program in provincial history• Four new visitors’ centres planned

for GLHC

• Stewardship Rangers to work

on Don River in 2001

November 23

Ontario creates

2,300 natural

resource jobs for

young people

January 30

$230,000 for

Species at Risk

partnerships

March 9

Ontario earmarked as

first jurisdiction in

world to receive

environmental Forest

Certification

March 23

More jobs for

youth in 2001

August 24

$351,857 to enhance

recreation and improve

public safety in protected

areas of the Niagara

Escarpment, Rouge Valley

and the Lynde Marsh

May 11

Ontario’s Living Legacy ImplementationApril 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001

Lake Nipigon Basin

Signature Site project

under way

January 22Lynde Marsh

wetlands protected

February 21

Natural Areas

Protection Program

spends $5.1 million in

2000-2001

to acquire

21 ecologically

significant properties

April May June July August September October November December January February March

Nine new protected

areas regulated

Ten new protected

areas regulated

27 new protected

areas regulated

Memorandum of

Understanding signed

to pave the way for

Resource Stewardship

Agreements between

tourism and forestry

industries

A total of 46

protected areas and

parks have been

regulated

End of March