Photo by Betty Campbell
Conservation Matters, May 2009
by Ken Young
The NCC's Review of the Greenbelt
The National Capital Commission is conducting a review of the Greenbelt. A coalition of like-minded organizations has been created to present the environmental and recreational benefits of the Greenbelt, and press for their enhancement. In particular, the coalition will seek legal protection of the Greenbelt boundaries under a Federal Act of Parliament.
There are nine non-governmental and five municipally-sponsored groups in the Greenbelt Coalition, although that could increase over time. The OFNC is one of the partners, and through the Conservation Committee, participates in its activities.
Currently the Coalition is developing position papers, creating a web site and similar activities in preparation for the public debate which will occur over the two-year span of the NCC review.
Public support for preserving the Greenbelt appears to be very strong, and the Coalition's initial meetings with NCC staff and municipal politicians have been positive. However, we can also expect that the development industry will be urging that some parts of the Greenbelt be made available for building. They will probably be supported in that by the City of Ottawa planning staff. The Conservation Committee has previously alerted OFNC members to the faulty analyses of the Greenbelt that have been made by city planners. One of the main dangers to the Greenbelt is "death by a thousand cuts", which individually may seem reasonable to the general public. Hence the objective of legal protection for the Greenbelt boundaries.
The Larose Forest
A member of the conservation committee (Christine Hanrahan) continues to represent the OFNC at meetings of the Prescott-Russell Forest Advisory Committee. Prospects for preserving the Larose Forest have greatly improved as a result of the efforts of this committee. It brought local people with a wide range of interests together with representatives of other organizations and staff of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. Working together, the committee is able to resolve conflicts that may arise over differing uses of the forest. This is a model for how local residents, assisted by experts from organizations like the OFNC, can conserve natural places for posterity.
South March Highlands Management Plan
Members of the Conservation Committee (Stan Rosenbaum and Christine Hanrahan) are monitoring developments. They attended a public meeting in Kanata, hosted by City environmental planner David Miller. One of the problems being addressed is conflicting demands related to trail use.
Environmental Items in the Federal Budget
We sent emails to members of the Senate concerning items in Part 7 of Bill C-10 (the federal budget) that remove the need for or fast-track environmental assessments, and remove various protections under the Navigable Waters Protection Act. Four senators replied saying that they are referring non-stimulus subject matters to senate committees. They felt compelled not to defeat Bill C-10, but aim to prevent some changes from taking effect.
Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) Control Project
This project started last year, and the MNR is planning to continue it this year using motorized methods in high infestation areas, and volunteer workers elsewhere. The Conservation Committee will consider the possibility of participation again this summer by OFNC volunteers.
Gatineau Park Coalition
The OFNC continues to be a member group of this coalition. Its main aim is to achieve legal protection of the park boundaries, so that no lands could be removed from the park without approval of Parliament.
Contribution to Nature Conservancy of Canada Purchases
The Conservation Committee had previously recommended that OFNC make a contribution towards the Conservancy's purchase of the 1,000-acre Elbow Lake property. A donation of $100,000 was made. Later in 2008 the committee recommended a further contribution to the Conservancy towards purchase of property at Wolf Grove. As a result, a donation amount of $23,000 will be made to the conservancy this year. These donations were possible as a result of two recent bequests from former OFNC members.
Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park
A letter was sent opposing proposed expansion of hunting, especially that it would allow hunting of various species including Snapping Turtles, for which there was no analysis of possible effect on this slow-to-reproduce species. The Ministry disallowed most of the proposals but did extend the bear hunting season to include the Labour Day weekend. We suspect that was what they intended in the first place, and put in the other things so as to give an impression that they listened to us.
