Cootes to Escarpment Park SystemCootes to Escarpment Park System

A Conservation VisionA Conservation Vision

An Update for March 2011An Update for March 2011Dr. David Galbraith, Royal Botanical GardensDr. David Galbraith, Royal Botanical Gardens

Steve Miazga, Hamilton Region Conservation AuthoritySteve Miazga, Hamilton Region Conservation Authority

Ours is an area of spectacular natural beauty

Hundreds of thousands of people use the area for recreation

Over 1,500 species of animals and plants call this area home

Natural AreasNatural Areas 27 existing parks27 existing parks

• 1500 hectares/ 3700 acres of publicly owned lands 1500 hectares/ 3700 acres of publicly owned lands

• World Biosphere ReserveWorld Biosphere Reserve

Niagara Escarpment & Cootes Paradise MarshNiagara Escarpment & Cootes Paradise Marsh

Major Heritage LandsMajor Heritage Lands• Cootes ParadiseCootes Paradise

• Borer- Rock ChapelBorer- Rock Chapel

• Burlington HeightsBurlington Heights

• Waterdown-Sassafras WoodsWaterdown-Sassafras Woods

•Lower GrindstoneLower Grindstone

• Clappison-Grindstone Clappison-Grindstone

Ecological HighlightsEcological Highlights• Canada’s natural biodiversity hotspot located Canada’s natural biodiversity hotspot located

in the Great Lakes Watershedin the Great Lakes Watershed• 25% of all wild plant species in Canada25% of all wild plant species in Canada• Nearly 40% of all plant species in OntarioNearly 40% of all plant species in Ontario

• Species at Risk: 50+Species at Risk: 50+

• Last piece of Escarpment not separated from Last piece of Escarpment not separated from Lake Ontario by a 400 series highwayLake Ontario by a 400 series highway

• Areas of Natural and Scientific InterestAreas of Natural and Scientific Interest• Provincially Significant WetlandsProvincially Significant Wetlands• Important Amphibian and Reptile AreaImportant Amphibian and Reptile Area• Important Bird AreaImportant Bird Area• Environmentally Sensitive/Significant AreasEnvironmentally Sensitive/Significant Areas

Urban Growth PressuresUrban Growth Pressures• Increasing fragmentation (roads, rail lines, housing, etc.)Increasing fragmentation (roads, rail lines, housing, etc.)• Patchwork of small natural areas remains, each valuable but isolated Patchwork of small natural areas remains, each valuable but isolated

and ultimately unsustainableand ultimately unsustainable• By 2031 the human population in the area will grow to an astounding By 2031 the human population in the area will grow to an astounding

1.4 million people1.4 million people

Hamilton & HaltonHamilton & HaltonCurrently pop. of 914,000Currently pop. of 914,000

+146,000 by 2011+146,000 by 2011

+526,000 by 2031+526,000 by 2031

The project partners thank the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous support.

Intended Only as a Guide

Study Area Identified in 2007

Stakeholder and Public Consultation

Public Workshops in 2008

Stakeholder and Public Consultation

Public Workshops in 2008

VisionVisionThe Cootes to Escarpment Park System will be known internationally as a The Cootes to Escarpment Park System will be known internationally as a

protected, permanent and connected natural lands sanctuary from the protected, permanent and connected natural lands sanctuary from the

Harbour to the Escarpment that promotes ecosystem and human health Harbour to the Escarpment that promotes ecosystem and human health

within Ontario’s Greenbeltwithin Ontario’s Greenbelt

MissionMissionTo collaboratively continue preserving and enhancing the natural lands To collaboratively continue preserving and enhancing the natural lands

using a sustainable approach that balances natural ecosystem health with using a sustainable approach that balances natural ecosystem health with

responsible human appreciation and activities to achieve the visionresponsible human appreciation and activities to achieve the vision

Cootes to Escarpment Park SystemCootes to Escarpment Park System

Phase II Report - 2009

• Completed late 2009• Detailed report on the

vision and potential for the Park System concept

• Formed the basis for submissions to the Boards and Councils

Vision Summary

• 16 page illustrated booklet to convey the vision also produced late 2009

GoalsGoals1.1. Create a Park System that will help fulfill the province’s promise Create a Park System that will help fulfill the province’s promise

to establish a broad band of permanently protected greenspace to establish a broad band of permanently protected greenspace in Ontario’s Greenbeltin Ontario’s Greenbelt

2.2. Facilitate sustainable recreation where appropriateFacilitate sustainable recreation where appropriate

Conservation ObjectivesConservation Objectives

Natural HeritageNatural Heritage

RecreationRecreation

Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage

InterpretationInterpretation

ManagementManagement

Creating a Park SystemCreating a Park System The Park System will form one of the world’s most significant urban The Park System will form one of the world’s most significant urban

protected areas, much larger than Hyde Park in London, England, protected areas, much larger than Hyde Park in London, England,

Central Park in New York or the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, FranceCentral Park in New York or the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, France

Recommended GovernanceRecommended Governance• Cootes to Escarpment Park System Management NetworkCootes to Escarpment Park System Management Network

• PartnershipsPartnerships

•Launch event Feb. 6, 2010 at RBG Launch event Feb. 6, 2010 at RBG Nature Interpretive CentreNature Interpretive Centre

•Ted McMeekin statement of support Ted McMeekin statement of support in Legislative Assembly of Ontario, in Legislative Assembly of Ontario, April April 20102010

•Stakeholder hike, Oct. 2010Stakeholder hike, Oct. 2010

Community and stakeholder Community and stakeholder engagementengagement

CommunicationsCommunications•Phase II report published Oct. 2009Phase II report published Oct. 2009•Project website (www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca) Project website (www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca) and Facebook groupand Facebook group

•Poster for Greenbelts Conference (March 2011)Poster for Greenbelts Conference (March 2011)•Park system site tour during Greenbelts Conference Park system site tour during Greenbelts Conference (March 2011)(March 2011)

•Funding secured to develop communications and Funding secured to develop communications and marketing planmarketing plan

FundingFundingFriends of the Greenbelt FoundationFriends of the Greenbelt Foundation

• $50,000 over one year $50,000 over one year

Ontario Trillium FoundationOntario Trillium Foundation• $149,800 over two years $149,800 over two years

Working together Working together • Vision approved in principle by all project partners Vision approved in principle by all project partners • Terms of Reference for Steering CommitteeTerms of Reference for Steering Committee• Collaborative Project AgreementCollaborative Project Agreement• New Project Manager, full-time as of Dec. 1, 2010New Project Manager, full-time as of Dec. 1, 2010• Funding secured for development of governance modeFunding secured for development of governance modell

Activities in 2011Activities in 2011

1.1.Land securement strategyLand securement strategy2.2.Governance modelGovernance model3.3.Communications and marketing planCommunications and marketing plan4.4.FundraisingFundraising5.5.Continue to engage with stakeholders and Continue to engage with stakeholders and decision-makersdecision-makers

Realizing a Conservation Vision:Realizing a Conservation Vision:A Future to CelebrateA Future to Celebrate

The creation of the Cootes to Escarpment Park System will The creation of the Cootes to Escarpment Park System will be an achievement to celebrate and share with the worldbe an achievement to celebrate and share with the world

With support and commitment from the communities of the With support and commitment from the communities of the area, we can make this conservation vision a reality and area, we can make this conservation vision a reality and leave an exemplary environmental legacy for future leave an exemplary environmental legacy for future generationsgenerations