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CVC Stewardship Forum 2012
Green Infrastructure Ontario (GIO) Coalition
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation
• The coalition is an alliance of organizations that share a common vision of a healthy green Ontario in which the economic, social, environmental and health benefits of green infrastructure are fully realized, protected, maintained and enhanced.
• Diverse membership• Industry, business and professional associations• Municipalities • Academia• Non-profit organizations• Agencies and conservation authorities
Green infrastructure is defined as natural vegetation and vegetative technologies that collectively provide society with a broad array of products and services.
• urban forests and woodlots• wetlands, waterways and riparian zones • meadows and agricultural lands • green roofs and green walls• parks, gardens and landscaped areas• bioswales, engineered wetlands and stormwater ponds
Green Infrastructure Types
Healthy Green Infrastructure = Healthy Communities
air quality
psychological wellness
water quality
community cohesion
recreation
UVR protection
storm water management
urban biodiversity
energy savings
carbon storage and sequestration
wildlife habitat
infrastructure repair savings
urban heat island mitigation
safe communities
higher property values
The IssueGreen infrastructure provides a multitude of economic, social, environmental and health benefits, most of which are not fully recognized in current policies and public investment formulas.
Coalition’s PurposeTo build a strong and convincing case for a shift in public and private policies and investment formulas.
Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario • Strong business case for
investment in green infrastructure
• Top four challenges • Six recommendations for
Government of Ontario • Municipal role
Benefits to human health
• Cooler cities = fewer incidences of heat-associated illnesses (e.g. heat stroke)
• Air pollution removal: 855 tonnes of pollutants annually in Peel = fewer incidences of respiratory illnesses
Case Examples: Benefits of Green Infrastructure
Visit our website: www.greeninfrastructureontario.org
CVC Stewardship Forum 2012
Landscape Character, Species and Benefits to People
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation
TRCACVC
Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA)
693 Species Not Found in Urban Portion
Biodiversity Should Be Biodistribution
• Consider how species and human wellbeing may benefit more from a “biodistribution” approach than from traditional biodiversity conservation approaches.
• Where there are…species, there are ecosystems and associated benefits
• Why do we value rarity and not abundance? • Biodistribution is distributing different species at different
scales as prescriptions for human wellbeing
Outline
1. Biodiversity should be Biodistribution 2. Species and Ecosystem Benefits 3. Species and Landscape Character 4. Prescriptions for Landscape Character 5. Summary
1. BIODIVERSITY TO BIODISTRIBUTION
Biodiversity
“"Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”
– Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) http://www.cbd.int/convention/articles/?a=cbd-02
Despite Good Intentions
• The intent: • biodiversity strategies often state “... we depend on biodiversity...
biodiversity is for human wellbeing...”
• The tendency: • protection of rare species and remnant features more than
planning for ecosystem services in human communities
• The result: • a disconnect between intended human wellbeing and
conservation actions• particularly in urban landscapes, where need for ecosystem
services is greatest while significant natural features and rare species tend to be absent
1. Select Better Indicators of Wellbeing (Bio)
• We often promote the idea that rare species are better indicators of ecosystem health than other species • These are the species we value enough to protect • Not protecting other species predisposes them to rarity• When common turns to rare = great loss of ecosystem benefits
• The irony: • Growing list of “better indicators of health” (rare things) actually
indicates a progressively unhealthy landscape for people
• Becoming wellbeing-relevant: • Establish the value of non-rare species toward wellbeing
(based on species-ecosystem-benefits relationship)
2. Select Better Scale of Management (Distrib.)
• Implementing provincial-scale biodiversity objectives • Need for ecosystem services at neighbourhood scale • (home, work, school, play, etc.) • Obscured at provincial scale
• Becoming wellbeing-relevant: • Determine the scale at which ecosystem benefits are needed• Promote (distribute) species/ecosystem accordingly
(based on species-ecosystem-benefits relationship)
2. SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS
“Bio”
Let’s Look at that Relationship
• The following examples use bird species suites
>>> >>>
• But other species suites can be used…
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
Eastern Meadowlark – Farm and Field
• Species Suite: • Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow,
Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, American Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, European Hare, Garter Snake,…
• Ecosystem Type: • Meadow (forb, grassland) • Pasture and hay fields
• Ecosystem Benefits: • Some stormwater interception and
groundwater infiltration • Local food
House Sparrow – Buildings
• Species Suite: • European Starling, Rock Dove
(Pigeon),…
• Ecosystem Type: • Nest on buildings• Feeds on urban scraps
• Ecosystem Benefits: • Poor association to ecosystem
benefits • (Indicate buildings!)
American Robin – Young Suburbs
• Species Suite:• Northern Cardinal, Chipping
Sparrow, House Finch, Cedar Waxwing, Grey Squirrel,…
• Ecosystem Type: • As little as a single, young tree on
a residential lot
• Ecosystem Benefits: • Natural aesthetics of a household,
office or school throughout the day (mental health, better grades)
• Property value • (Young neighbourbhood – few
ecosystem services)
Downy Woodpecker – Old Neighbourhoods
• Species Suite:• Baltimore Oriole, Blue Jay, Black-
capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, American Toad, Eastern Cottontail,…
• Ecosystem Type: • Forest, including street/backyard
• Ecosystem Benefits: • As vegetation matures –
increased natural aesthetics, property value, stormwater interception, protection from ultraviolet rays, air quality and moderation of urban heat island effect
Wood Thrush – Forest, Nature Trails
• Species Suite:• Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Screech Owl, White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Creek Chub,…
• Ecosystem Type: • Mature mixed forests • Often along nature trail systems
• Ecosystem Benefits: • Outdoor physical activity• Alternative transportation• Bird migration • Social events in larger parks (High
Park)
Black-throated Green Warbler – Large Forests
• Species Suite:• Northern Goshawk, Winter Wren,
Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Ovenbird, Veery, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Brook Trout,…
• Ecosystem Type: • Larger, mature mixed forests,
swamps with lateral structure
• Ecosystem Benefits: • Stormwater interception,
groundwater infiltration • Diversity of life; complex systems • Extensive areas for hiking,
mountain biking, cross-country skiing
Selected Species Benefits to People • Local food • Buildings: homes, businesses• Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Bird migration• Better school grades • Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways • Source water protection
Better Indicators of Wellbeing
3. SPECIES AND LANDSCAPE CHARACTER
“Distribution”
TRCA’s Landscape Character: Today
SuburbsDowntown
Is this an appropriate landscape character?
TRCA’s Landscape Character: Tomorrow?
SuburbsDowntown
4. PRESCRIPTIONS FOR LANDSCAPE CHARACTER
“Biodistribution”
Better Scale of Distribution
Biodistribution at home, work, school
near home, work, school
within a daytrip
Benefits to People • Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Migratory birds • Better school grades • Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways • Source water protection
Can We Quantify Those Scales?
• At home, work and school • Near home, work and school • Within daytrip distance
At Home, Office or School (10 hectare or < 5 minute walk away)
Near Home, Office or School (5,000 hectares or < 3 km away)
Weekend Daytrip (50,000 hectares or < one hour drive away)
A Prescription for Wellbeing?
With this Template or Prescription, We Can Ask
Is this an appropriate landscape character?
SUMMARY: BIODISTRIBUTION
Summary
• None of those species are rare but they are valued • Should all species be protected through legislation? No,
because now…
… the desired wellbeing drives species abundance
Biodistribution for Human Wellbeing
• Indicators• Engage people to use species as descriptors of landscape and
wellbeing.
• How do we benefit from this species characterizing this region, our neighbourhood?
• What species/character/benefits should/could we prescribe?
• Grid Scales • Engage decision-makers in developing prescriptions for a
landscape character based on needs for ecosystem services (benefits) at different scales.
Opportunities
• iTree Plot Research: species and health relationships • SNAPs: Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plans • LID: Low Impact Development
Thank You
• Also thanks to: • David Lawrie, Patricia Moleirinho, Louise Aubin, Sue Hayes,
Paul Prior, Deb Martin Downes, Fabio Tonto, Colleen Cirillo
• Photos: bing.com/images
QUESTIONS?
Lionel Normand and Noah Gaetz Toronto and Region Conservation Downsview, Ontario, Canada [email protected] ; [email protected]://www.trca.on.ca/
Colleen Cirillo [email protected]
Historical TRCA Landscape Character: Natural
Water management Good temperature But not so good for shelter and food
More Recent Landscape Character: Agricultural
Food but with: Siltation
We Tried This Landscape Character: All Urban
Shelter but with: Urban heat effect Flooding
TRCA Landscape Character Today: Mixed
Example: Species Protection Area protected by the Species at Risk Act: <5% of the total surface area. “Species legislation” contributes little to “ecosystem services” at the regional scale.
• We tried for decades to turn people into naturalists based on only one ecosystem benefit: • diversity of life
• Here we see species being associated with multiple ecosystem benefits for human wellbeing: • diversity of life, air quality, water management, natural
aesthetics, property values, temperature regulation, shade, bird migration, better school grades, active lifestyles, alternative transportation outdoor recreation, local food, and so on.
• Following are species profiles relevant to people
Landscape Character Defined
• A “landscape” is: • a large geographic area • the region where you live
• Its “character” is: • what it looks like from above (aerial view) • land use, land cover
• its species “character”?
What Populations Indicate
• “Common historically and rare now” (e.g. Blackburnian Warbler) indicates a significant loss of original natural cover and ecosystem services
• “Rare historically and rare now” (e.g. Hooded Warbler) indicates ecosystem health just as species
• “Common historically and not rare now” (Black- throated Green Warbler)
• Consider the relative value of all species
Scattered Ecosystem Services
• Chimney Swift nest in chimneys but feed on aerial insects associated with vegetation
• Take advantage of urban settings but depend on the presence of natural systems
• Diffuse ecosystem benefits • Other species: Common
Nighthawk
Selected Species Benefits to People • Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Migratory birds• Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways
Species and Associated Benefits
Close to Home (Narrow Natural Areas)
• Selected species: Great- crested Flycatchers set up territory and nest in forests along nature trail systems
• Associated species: Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Creek Chub
Great-crested Flycatcher: Associated Ecosystem Benefits
• Outdoor physical activity close to home or work place to reduce obesity, diabetes, cardio-pulmonary problems,… (references)
• Alternative transportation (references) • Migratory birds
Great-crested Flycatcher: 1000 Hectares
What If…
• Your landscape was characterized by: • Black-throated Green Warblers? • Eastern Meadowlarks? • House Sparrows?
• What would it say about: • Ecosystem services (benefits)? • People wellbeing?