In The News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

McGuinty Government Helping Property Owners Maintain Natural Areas Natural Spaces Program Promotes Preservation And Restoration

PONTYPOOL, ON, Aug. 3 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is taking the next step in its plan to protect greenspace by supporting the efforts of private landowners to preserve and restore natural areas on their property, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced today.

"By encouraging the protection and preservation of our natural areas in southern Ontario, we're improving the quality of our air and water, protecting natural areas that are home to a diverse range of native plants and animals and keeping Ontario green and beautiful," said Premier McGuinty.

"Good stewardship has to extend beyond provincial parks and other public spaces - and we want to involve all Ontarians, including those who own environmentally significant land, in taking environmental action that benefits us all."

The Natural Spaces Program provides tools and resources so that landowners can voluntarily contribute to the good stewardship of Ontario's rich natural heritage. The program will cover an area south of a line from Midland through Peterborough to Ottawa, which is home to the province's greatest diversity of plants and animals. Because 90 per cent of the land is privately owned, the program will engage landowners in protecting natural areas by:

Providing a $6-million grant to the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, to acquire and secure
significant natural heritage properties
Supporting increased restoration of lands and forests in southern Ontario, including a $2-million grant to the Trees Ontario Foundation
Encouraging conservation and stewardship by providing lower property taxes to eligible landowners under the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
Mapping the natural heritage systems across southern Ontario to identify areas that would benefit from restoration and tree planting.

Premier McGuinty also announced that the Natural Spaces Leadership Alliance, a stakeholder working group that representsconservation and resource industry related organizations, will play a key advisory role in the development and implementation of the Natural Spaces Program.

"Protecting and restoring natural areas and conserving greenspace can only be achieved with the participation and support of landowners, but the benefits will be enjoyed by all Ontarians," said Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay.

"By making changes to how land is assessed under the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, our government is creating a property tax environment that will encourage landowners to practise good stewardship of forests," said Finance Minister Greg Sorbara.

"The Natural Spaces Program builds on our government's Greenbelt initiative, provides a greener environment and healthier communities and creates opportunities for Ontarians to enjoy nature close to home," said Premier McGuinty.

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Backgrounder
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NATURAL SPACES PROGRAM

The McGuinty government recognizes the need to restore and protect natural areas across southern Ontario. The government is committed to ensuring that future generations have the benefits of a healthy natural environment and greenspace to enjoy close to urban and suburban centres.

Reducing loss of greenspace in southern Ontario will contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment, protect habitat for wildlife and create more opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Ontario government's voluntary Natural Spaces Program will provide tools and incentives to encourage and help southern Ontario landowners conserve and restore natural areas on their property.

The Natural Spaces Program will cover all of southern Ontario - an area south of a line from Midland through Peterborough to Ottawa. In this area, 90 per cent of the land is privately owned. Protecting and restoring natural areas and conserving greenspace can only be achieved with the willing participation of landowners.

Key Components

- Land securement and acquisition: The Ministry of Natural Resources will work with the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, to acquire and permanently secure significant natural heritage properties across southern Ontario. The Heritage Trust has received a $6-million grant for the securement and stewardship of natural heritage lands. The province will work cooperatively with municipalities, conservation authorities, landowners and other organizations to maximize the use of these funds.

Native tree seed program: The program will help restore the lands and forests of southern Ontario through a partnership with the Trees Ontario Foundation to promote tree planting and native tree seed collection. This includes a $2-million grant to Trees Ontario to increase the future availability of native tree seedlings. Trees Ontario will work with partners across Ontario to monitor and predict
demand for tree species and encourage greater tree planting.

Tax incentives: Existing voluntary land tax incentive programs include the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program and the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program. Both programs are designed to encourage conservation and stewardship by providing lower property taxes to eligible landowners who agree to manage and conserve their woodlots and natural heritage land.

Natural Spaces Leadership Alliance: A stakeholder group will work with the ministry to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to identifying, restoring and conserving a natural heritage system across southern Ontario. This is the first time a comprehensive approach will be applied to identifying and protecting a natural heritage system in southern Ontario

Identifying natural heritage systems: Identifying and conserving natural heritage systems helps to sustain healthy and diverse ecosystems over the long term. Working with conservation and municipal partners, the Ministry of Natural Resources will identify important natural areas and develop a strategic approach to protecting natural heritage systems in southern Ontario.

Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System (SOLRIS): SOLRIS accurately maps land cover such as forests, wetlands and urban areas, and allows for the tracking of changes in land cover and land use over time. The progressive mapping process uses remote sensing to make digital maps of the landscape. SOLRIS is one of the tools that will help the Ministry of Natural Resources identify conservation priorities and focus on forestation and restoration efforts.

Stewardship: The Natural Spaces Leadership Alliance will support private landowners and organizations to coordinate and carry out land stewardship activities across southern Ontario for maximum social, economic and environmental benefits.

Natural Spaces Report Card: The Natural Spaces Leadership Alliance will advise on a method to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the Natural Spaces Program.

Other Provincial Initiatives

The Natural Spaces Program complements other provincial initiatives to ensure a clean and healthy natural environment. These include the Greenbelt Plan, Places to Grow, Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy and source water protection programs. In February 2005, the government passed the Greenbelt Act, permanently protecting more than 1.8 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the Golden Horseshoe from urban sprawl.

Disponible en français

www.premier.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

For further information: Premier's Media Office, (416) 314-8975