Natural Heritage Inventories

The Essex Region Conservation Authority can assist member municipalities in undertaking an inventory and assessment of significant natural heritage features and areas within each municipality. The results of this inventory will provide baseline information to each municipality which can be used to direct land use policies, strategic planning and environmental planning decisions. The outcome of these inventories can also heighten awareness about the significance of many of the municipality's natural features, and lay the foundation for future natural restoration and habitat improvement projects.

An ideal time to request a Natural Heritage Inventory is as a municipality is preparing to embark on the preparation of its Official Plan. The Provincial Planning Act, particularly Section 3, the Provincial Policy Statement, guides planning decisions and the preparation of long range planning documents.

The Provincial Policy Statement identifies significant natural areas, such as:

• Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs);
• Significant habitat of threatened and endangered species;
• Significant areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs);
• Significant woodlands, wildlife habitat and valleylands.

While the Province is responsible for identifying PSWs, the habitat of threatened and endangered species and ANSIs, each municipality is responsible for identifying the remainder of the areas utilizing Provincial criteria and guidelines which are in place. These include significant woodlands, wildlife habitat and valleylands.

Overall Study Goals of a Natural Heritage Inventory

1. To identify and assess woodland areas, using a consistent, criteria based approach.
2. To identify existing and potential restoration and linkage opportunities between natural features based on the findings of the inventory including watercourses and hedgerows.
3. To determine appropriate methods of minimizing the impacts of future development on the adjacent natural heritage features.

Steps in the Process

• Gather existing information and background, and develop scientifically defensible criteria for the field analysis.
• Undertake a landowner contact program; contact and speak with affected landowners.
• Collect of field information.
• Prepare vegetation community mapping for each site.
• Report preparation including an evaluation of each site dependant on the number of criteria fulfilled. Each site report will include species lists of floral (vegetative) and faunal (wildlife) species.
• Prepare natural heritage policy and mapping recommendations for use in the new Official Plan.