Land Use and Population Growth: Patrick Forster CDNS 4403-5003 Sustainable Heritage Case Study Class Presentation Nov.21, 2017 Land Use and Population Growth: Environmental and Social Sustainability Policies within the Niagara Escarpment

Niagara Escarpment Biosphere, Niagara Escarpment Commission 2006

Description The Niagara Escarpment is a large landmass made during the receding of the glaciers Is designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO Represents nationally and internationally significant landforms that includes representative and scientifically valuable examples of sustainable relationships between human activities and ecosystems The NE biosphere reserve includes the greatest topographic variability in southern Ontario and its habitats collectively boast the highest level of species diversity among Canadian biosphere reserves Faces Pressures for land consumption from population growth in Southern Ontario

View from atop the Escarpment, Niagara Canada

Bruce Peninsula, thebrucepeninsula.com

Timeline 1963-1967 The creation of the Bruce Trail along the length of the Niagara Escarpment 1967 The Niagara Escarpment Conservation and Recreation Report 1971 The formation of the Niagara Escarpment Inter-Ministerial Task Force 1973 The Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act 1985 The Niagara Escarpment Plan was approved 1990 The Niagara Escarpment is designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO 2003 The Ontario Planning Act 2005 The Greenbelt Act

Stakeholders UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Commission Municipalities inside the Niagara Escarpment Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Parks Canada

Natural/Cultural Heritage Natural Heritage: Rock Features, Forests, Ancient Cedar Forest, Tallgrass Prairie, Alvars Cultural Heritage (Historical): Traditional Algonquin and Iroquois land use Cultural Heritage (Modern): Used for agriculture (Traditional Farming, growing grapes)

Escarpment and Vineyard, Don Alexander

Sustainability Environmental Sustainability: Natural features of the Escarpment clean air, provide drinking water and mitigate effects of climate change Social Sustainability: Provincial Plans establish a land use planning framework that supports a thriving economy, a clean and healthy environment and social equity Cultural Sustainability: Niagara Escarpment Plan helps to protect agricultural land and the natural environment Economic Sustainability: Niagara Escarpment Plan protects a continuous productive agricultural land base and a complementary agri-food network that together enable the agri-food sector to thrive

Lessons Policies and Acts don’t stop land consumption, but they do slow it down Most municipalities think short term in terms of satisfying growing population Population growth in southern Ontario still an issue Conservation efforts are important for maintaining biodiversity in an area for future generations

References Books/Book chapters/Journal articles Heidenreich, C. (1987). Se lements and Missionaries, 1615-1650. In From the Beginnings to 1800. Historical Atlas of Canada, 1. Moss, M. R., Milne, R. J. (1998). Biophysical processes and bioregional planning: The niagara escarpment of southern ontario, canada. Landscape and Urban Planning, 40(4), 251-252. doi:10.1016/S0169-2046(97)00116-3 Whitelaw, Graham & Eagles, Paul & B. Gibson, Robert & Seasons, Mark. (2008). Roles of environmental movement organisations in land-use planning: Case studies of the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine, Ontario, Canada. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 51. pg 806. Page, R. E. (2003). Effects of land-use patterns and land ownership on biodiversity in the natural areas of the niagara escarpment world biosphere reserve (Order No. MQ82892). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (305325414). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com. Policies and reports Archaeological Services Inc. (2014) Cultural Heritage Assessment Report: Built Heritage Resources and Cultural Heritage Landscapes. Retrieved from http://www.thebluemountains.ca/public_docs/projects/Cultural%20Heritage%20Assessment_21January2014.pdf Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (2015) Performance Indicators for the Greenbelt Plan. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. Part 1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2017) Niagara Escarpment Plan. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. pg 1-3 UNESCO (1972) The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization meeting in Paris from 17 October to 21 November 1972, at its seventeenth session, Websites Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (2017). Ontario Municipal Board. Retrieved November 11, 2017, from http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1755.aspx Niagara Escarpment Commission. (2017). Ecology. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.escarpment.org/NiagaraEscarpment/Environment/Ecology Reusser, M. (2015). Land use plans must put farmland first. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://ofa.on.ca/media/news/land-use-plans-must-put-farmland-first UNESCO. (2015) Niagara Escarpment. Retrieved November 11, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/canada/niagara-escarpment Images Niagara Escarpment Biosphere, Niagara Escarpment Commission 2006 View from atop the Escarpment, Niagara Canada Bruce Peninsula, thebrucepeninsula.com Escarpment and Vineyard, Don Alexander, donalexander.ca