Habitat Protection & Regeneration

Loss of natural habitat is the most significant contributing factor to the reduction of native fish and wildlife species in the Greater Toronto Area. As the largest landowner in the Toronto region, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has the ability to improve or create habitat by modifying the landscape.

A wide range of plant species is essential to create a productive ecosystem. Using a diversity of species heightens the survival rate of planted species and the effectiveness of the project. Different species are planted in patches and clumps across the landscape in order to maximize the amount of cover available to wildlife. This planting scheme also helps to mimic natural succession and allows plants to colonize an area faster through seed and rhizome dispersal.

Along with plants, other structural elements such as rocks, decaying trees, brush, soils and substrate are essential to many species. These abiotic features are an essential part of all natural environments, providing fauna with winter shelter, cover from predators and spawning areas. Adding a diversity of structures to a project site involves reintroducing many natural structural habitat features such as brush piles, logs and rock piles as well as artificial structural habitat such as birdhouses and nesting platforms.

The TRCA has many new exciting initiatives that will help increase the amount of fish and wildlife habitat available within the Toronto Areas of Concern (AOC). These projects include the Toronto Waterfront Naturalization Initiative, wetland creation, Habitat for Wildlife and several new weir mitigation projects.

Restoration Planning and Development of a Restoration Bank Workshop

Thank you to all who joined us for the Restoration Planning and Development of a Restoration Bank Workshop on Monday June 10, 2013.

The objective of the workshop was to provide insight, direction and guidance to conservation authorities, municipalities, provincial and federal agencies, and other stakeholders for the purpose of:

  • Achieving watershed targets
  • Prioritization restoration opportunities
  • Developing compensation projects
  • Contributing to Species at Risk recovery strategies
  • Achieving partner land management goals
  • Assisting in the development review process
  • Having a consistent approach to restoration banking

Please click the links below to see the agenda, presentations, glossary of terms as well as the summary notes for the workshop:

Agenda

  1. Restoration Planning and Development of a Restoration Bank (RToninger).pdf
  2. ROP at the CVC (KHayes).pdf
  3. Integrated Restoration Presentation (JStille).pdf
  4. Restoration Opportunities Bank Framework and Utility (RToninger).pdf
  5. SAR Overall Benefit Catalogue MNR (EFollowes).pdf
  6. Structure of a Compensation Bank (RToninger).pdf
    Glossary of Terms.pdf
    Notes.pdf