HABITAT FOR BLANDINGS TURTLE, AMERICAN GINSENG AND BUTTERNUT SLATED TO BE PAVED OVER

Sensitive wetland habitat for a number of provincially and federally listed species is slated to be paved over as the City of Ottawa seeks to extend the Terry Fox Drive in Kanata. The wetland is home to Blandings turtles, American ginseng and butternut trees and provides critical habitat for many other species in an area where rampant development has fragmented much of the natural heritage system.

Permits to destroy this habitat are currently being considered for approval by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). Click here to learn more.

Ottawa Citizen article

North Bay Nuggett article

YourOttawaRegion article

Sierra Club

NINE HABITAT REGULATIONS ARE NOW POSTED

Habitat regulations have now been posted for nine of the ten fast-track species and it is clear that they do not provide the strong sound habitat protection that is needed. To learn more about all nine habitat regulations and the SOS recommendations, click here for our Backgrounder to the First Nine Habitat Regulations.

Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to most species at risk in Ontario so it is critical that these regulations be improved to ensure that they provide strong, scientifically sound protection for existing and new populations of these nine species. The regulations are not strong enough as they are currently written.

View the SOS report card.

To read comments submitted by the SOS Coalition on the nine habitat regulations, click here.