Written by Ian Crawford, Manager, Business Partnerships and Outreach, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
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1. Biodiversity Offsets and Ontarios Endangered Species Act: We
built it, they came, and we can do better.
2. Ontarios Endangered Species Act Purpose Identify species at
risk based on best available science and ATK Protect species at
risk and their habitats, and promote the recovery of species at
risk Promote stewardship activities to assist in protection and
recovery of species at risk 2 Features Emphasizes science in making
decisions Includes species and habitat protection Provides
flexibility through tools such as permits and agreements Recognizes
Aboriginal interests and knowledge Promotes stewardship activities
Includes strong enforcement provisions
3. Protection tools Agreements, Permits, Regulations and Other
Instruments Stewardship Agreements Permits (5 types) Overall
benefit (Ontarios Biodiversity Offset model). Aboriginal Permits
and Agreements Instruments under other acts Regulations for certain
species and activities when conditions are followed 3
4. Overall Benefit Overall benefit to a protected species
-undertaking actions that contribute to improving circumstances for
the species in Ontario -is more than no net loss or an exchange of
like for like -is grounded in the protection and recovery of the
species at risk and must include more than mitigation measures for
potential adverse effects 4
5. Overall Benefit the first 6 years - - - - 5 Nearly 200
permits Early negotiations regarding Overall Benefit intense
Supported by species recovery strategies, science, research,
Government Response Statements Over time common activities,
approaches became apparent Butternut planting ratios 10:1
6. Examples aquatic species take steps to minimize effects to
the species and habitat provide a benefit to the species (e.g.,
plant native vegetation to improve water quality) create and
implement a mitigation plan monitor the effectiveness of the steps
you take to minimize effects on and provide benefit to the species
create and maintain a monitoring record report sightings of rare
species 6
7. Example grassland birds prepare and follow a habitat
management plan create or enhance habitat, and manage that habitat
provide a written commitment to MNR that says you will manage the
habitat over time minimize effects to the protected species (e.g.,
put access roads outside the habitat) avoid activities that are
likely to affect habitat or the birds between May 1 July 31 (e.g.,
do not excavate land or plough fields during this time) prepare and
maintain records that relate to the work and the habitat report
sightings of rare species (and update registration documents, if
needed) 7
8. Eventually - Regulatory approach to address common permits:
- 8 Aquatic species Grassland birds Some plants Chimney swifts and
barn swallow
9. Then what happened - - 9 We created a market for stewardship
actions Potential stewardship became a commodity
10. The Market Grows - - - - 10 Developers started asking us to
make connections Creative MNR bios identified priority habitat
created catalogues Commercial plant growers started asking if they
could grow butternut MNR launches our new web site data
accessibility
11. Land stewards become entrepreneurial Developers become
environmentalists - - - Land owner interest in making land
available to undertake stewardship action has increased. Land
stewards becoming more aware of the opportunities Side issues: - 11
Neighbour impacts Safe Harbour - - - - - Interest in formal
exchange mechanism Developers seeking creative solutions Requests
for financial alternative to protection Interest in conservation
banking Using OB as a marketing tool
12. Safe Harbour -Encourages landowners to undertake
conservation measures, - -Does Habitat restoration Provision of
overall benefit requirements not attract additional restrictions
under the ESA as a result of those conservation measures, should
they wish to modify their land at a later date. 12