Natural Heritage Urban Forest Strategy NH UFS DRAFT

Natural Heritage & Urban Forest Strategy (NH&UFS) DRAFT STRATEGY Open House Presentation June 20 th, 2013

Open House Overview 1. Poster Viewing (6. 30 – 7. 00) 2. Welcome & Presentation (7. 00 – 7. 30) 3. Q&A (7. 30 – 8. 00) 4. World Café Small Group Discussions (8. 00 - 8. 55) a. Session 1 (8. 00 - 8. 25) b. Session 2 (8. 30 – 8. 55) 5. Wrap-up & Next Steps (8. 55 – 9. 00)

Project Status Update • Phase 1 completed; Phase 2 underway • Preliminary Draft NH&UFS and UFMP undergoing internal review • Draft NH&UFS and UFMP to be posted on City website by end of June 2013 • Phase 2 consultations to solicit feedback on Drafts over June 2013

Visualizing the Strategy • Based on categories in Mississauga Official Plan • NAS changed to NHS • Shows relationship between NHS & urban forest, and with other Green System elements • Conveys the need for a holistic and integrated approach to planning and management • Conveys “total landscape as life support system” idea

Draft Vision The City, private and public stakeholders, and members of the community are working together to protect, enhance, restore, expand connect Mississauga’s Natural Heritage System and urban forest so that native biodiversity and the ecosystem services essential for a healthy community are sustained for present and future generations.

Draft Guiding Principles • 11 Principles • KEY THEMES INCLUDE: - First conserve - then enhance, restore and expand - Value the ecological services provided by the Green System - Make stewardship on public and private lands part of daily living

Draft Objectives • 9 Objectives • KEY OBJECTIVES for the NHS & URBAN FOREST INCLUDE: - Protect , enhance and restore through : o implementation of policies and by-laws o proactive management on City lands o education and stewardship - Expand through: o strategic planning and updates o pursuing opportunities - Track status

Draft Targets 1. Natural Heritage System (NHS) Size: 12% to 14% 2. NHS Linkage: a. 75% watercourses vegetated 30 m on either side b. XX% Significant Natural Areas linked through NHS or other Green System components 3. NHS Quality: Conservation Plans for all Sig. Natural Areas 4. Urban Forest (UF) Canopy Cover: 15% to 20% 5. UF Quality (of City Street and Park Trees): a. Have a comprehensive and current tree inventory b. Improve tree species diversity c. Reduce proportion of non-native, invasive species 6. UF Canopy Distribution: Improve cover where <15%

NH&UFS Strategies (with 24 UFMP Actions embedded within them) 30 Strategies within four topics: 1. PLANNING (9 strategies) 2. MANAGEMENT (10 strategies) 3. ENGAGEMENT (8 strategies) 4. TRACKING (3 strategies)

PLANNING STRATEGIES 1. Improve interdepartmental coordination and information sharing 2. Add the Urban Forest to the City’s OP Green System framework 3&4. Revise Official Plan policies related to the NHS to be: • more consistent with Provincial and Regional policies • clearer and stronger, where appropriate 5&11. Adopt the proposed NHS Linkage System 6, 7& 8. Strengthen Official Plan policies, zoning and by-laws related to the urban forest e. g. , Erosion Control By-law 9. Develop policies that apply outside of, but will support, the NHS and the urban forest e. g. , green roof policy, shade policy

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 10. Pursue opportunities to enhance, expand connect the NHS 12. Track and recognize naturalization/stewardship initiatives on public and private lands 13. Develop and Implement Natural Area Conservation Plans 14. Develop and implement an urban forest expansion plan 15. Improve tree establishment practices on public and private lands e. g. , develop and enforce City-wide tree preservation and planting specifications 16. Improve tree health and risk management practices on City lands e. g. , Update the City’s street and park tree inventory, implement a young tree maintenance program and tree risk management protocol 17. Seek opportunities to integrate aquatic management needs with natural area management 18. Continue strategic acquisition of high priority natural areas 19. Ensure effective implementation and enforcement of policies and by-laws

ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES 20. Leverage the City’s website and social media 21. Use daily planning, operational and enforcement activities as opportunities to educate 22. Build on current outreach programs with initiatives targeted to local arborists, developers, youth, etc. 23. Campaign to promote the value of public natural areas 24. Use the One Million Trees Program as a platform for expanding stewardship on lands not owned by the City 25. Develop and expand partnerships with local conservation authorities, municipalities, and academic institutions 26. Pursue funding from a range of sources 27. Identify cost-effective incentives

TRACKING STRATEGIES 28. Track the status of the NHS e. g. , NHS size, connectivity and quality 29. Track the status of the urban forest e. g. , UF canopy cover and distribution, street and park tree diversity and conditions 30. Report on the Status of the NH&UFS every four years to update, promote and inform priorities

Next Steps • COMPLETE THE SURVEY on-line or in hardcopy Website: www. mississauga. ca/naturalheritage Email: naturalheritage@mississauga. ca • Draft NH&UFS and UFMP to be posted on City website by end of June 2013 • Comments can be submitted up until JULY 26, 2013

QUESTIONS?

“World Café” Format SESSION 1 (25 min) SESSION 2 (25 min) Four topic tables to choose from: Table 1: Planning Table 2: Management Table 3: Engagement Table 4: Tracking