South March Highlands Blanding’s Turtle Conservation Needs AssessmentMarch 18, 2013

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Why did the City prepare the Conservation Needs Assessment?

The population monitoring for Terry Fox Drive revealed

far more turtles in the South March

Highlands than expected.

Our knowledge of the species’ biology

suggested that this population would be

at high risk from existing and future

threats.

The City concluded that more information

was needed on the population, the risks, and the conservation options in order to

address the Planning Act and Endangered

Species Act 2007.

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How did we do the study?

•Already at work on the Terry Fox Drive population monitoring

•Designers of the TFD wildlife guide systemContracted the work to Dillon Consulting Ltd.

•Science-based approach.•Population viability analyses.•Assessment of habitat availability•Evaluation of conservation needs and optionsElements of the

Study

•Peer review by two recognized experts in Blanding’s turtle biology and conservation.

•Initial review of the study Terms of Reference•Final review of the study findings (provided verbatim)

Independent peer review

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Key Findings

There are likely between 100 and 200 turtles in the

population.

The population is already at risk of extirpation (local

extinction).

In the absence of effective mitigation, planned urban development will increase

the risk of extirpation.

The most effective short-term conservation

measures are reducing adult female mortality and

increasing juvenile survival.

Long-term viability of the population likely depends

increasing effective habitat area and maintaining links to other populations (peer

reviews).

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Does this mean that no more development can occur in Kanata Lakes (KNL)?

No, it does not.

Development of the KNL lands will cause harm to the Blanding’s turtle population, triggering protections under the Endangered Species Act 2007 and the Planning Act.

However, the Endangered Species Act 2007 includes a permitting process, which would also apply to Planning Act processes.

In order to obtain an ESA permit, KNL must satisfy the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) that it can provide a “net benefit” to the species through avoidance, mitigation and compensation measures.

If other endangered or threatened species are present, then they must be included in the ESA Permit Application.

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The City’s Next Steps

The Conservation Needs Assessment is available to KNL and the MNR for preparation and review of ESA Permit applications.

The City will participate in ESA Permit discussions with KNL and the OMNR to: (a) ensure that the City’s authority and responsibilities under the Planning Act are respected; (b) ensure that proposed uses or modifications to City property/facilities are acceptable; (c) co-ordinate its own conservation actions with those arising from any ESA Permits.

City staff will go to Planning Committee and Council with recommendations for conservation of the South March Highlands population of Blanding’s turtle (no date set).

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Questions?l The Conservation Needs Assessment on Ottawa.ca:

l COSEWIC Status Report on Blanding’s turtle: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_blandings_turtle_e.pdf

l Ontario Environmental Registry: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/

l Ontario Species at Risk web site: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/index.html