South March
Highlands
Blanding’s Turtle
Conservation
Needs
Assessment March 18, 2013
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?
Contracted the
work to Dillon
Consulting Ltd.
• Already at work on the Terry Fox Drive population
monitoring
• Designers of the TFD wildlife guide system
Elements of the
Study
•
•
•
•
Independent
peer review
Science-based approach.
Population viability analyses.
Assessment of habitat availability
Evaluation of conservation needs and options
• 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)
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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).
The most effective shortterm conservation
measures are reducing
adult female mortality and
increasing juvenile
survival.
In the absence of effective
mitigation, planned urban
development will increase
the risk of extirpation.
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?
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The Conservation Needs Assessment on Ottawa.ca:
COSEWIC Status Report on Blanding’s turtle:
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_
blandings_turtle_e.pdf
Ontario Environmental Registry:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/
Ontario Species at Risk web site:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Species/index.html
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