Municipal Planning for Biodiversity, Natural Heritage Systems, Features and Areas

MNR plays an important role in advising, supporting and promoting the protection of Ontario’s biodiversity and natural heritage through municipal land use planning.

Provincial Policy Statement Technical Guidance

As part of this role, MNR has issued guidance material for natural heritage policies of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) to assist planning authorities and other participants in the land use planning system. The following material should be consulted when implementing natural heritage polices of the PPS:

Natural Heritage Reference Manual

• provides technical guidance for implementing the natural heritage policies of PPS
• represents the Province’s recommended approach for being consistent with the PPS to protect natural heritage features and natural heritage systems in Ontario

Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide

• supports the Natural Heritage Reference Manual as a more detailed technical manual that provides information on the identification, description and prioritisation of significant wildlife habitat
• guide was produced as a supplement to the 1999 version of the Natural Heritage Reference Manual but is still relevant for ecologists, biologists, environmental planners, and others involved in assessing wildlife habitat significance
• planning authorities should use or require proponents to use the guide when completing an ecological site assessment for significant wildlife habitat

Provincial Policy Statement - Additional Supporting Documents

In addition to technical guidance for natural heritage policies of the PPS, MNR has developed other relevant provincial land use planning documents that contain policy, implementation direction or other supporting guidance that may be needed for applying PPS natural heritage policies.

Ecological Land Classification Primer

• the PPS uses the Ecological Land Classification system to define geographic limits of certain natural heritage policies
• the primer is intended to help individuals understand how MNR defines natural regions based on ecological factors and how the system is applied in the land use planning process

Inland Ontario Lakes Designated for Lake Trout Management (PDF, 622 KB)

• lists inland Ontario lakes (exclusive of the Great Lakes) that are currently designated for lake trout management for the purposes of applying PPS fish habitat policy

DRAFT Lakeshore Capacity Assessment Handbook: Protecting Water Quality in Inland Lakes on Ontario’s Precambrian Shield

• provides draft guidance on evaluating the impacts of shoreline development on the water quality of inland lakes on the Precambrian Shield which is used for purposes of applying PPS fish habitat and water policies

Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Technical Paper Series for Identification of Key Natural Heritage Features

• series of technical papers to assist approval authorities, applicants, landowners, interested stakeholder groups and others in the implementation of the policies and application of some of the ecological and hydrological technical requirements
• papers include the identification of Key Natural Heritage Features, contained in various sections of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
• papers were developed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources

DRAFT Greenbelt Plan Technical Papers for Key Natural Heritage Features in the Natural Heritage System of the Protected Countryside (initial series only)

• initial series of draft technical papers to assist municipalities and others in the implementation of the policies for lands in the Natural System of the Protected Countryside
• includes the identification of Key Natural Heritage Features, and the application of some of the technical requirements contained in other sections of the Greenbelt Plan
• draft technical papers were developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources