GREEN SPACES AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Preserving natural spaces is vital in every community. Forests, grasslands and wetlands are not only beautiful natural spaces: these natural resources can help us by filtering pollution out of the air, land and water, prevent erosion, and provide shade and habitat.

Parks, woods and biking and walking trails are good places for us to stay healthy and make our towns and cities more beautiful and liveable. In the long run, these spaces are good for our prosperity, too, because people want to visit and live in healthy, attractive communities.

If you want to see more green spaces created and protected in your community, you can do something about it. Here are a few suggestions.

Make it a local issue. Most municipal planning decisions are made by local governments. Ask your local councillor or reeve what she or he is doing to protect local green space Ask if your community has an Official Plan and how natural resources are protected within that plan.

Talk to conservationists: Chances are you live in a community that has a Conservation Authority, or CA. These organizations manage local conservation areas and work in the community to preserve land, air and water quality. Call your local CA and find out what is being done to protect local green spaces.

Conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited campaign to protect wetlands and other natural resources. Find out if there's a chapter in your area and what they're working on.

Conservation Ontario
Ducks Unlimited