green infrastructure ontario (gio) coalition … · share a common vision of a healthy green...

CVC Stewardship Forum 2012

Green Infrastructure Ontario (GIO) Coalition

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation

• The coalition is an alliance of organizations that share a common vision of a healthy green Ontario in which the economic, social, environmental and health benefits of green infrastructure are fully realized, protected, maintained and enhanced.

• Diverse membership• Industry, business and professional associations• Municipalities • Academia• Non-profit organizations• Agencies and conservation authorities

Green infrastructure is defined as natural vegetation and vegetative technologies that collectively provide society with a broad array of products and services.

• urban forests and woodlots• wetlands, waterways and riparian zones • meadows and agricultural lands • green roofs and green walls• parks, gardens and landscaped areas• bioswales, engineered wetlands and stormwater ponds

Green Infrastructure Types

Healthy Green Infrastructure = Healthy Communities

air quality

psychological wellness

water quality

community cohesion

recreation

UVR protection

storm water management

urban biodiversity

energy savings

carbon storage and sequestration

wildlife habitat

infrastructure repair savings

urban heat island mitigation

safe communities

higher property values

The IssueGreen infrastructure provides a multitude of economic, social, environmental and health benefits, most of which are not fully recognized in current policies and public investment formulas.

Coalition’s PurposeTo build a strong and convincing case for a shift in public and private policies and investment formulas.

Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario • Strong business case for

investment in green infrastructure

• Top four challenges • Six recommendations for

Government of Ontario • Municipal role

Benefits to human health

• Cooler cities = fewer incidences of heat-associated illnesses (e.g. heat stroke)

• Air pollution removal: 855 tonnes of pollutants annually in Peel = fewer incidences of respiratory illnesses

Case Examples: Benefits of Green Infrastructure

Visit our website: www.greeninfrastructureontario.org

CVC Stewardship Forum 2012

Landscape Character, Species and Benefits to People

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Lionel Normand, Toronto and Region Conservation

TRCACVC

Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA)

693 Species Not Found in Urban Portion

Biodiversity Should Be Biodistribution

• Consider how species and human wellbeing may benefit more from a “biodistribution” approach than from traditional biodiversity conservation approaches.

• Where there are…species, there are ecosystems and associated benefits

• Why do we value rarity and not abundance? • Biodistribution is distributing different species at different

scales as prescriptions for human wellbeing

Outline

1. Biodiversity should be Biodistribution 2. Species and Ecosystem Benefits 3. Species and Landscape Character 4. Prescriptions for Landscape Character 5. Summary

1. BIODIVERSITY TO BIODISTRIBUTION

Biodiversity

“"Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”

– Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) http://www.cbd.int/convention/articles/?a=cbd-02

Despite Good Intentions

• The intent: • biodiversity strategies often state “... we depend on biodiversity...

biodiversity is for human wellbeing...”

• The tendency: • protection of rare species and remnant features more than

planning for ecosystem services in human communities

• The result: • a disconnect between intended human wellbeing and

conservation actions• particularly in urban landscapes, where need for ecosystem

services is greatest while significant natural features and rare species tend to be absent

1. Select Better Indicators of Wellbeing (Bio)

• We often promote the idea that rare species are better indicators of ecosystem health than other species • These are the species we value enough to protect • Not protecting other species predisposes them to rarity• When common turns to rare = great loss of ecosystem benefits

• The irony: • Growing list of “better indicators of health” (rare things) actually

indicates a progressively unhealthy landscape for people

• Becoming wellbeing-relevant: • Establish the value of non-rare species toward wellbeing

(based on species-ecosystem-benefits relationship)

2. Select Better Scale of Management (Distrib.)

• Implementing provincial-scale biodiversity objectives • Need for ecosystem services at neighbourhood scale • (home, work, school, play, etc.) • Obscured at provincial scale

• Becoming wellbeing-relevant: • Determine the scale at which ecosystem benefits are needed• Promote (distribute) species/ecosystem accordingly

(based on species-ecosystem-benefits relationship)

2. SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS

“Bio”

Let’s Look at that Relationship

• The following examples use bird species suites

>>> >>>

• But other species suites can be used…

>>> >>>

>>> >>>

Eastern Meadowlark – Farm and Field

• Species Suite: • Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow,

Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, American Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, European Hare, Garter Snake,…

• Ecosystem Type: • Meadow (forb, grassland) • Pasture and hay fields

• Ecosystem Benefits: • Some stormwater interception and

groundwater infiltration • Local food

House Sparrow – Buildings

• Species Suite: • European Starling, Rock Dove

(Pigeon),…

• Ecosystem Type: • Nest on buildings• Feeds on urban scraps

• Ecosystem Benefits: • Poor association to ecosystem

benefits • (Indicate buildings!)

American Robin – Young Suburbs

• Species Suite:• Northern Cardinal, Chipping

Sparrow, House Finch, Cedar Waxwing, Grey Squirrel,…

• Ecosystem Type: • As little as a single, young tree on

a residential lot

• Ecosystem Benefits: • Natural aesthetics of a household,

office or school throughout the day (mental health, better grades)

• Property value • (Young neighbourbhood – few

ecosystem services)

Downy Woodpecker – Old Neighbourhoods

• Species Suite:• Baltimore Oriole, Blue Jay, Black-

capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, American Toad, Eastern Cottontail,…

• Ecosystem Type: • Forest, including street/backyard

• Ecosystem Benefits: • As vegetation matures –

increased natural aesthetics, property value, stormwater interception, protection from ultraviolet rays, air quality and moderation of urban heat island effect

Wood Thrush – Forest, Nature Trails

• Species Suite:• Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-

breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Screech Owl, White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Creek Chub,…

• Ecosystem Type: • Mature mixed forests • Often along nature trail systems

• Ecosystem Benefits: • Outdoor physical activity• Alternative transportation• Bird migration • Social events in larger parks (High

Park)

Black-throated Green Warbler – Large Forests

• Species Suite:• Northern Goshawk, Winter Wren,

Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Ovenbird, Veery, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Brook Trout,…

• Ecosystem Type: • Larger, mature mixed forests,

swamps with lateral structure

• Ecosystem Benefits: • Stormwater interception,

groundwater infiltration • Diversity of life; complex systems • Extensive areas for hiking,

mountain biking, cross-country skiing

Selected Species Benefits to People • Local food • Buildings: homes, businesses• Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Bird migration• Better school grades • Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways • Source water protection

Better Indicators of Wellbeing

3. SPECIES AND LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

“Distribution”

TRCA’s Landscape Character: Today

SuburbsDowntown

Is this an appropriate landscape character?

TRCA’s Landscape Character: Tomorrow?

SuburbsDowntown

4. PRESCRIPTIONS FOR LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

“Biodistribution”

Better Scale of Distribution

Biodistribution at home, work, school

near home, work, school

within a daytrip

Benefits to People • Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Migratory birds • Better school grades • Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways • Source water protection

Can We Quantify Those Scales?

• At home, work and school • Near home, work and school • Within daytrip distance

At Home, Office or School (10 hectare or < 5 minute walk away)

Near Home, Office or School (5,000 hectares or < 3 km away)

Weekend Daytrip (50,000 hectares or < one hour drive away)

A Prescription for Wellbeing?

With this Template or Prescription, We Can Ask

Is this an appropriate landscape character?

SUMMARY: BIODISTRIBUTION

Summary

• None of those species are rare but they are valued • Should all species be protected through legislation? No,

because now…

… the desired wellbeing drives species abundance

Biodistribution for Human Wellbeing

• Indicators• Engage people to use species as descriptors of landscape and

wellbeing.

• How do we benefit from this species characterizing this region, our neighbourhood?

• What species/character/benefits should/could we prescribe?

• Grid Scales • Engage decision-makers in developing prescriptions for a

landscape character based on needs for ecosystem services (benefits) at different scales.

Opportunities

• iTree Plot Research: species and health relationships • SNAPs: Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plans • LID: Low Impact Development

Thank You

• Also thanks to: • David Lawrie, Patricia Moleirinho, Louise Aubin, Sue Hayes,

Paul Prior, Deb Martin Downes, Fabio Tonto, Colleen Cirillo

• Photos: bing.com/images

QUESTIONS?

Lionel Normand and Noah Gaetz Toronto and Region Conservation Downsview, Ontario, Canada lnormand@trca.on.ca ; ngaetz@trca.on.cahttp://www.trca.on.ca/

Colleen Cirillo ccirillo@trca.on.cawww.greeninfrastructureontario.org

Historical TRCA Landscape Character: Natural

Water management Good temperature But not so good for shelter and food

More Recent Landscape Character: Agricultural

Food but with: Siltation

We Tried This Landscape Character: All Urban

Shelter but with: Urban heat effect Flooding

TRCA Landscape Character Today: Mixed

Example: Species Protection Area protected by the Species at Risk Act: <5% of the total surface area. “Species legislation” contributes little to “ecosystem services” at the regional scale.

• We tried for decades to turn people into naturalists based on only one ecosystem benefit: • diversity of life

• Here we see species being associated with multiple ecosystem benefits for human wellbeing: • diversity of life, air quality, water management, natural

aesthetics, property values, temperature regulation, shade, bird migration, better school grades, active lifestyles, alternative transportation outdoor recreation, local food, and so on.

• Following are species profiles relevant to people

Landscape Character Defined

• A “landscape” is: • a large geographic area • the region where you live

• Its “character” is: • what it looks like from above (aerial view) • land use, land cover

• its species “character”?

What Populations Indicate

• “Common historically and rare now” (e.g. Blackburnian Warbler) indicates a significant loss of original natural cover and ecosystem services

• “Rare historically and rare now” (e.g. Hooded Warbler) indicates ecosystem health just as species

• “Common historically and not rare now” (Black- throated Green Warbler)

• Consider the relative value of all species

Scattered Ecosystem Services

• Chimney Swift nest in chimneys but feed on aerial insects associated with vegetation

• Take advantage of urban settings but depend on the presence of natural systems

• Diffuse ecosystem benefits • Other species: Common

Nighthawk

Selected Species Benefits to People • Natural aesthetics • Property value • Shade from UV rays • Migratory birds• Air quality • Stormwater interception • Reduced urban heat • Active lifestyle • Outdoor social events • Recreational getaways

Species and Associated Benefits

Close to Home (Narrow Natural Areas)

• Selected species: Great- crested Flycatchers set up territory and nest in forests along nature trail systems

• Associated species: Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Creek Chub

Great-crested Flycatcher: Associated Ecosystem Benefits

• Outdoor physical activity close to home or work place to reduce obesity, diabetes, cardio-pulmonary problems,… (references)

• Alternative transportation (references) • Migratory birds

Great-crested Flycatcher: 1000 Hectares

What If…

• Your landscape was characterized by: • Black-throated Green Warblers? • Eastern Meadowlarks? • House Sparrows?

• What would it say about: • Ecosystem services (benefits)? • People wellbeing?