Rouge 3

Past: Rouge Park

A Better Vision: Management Recommendations

• Conserving the Rouge’s natural heritage - including restoration of species at risk

• Strong science-based research and monitoring system to guide management actions

• Engaging thousands of people… in appreciating and learning about nature, monitoring and restoring ecosystem health, learning about the national parks system, and respecting the need to tread lightly to ensure future health

Future: Rouge National Urban Park

Conservation

needs

priority

Watershed...

Overview

• CPAWS, Get Outside Ontario
• Rouge Park: unique treasure
• Rouge National Urban Park:

opportunity and risk

• What can you do

Putting Nature First in

Rouge National Urban Park

Get Outside

Ontario

Urban Sprawl...

What's at Risk?

Help us get there!

Join the social media campaign

TWEET and tell us why you #lovetherouge with a picture of you that explains your answer!

Follow us on twitter:

@CPAWS, @BeWildOn, @GetOutsideOn

Facebook:

CPAWS, CPAWS Wildlands League

Instagram:

Wildlands League

• 50 Million HA in 50 Years
• Vision is to protect at least ½ of public land and water
• National Charity working with array of groups
• Wildlands League a Chapter of CPAWS

Rouge National Urban Park

CPAWS.CA

Connecting and Protecting: Agricultural Importance

“The new Rouge National Urban Park, within 100 kilometres of 20% of Canada’s population, opens up immense opportunity to connect people to agriculture and the land that grows the food we eat.”

Chris Hilts,

Chair, Ontario Farmland Trust

Protected Areas mean Conservation is Number One.

What's at risk?

Ecosystem Health

Urban Sprawl...

Connecting and Protecting: Cultural Importance

The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation look to our Anishinabe roots to guide our vision for the future as a strong, caring, connected community who respects the earth's gifts and protects the environment for future generations.

Garry Sault, Elder,

Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation

Rouge National Urban Park History*

2006-7: Additions of other Park and ON gov't lands in Markham brings park area to 4700 ha.

2010: Review recommends creating a national urban park. CPAWS begins involvement.

2011: Canadian gov't announces commitment for Rouge NUP.

2012: CPAWS submits recommendations to strengthen the conservation focus of Canadian gov't's proposed concept paper.

2013: Cdn gov't announces addition of Federal Lands north to Stouffville, going ahead with Pickering Airport and intention to develop remaining federal lands.

Putting Nature First in

Rouge National Urban Park

• Rouge is a natural treasure

• Putting Nature First means protection in the Park Management Plan and Legislation and connection with the Oak Ridges Moraine

• What you can do

International Definition of Protection

“A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed…to achieve the long term conservation of nature…only those areas where the main objective is conserving nature can be considered protected areas; this can include other goals as well, but in the case of conflict, nature conservation will be the priority”*

Parks Canada’s Guiding Principles

• “ Foster a culture of …volunteering, engagement, respect and partnership”
• “ Inspire people to experience this park”
• “ Environmental leadership in park operations”
• “ Collaborate to ensure multimodal connectivity and access”
• “ Inclusive, progressive governance led by Parks Canada”

• “ Respect and support sustainable agriculture and other compatible land uses”
• “ Honour diversity, local heritage, cultural inclusiveness... past, present and future”
• “ Maintain and improve ecological health and scientific integrity”
• “ Encourage people (especially youth) to learn and connect with nature”