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• Increase biodiversity by manipulating successional stages to achieve a specialized habitat for each woodlot.

• Leave varying tree “snag “ diameters and heights for perching birds and other wildlife. If just stubs are left, mainly woodpeckers will roost and benefit.

Policy 7: Develop prairies and meadows while protecting

endangered, threatened, potentially threatened and vulnerable species

Issue

• There are very few prairies and meadows within the City limits.

Strategies

• Develop a policy encouraging the planting of prairies and letting turf areas revert to meadows.

• Educate the public about the benefits of no-mow areas and prairies.

• Perform floristic assessments every 5 to 7 years in pre-identified areas (woodlots, grasslands, prairies, meadows, ecotones) to help identify species richness and determine whether or not parkland is losing some of its endangered, threatened and potentially threatened plants.

Between the 5- to 7-year rotations each area will be placed on a detailed management plan drawn up specifically for that area.

• Prevent and control invasive plants that could overrun the area.

• For vulnerable species, continual monitoring for human intrusion is necessary. If human intrusion of a harmful nature has been discovered, take corrective steps, which may include installing physical barriers such as fences, bike trails and paths to prevent foot traffic.

• Provide informative signage to educate the public and help the public respect these rare plants.

• Avoid changing the surrounding area as a result of these corrective steps.

• Once a rare species is identified, strict monitoring will be initiated, such as ensuring the plant is still there at least once per season.

Policy 8: Develop an invasive management plan

Issue

• Invasive plants and animals can be a threat to naturally occurring species.