South March Highlands Conservation Forest Management Plan

What is the Conservation Forest?

The South March Highlands Conservation Forest consists of 457 hectares of municipally owned land within the larger South March Highlands forest and natural environment area. The forest is located immediately adjacent to and within the urban and developing area in Kanata.

The Forest is one of the most ecologically significant and diverse areas in the City of Ottawa, and is also an important area for outdoor recreation including hiking and mountain biking.

Why do we need a management plan?

The Forest is under increased stress from adjacent development and recreational use. A management plan is needed to help the City and the community manage uses and protect significant natural environment characteristics as pressure on the area increases. The intent is to provide opportunities for the community to benefit from this significant resource while protecting the natural features and functions which make it special.

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What will the management plan do?

• Provide information on the natural environment and human use in the area
• Provide conceptual plans, such as general trail locations and types, to help manage use.
• Provide management strategies, such as seasonal guidelines to minimize impact from trail use, to ensure that significant features are protected and that the area provides a high quality user experience.

How will the Management Plan be developed?

• The existing conditions in the area were surveyed to update existing information in summer 2007.
• In 2008, City staff, the community and a consulting team (Douglas and Ruhland Associates with Daniel Brunton Consulting) will work together to develop the management plan.
• This will involve setting management objectives and priorities and looking at ways to meet these objectives over time.
• There will be consultation with residents and users through open houses, stakeholder consultation, and opportunities to review and respond to options presented.

Steps to date:

The project initiation open house was held on April 30 at the Kanata Old Town Hall. Approximately 100 people attended and many completed comment sheets which answered questions such as:

• How do you use the highlands?
• Where do you go in the highlands?
• What are the special features you value?
• What concerns should be aware of as we develop a management plan?

If you are interested in providing your response to these questions or following the plan preparation and getting on a contact list, please contact:

Martha Copestake
Forester - Planning
Land Use & Natural Systems
613-580-2424, ext. 17922
Martha.Copestake@ottawa.ca