I am concerned about the…

I am concerned about the protection and management of important Piping Plover habitat at Wasaga Beach. I do not live in Ontario, but the conservation of species is an international and important concern that I feel strongly about. An example of the international nature of conservation is that Piping Plovers returned to breed on the shores of Ontario’s Great Lakes in 2007 after a 30-year absence, thanks largely to major conservation efforts in the United States. Habitats like the ones Piping Plovers nest at in Wasaga Beach are increasingly rare. Piping Plovers make their homes on wide sandy beaches with a mix of vegetation, pebbles, driftwood and dunes.

The change to the management of this habitat must include an outcome that continues to conserve the plovers. Great strides have been made in helping this highly endangered species and the transfer of this management to the Town of Wasaga Beach cannot destroy all the work that has been done.

Piping Plovers must be meaningfully integrated into the beach management plan at Wasaga Beach. Currently, the only condition proposed in the land transfer is that the beach remains public. If the transfer goes ahead, you, as the Province need to include conditions or commitments that help support Piping Plover conservation and habitat protection.

The Ontario Government must ensure that Piping Plovers are conserved and protected by a science-based management plan and resources that:
• Reduces threats to Piping Plover and their habitat year-round by restricting mechanical raking so that the habitat is not destroyed, prohibiting dune alteration, and protecting nests with fenced buffer zones and natural predator mitigations.
• Requires that dogs must not be able to access this area during the breeding season.
• Commits funding to protect, conserve, and steward Piping Plovers, their nests, and their habitats.
• Engages experts like Birds Canada at development and implementation phases.

Thank you for your consideration of this comment.