HomeMy WebLinkAboutAuthority #05/18 TRCA Guideline for Determining Ecosystem Compensation 06-22-2018 - web version.pdfEcosystem Compensation
TRCA Authority Meeting
June 22, 2018
Noah Gaetz, Senior Manager
Research and Knowledge Management
Background
•Science has shown that the natural heritage system must be expanded
to protect biodiversity and water resources; adapt to climate change and
contribute to healthy communities
•TRCA and our municipal partners are committed to protecting and
working to expand the natural system
•There is a strong protective policy framework within Ontario
•TRCA advises on natural heritage system protection in the development
and infrastructure review processes
Despite this, losses to natural features continue as our region develops
Background
•TRCA is continuously working to eliminate these losses
–Strengthening protective policy
–Advocating for improved community design
–Communicating the importance of natural systems
•In addition, ecosystem compensation has been used to help replace
lost ecosystem functions and services.
•Partially successful, but has suffered from:
–Lack of consistency and standards across the GTHA
–Lengthy negotiations
–Generally results in overall loss of ecosystem functions/services
Avoid
Minimize
Compensate
Mitigate
Improving Compensation Practice
•TRCA, and other CAs recognized
the opportunity to improve
compensation practice
•In 2014, The Living City Policies
was approved with a
recommendation for
compensation where features
were being removed
•Staff have now developed
guidelines and tools to inform the
four stages of compensation
planning and implementation
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Guided by policy: municipal,
provincial, federal as well as
The Living City Policies
Guided by TRCA
Ecosystem Compensation
Guideline and strategic
restoration planning
Guided by tracking
database and reporting
processes
TRCA Ecosystem Compensation Guideline
•The Guideline is a tool that supports The Living City Policies
•Determines compensation requirements after the decision to allow removals has been made
•Does not modify the existing review and approval processes
•Can be applied to any natural feature removal that has been determined to require compensation
through these processes
•The Guideline has gone through a collaborative and inclusive review process
•Engaged numerous stakeholders including municipalities, CAs, the Province, BILD
•Worked closely with Credit Valley Conservation
2015 2016 2017 2018
Circulated to public
agencies for review
Updated draft Guideline
Circulated to stakeholders
for final review
Finalize Guideline
•Balanced a number of different perspectives
•Reviewed approaches used by other
jurisdictions
TRCA Ecosystem Compensation Guideline
The Guideline:
•Establishes a method for determining compensation
requirements based on:
•restoring the lost ecosystem structure; and
•replacing the lost land area
•Uses increasing restoration ratios to help address the time
required to restore some ecosystem types and functions
•Does not duplicate compensation requirements from existing
municipal, provincial or federal processes
Residential development Municipal road widening
Illustrative Examples
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
0.5 hectare
isolated
marsh
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
2 hectares of
forest edge
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
1
2
Illustrative Examples
Compensation requirements are based on:
•The type of ecosystem removed
•The size of the removal
•The length of time to re-establish the
lost ecosystem functions
A marsh of the
same size must be
restored to replace
the loss.
A larger forest must be
restored to replace the
loss. Restoration size is
based on the maturity of
the forest removed.
Residential development Municipal road widening
Compensation
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
Compensation
Strategic restoration opportunities
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
Strategic restoration opportunities
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
Strategic restoration opportunities Strategic restoration opportunities
Residential development Municipal road widening
Determining when removals with
compensation is appropriate
Determining how much
compensation is required
Applying compensation
Tracking and reporting
compensation outcomes
1
2
3
4
Illustrative Examples
Strategic restoration opportunities Strategic restoration opportunities
Next Steps
•Work with partners and stakeholders in the early application of the Guideline
•On new applications and applications in review not yet approved
•On infrastructure project reviews
•Continue to track and report on ecosystem compensation outcomes
•Annual reporting to the Authority
•Continue to stay on top of the latest science and developments in ecosystem compensation
•Update and improve as needed in consultation with stakeholders