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Ontario Provincial Policy Statement

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LINK: http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page215.aspx

Description

Section 2.1 of the Provincial Policy Statement (Natural Heritage Policies) protects natural heritage features and areas, including significant wetlands, from incompatible development. Development and site alteration is: - not permitted in significant wetlands south and east of the Canadian Shield - not permitted in significant coastal wetlands - not permitted in significant wetlands in the Canadian Shield unless the ecological function of the wetland has been evalauted and there will be no negative impacts on the natural features or the ecological functions - not permitted on lands adjacent to significant wetlands unless the ecological function of the wetland has been evaluated and there will be no negative impacts on the natural features or on the ecological functions "Significant" in regard to wetlands (and coastal wetlands) means an area identified as provincially significant by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources using evaluation procedures established by the Province, as amended from time to time. The only evaluation procedure used to evaluated wetlands is called the "Ontario Wetland Evaluation System" (or OWES), and can be found at http://ontario.ca/conservingwetlands. The terms "site alteration" and "development" are also defined in the policy.

Additional Information:

Regions: Ontario, Canada

Submitted by: WetlandNetwork