[All] Natural Heritage Lands in Hidden Valley, Kitchener

Tue Nov 24 07:00:34 EST 2020

> 
>         > > ---------- Original Message ----------
> >         From: Albert Hovingh <AHovingh at regionofwaterloo.ca>
> >         To: Neil Taylor <neiletaylor at sympatico.ca>
> >         Cc: Bruce Lauckner <BLauckner at regionofwaterloo.ca>, Kate Hagerman
> > <KHagerman at regionofwaterloo.ca>
> >         Date: November 20, 2020 at 1:42 PM
> >         Subject: Re: Natural Heritage Lands in Hidden Valley, Kitchener
> > 
> > 
> >          
> > 
> >         Hi Neil,
> > 
> >         As far as I am aware, there have been no additional trees marked at
> > Hidden Valley since it was originally marked late last year. If you believe
> > that there are recently marked trees, please let me know where this has
> > occurred and I will follow up to confirm. Are the markings visible from the
> > road or do you have to enter onto the Pearl Valley Development property to
> > see them?
> > 
> >         If there is a Forest Management Plan in place for this site, it is
> > the property of Pearl Valley Development and you will have to ask them to
> > take a look at it. I have not seen such a document as it is not a
> > requirement of a permit application.
> > 
> >         I can tell you that the trees have been marked by a Registered
> > Professional Forester (RPF) employed by a local forestry consulting firm
> > with many years of experience in Southern Ontario hardwoods forestry (both
> > Carolinian and Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest types) on private lands as
> > well as on municipally-owned lands.
> > 
> >         Forest management involves the management of all trees with the end
> > goal of a vigorous mature forest comprising a variety of species and ages of
> > trees. This entails the removal of healthy trees as well as declining trees
> > or trees of poor form or quality. Simply removing non-viable or poor quality
> > trees is no more proper forest management than removing only healthy mature
> > trees. Good forestry practices do not destroy woodlands and/or associated
> > habitats.
> > 
> >         There are inevitably impacts that occur as result of forestry
> > operations, regardless of the care taken and the skill of the contractor,
> > but these tend to be temporary and are, in fact, often beneficial to the
> > health of the forest. For instance, the action of dragging trees out to the
> > landing area (where they are sorted and piled prior to removal to a mill)
> > provides site scarification that improves germination and establishment of
> > natural vegetation.
> > 
> >         Occasional minor damage to tree stems does occur. Sometimes trees
> > are chosen deliberately to serve as pivot points at a turning location but
> > these so-called "bumper trees" are selected to save impacts to their
> > neighbours. When the work is completed, if the damage is excessive the
> > bumper trees are removed. We (myself as well as the forestry consultants) do
> > monitor the ongoing work and if we think that insufficient care is being
> > taken, we work with the contractor to alter their practices in order to
> > reduce negative impacts.
> > 
> >         I believe that the management that is taking place at Hidden Valley
> > will not reduce the area's natural heritage value. Although it might be
> > argued that it would be preferable to leave a few more of the large decaying
> > trees that can serve as wildlife habitat, the fact is that while this is
> > private property (posted) it is regularly used by the public and thus
> > requires some extra due diligence from a hazard and liability perspective.
> > 
> >         I trust this is helpful.
> > 
> >         Albert
> > 
> > 
> >          
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >         [1584969198720]
> > 
> >         ---------------------------------------------
> >         From: Neil Taylor <neiletaylor at sympatico.ca>
> >         Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 3:09:44 PM
> >         To: Albert Hovingh
> >         Cc: Bruce Lauckner
> >         Subject: Natural Heritage Lands in Hidden Valley, Kitchener
> >          
> > 
> >         Hi Albert
> > 
> >         I sent a message to you re. the cutting of trees in Hidden Valley
> > several months ago.
> > 
> >         I am concerned that there are a great number of trees that are newly
> > marked.
> > 
> >         These are in the area that the Region has designated as Natural
> > Heritage.
> > 
> >         I seek answers to the following:
> > 
> >             * Is there a Forest Management Plan in place for this area. If
> > not, why not?  If there is, please forward to me.
> >             * Who has marked the trees and under what supervision?
> >             * While some trees have degradation, a good number are viable
> > and healthy.  What is the purpose of destroying a natural heritage site that
> > is within the habitat of the endangered Jefferson Salamander?
> >             * Earlier logging destroyed spring ephemeral plants as well as
> > leather wood and scarred the trunks of viable trees and saplings .  Since
> > the property is expected to devolve to the municipality as planning goes
> > forward, what natural heritage will be left?
> > 
> >         I respectfully request  a prompt response.
> > 
> >         Sincerely,
> > 
> >         Neil (E. Taylor)
> > 
> >         519-893-6469
> > 
> >         Cc, B. Lauckner, CAO
> > 
> >     > 
> 
>      
> 


https://www.flickr.com/photos/costa_rica_birds2012/

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803-1882)

“The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.” -
Claude Monet

"In the end, we conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand
and we will understand only what we are taught." -- Baba Dioum
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