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---------- Original Message ----------
<br />From: Albert Hovingh <AHovingh@regionofwaterloo.ca>
<br />To: Neil Taylor <neiletaylor@sympatico.ca>
<br />Cc: Bruce Lauckner <BLauckner@regionofwaterloo.ca>, Kate Hagerman <KHagerman@regionofwaterloo.ca>
<br />Date: November 20, 2020 at 1:42 PM
<br />Subject: Re: Natural Heritage Lands in Hidden Valley, Kitchener
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Hi Neil,
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<br /> 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?
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> 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.
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<br /> I trust this is helpful.
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<br /> Albert
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>From:</strong> Neil Taylor <neiletaylor@sympatico.ca><br /> <strong>Sent:</strong> Wednesday, November 18, 2020 3:09:44 PM<br /> <strong>To:</strong> Albert Hovingh<br /> <strong>Cc:</strong> Bruce Lauckner<br /> <strong>Subject:</strong> Natural Heritage Lands in Hidden Valley, Kitchener</span>
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<p>Hi Albert</p>
<p>I sent a message to you re. the cutting of trees in Hidden Valley several months ago.</p>
<p>I am concerned that there are a great number of trees that are newly marked.</p>
<p>These are in the area that the Region has designated as Natural Heritage.</p>
<p>I seek answers to the following:</p>
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<li>Is there a Forest Management Plan in place for this area. If not, why not? If there is, please forward to me.</li>
<li>Who has marked the trees and under what supervision?</li>
<li>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?</li>
<li>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?</li>
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<p>I respectfully request a prompt response.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Neil (E. Taylor)</p>
<p>519-893-6469</p>
<p>Cc, B. Lauckner, CAO</p>
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<p class="io-ox-signature">https://www.flickr.com/photos/costa_rica_birds2012/<br /><br />“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)<br /><br />“The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.” - Claude Monet<br /><br />"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</p>
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