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Halton’s Regional Forests Income derived from the thinning process is put toward other forestry initiatives such as: • Maintaining the trails, parking lots, crossings and signs. • Ongoing reforestation projects of previously non-green land. • Planning, organization and health assessments of the forests. • Enforcement of Forest By-Laws and Proper Forest Usage • Informational Material • Invasive Species Control Projects • Forestry Programs Available to the Public • Wildlife Habitat Improvement. Britton Tract Natural Ecology: Nine of the 14 Forest Tracts are considered to be environmentally sensitive areas (ESA’s) with special ecology, and 6 Tracts form part of the larger Niagara Escarpment Plan Area – a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, recognized around the globe for its truly unique ecosystems. The Regional Forests are home to a variety of plants and animals along with a number of rare (or fragile) species including: • 65 rare or uncommon plants including the provincially rare Languid Poa, Handsome Sedge and Green Violet species. • Butternut, a tree species fighting extinction and recognized both provincially and nationally as endangered. • Over 95 species of birds including of Red-Shouldered Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher and Blackburnian Warbler all of which are sensitive to disturbance. • Numerous vernal pools - the sensitive breeding grounds for the threatened Jefferson Salamander, in fact the Forest Tracts offer some of the most premier amphibian habitat in Ontario. For more information on the Regional Forests or to reach Halton Forestry, please visit http://halton.ca/ppw/planning/Forest/default.htm Photo Credits: R. Reinholt R. Reitmeir B. van Ryswyk HaltonRegion Region Halton Dial 905-825-6000 311 or 905-825-6000 Toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866) Toll free: 1-866-4HALTON TTY 905-827-9833 TTY: 905-827-9833 www.halton.ca www.halton.ca LPS-09110 Halton’s Regional Forest Heritage: Regional Forest Tract Locations 30 SIDE RD E MAPLE AV Municipal Boundaries 17 SIDE RD 15 SIDE RD RD 5 SIDE RD Coulson STEELES MAIN ST DERRY RD TRAFALGAR RD Turner LLVILLE CAMPBE AVE HWY 40 1 EIGHTH LINE Cox FIFTH LINE 2 Kilometers GUELPH LINE 1 Snyder TWISS RD 0 MILBUROUGH LINE City of Hamilton Urban Areas Georgetown Regional Boundaries Britton Currie Hamlets SIXTH LINE Laking Forest Tracts 22 SIDE RD THIRD LINE 10 SIDE RD 40 1 Railway Line Acton Mahon HW Y Proposed Regional Roads FOURTH LINE Robertson Highway HWY 7 15 SIDE RD Elliott Highway on/off Ramps REG. RD 25 Finney Major Roads DUBLIN LINE FIFTH LINE 20 SIDE RD Puslinch How Far Have We Come? Legend 7 Local Roads NASS.-ESQ. TLINE SIXTH LINE Wellington County FOURTH LINE SECOND LINE Conley GUELPH LINE FIRST LINE NASS./PUSCHL. TLINE Frank HW Y Recreation and Activities: The late 1800’s saw excessive forest removal throughout Southern Ontario to produce lumber and clear the land for early wheat-growing settlers. Decades of forest removal soon led to unfavourable conditions; fertile soil became exhausted, lumbering ground to a halt, and blowsands grew so severe that roads became impassable and entire landscapes were changed forever. Settlers abandoned their livelihoods and municipalities assumed responsibility for their land. In 1908, a report titled the “Reforestation of Waste Lands in Southern Ontario” was prepared and the desperate need for reforestation became strikingly clear. Starting with the Counties Reforestation Act of 1911 the Agreement Forest Program was formed under the Department of Lands and Forests, now the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The program faced the challenge of rehabilitating over 350,000 acres of land, a task that would span nearly 100 years, ending in 2002. Throughout its lifetime the program has played a critical role in promoting education and public involvement in forest management. As new discoveries in environmental science and natural resource management were made, many have been incorporated into the workings of the program including: wetland conservation, erosion protection, water recharge preservation and endangered species rehabilitation. Halton Region first acquired land for reforestation in 1939 beginning with the Cox Tract and entered the Agreement Forest Program in 1950. Since that time the Regional Forests have grown to over 1600 acres of forests on 14 tracts of land. Halton’s Regional Forests are a beautiful and important reminder of the critical role played by natural areas in our modern landscape. Yellow Spotted Salamander West Virginia White Butterfly State of Eastern Ontario’s Forests, EOMF Snyder Tract Forest Management: Management of the Halton Regional Forest is guided by the Halton Regional Forest Management Plan (HRFMP). Assessment and monitoring is carried out in order to identify the forests’ health and to schedule management activities. All Forest Tracts are managed with the primary goal of maximizing forest health and enjoyment. When necessary, action is taken to uphold the health of the forests and their ecosystems and to maintain safe and functional access. Another important function of the Management Plan is to tend to the many conifer plantations throughout the Forest Tracts. The plantations began long ago, serving as both an initial step toward reforestation and as a potential source of timber. Over time, the goal for these plantations has changed from profit to health, conservation and forest conversion. Many plantations have matured and require thinning to reduce the negative effects of overcrowding. The outcome of selection harvest is to create open gaps allowing for sunlight and the natural colonization of hardwood species to establish and develop. As time goes on and the new growth matures, more of the planted softwood will be removed allowing the forest to convert to a healthy stand of native tree species. The Regional Forests offer a wide range of activities to allow responsible year round enjoyment. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and birdwatching are common spring and summer activities while snowshoeing, dog-sledding and cross-country skiing offer chances to enjoy the forests in winter months. While enjoying the Forest Tracts please respect the delicate and important ecological areas you are travelling through. Stay on the formal paths and help preserve the unique natural systems around you. Maps of the Forest Tract trails can be found at all main entrances and are available online for download. Motorized vehicles are not permitted for recreational use within the Forest Tracts. A Halton Regional Forest Advisory Committee has been developed to advise and assist the Region with respect to the implementation of the HRFMP. Robertson Tract Note: Hunting deer by shotgun or archery is permitted in 12 of the 14 Forest Tracts provided that it is conducted during the period designated by the Minister of Natural Resources and by following all proper MNR hunting practices and regulations. Each individual is responsible for knowing and following all proper hunting regulations and practices. Hunting is not allowed in the Cox and Coulson Tracts.