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KAWARTHA HIGHLANDS SIGNATURE SITE PARK
ACT
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At 37,587 hectare (92,879.499732 acres), Kawartha
Highlands is a large, relatively intact natural area and is part of
a forest landscape that joins it to major protected areas to the north
(Algonquin Provincial Park and Silent Lake Provincial Park), the east
(Petroglyphs Provincial Park, the Peterborough Crown Game Preserve and
the Sharpe Bay Fen Conservation Reserve), the west (Queen Elizabeth
II Wildlands and Kawartha Barrens Enhanced Management Area) and the
south (Wolf Island Provincial Park). Its extensive forests, rock barrens,
lakes, rivers and wetlands provide diverse habitat for at least 37 mammal
species (or 53% of the provincial total); 176 bird species, of which
146 have shown evidence of breeding within the park area (representing
51% of bird species that breed in Ontario); 13 species of reptiles;
16 species of amphibians; 74 species of dragonflies and damselflies;
65 species of butterflies; and 688 species of vascular plants, of which
628 are native to the region.
~ Park Management Planning Ontario Parks is responsible for preparing management plans for all provincial parks in the province. Management plans address topics such as zoning, resource management, operations, development and seasonal activities. Management planning for the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park began during the summer of 2005. The Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Act, 2003 (KHSSP Act) provided for the establishment of a Management Advisory Board which will play a substantial role in management planning, working closely with Ontario Parks as an integral part of the planning team. As required, advice and support will be encouraged from the general public, Aboriginal communities, stakeholder groups, non-government organizations and the academic community. The roles and responsibilities for the team were outlined in the Terms of Reference document. The management plan addresses a wide range of issues, incorporates the direction identified in the legislation and Charter and establishes broad resource management policies for the park. The management plan and the resource management policies provide management prescriptions for the traditional uses that occur within the area. The management plan contains provisions that the protection of the ecological integrity of the park is recognized as the overriding priority in the management and administration of the park, so as to preserve, protect and enhance the natural composition and abundance of native species, biological communities and ecological processes in the park (Section 2 of the KHSSP Act). While the management plan sets the overall direction for the management
of the park, specific actions needed to implement the plan may be
provided in subsequent plans and strategies. These implementation
plans will provide further detailed guidance for the operation, management
and protection of the parks resources, and managing traditional uses. MNR will establish a local stakeholder committee to work with the Ministry
and Ontario Parks to determine the most appropriate protection designation
for the area - provincial park or conservation reserve. The committee
will also assist in finalizing the protected area boundary; developing
management policies; and developing and implementing co-stewardship
management of the area. Private land within the area will not be affected
by the land use designation.
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