It is depressing and…

It is depressing and frightening to see how often and how many of these ‘overall benefit’ requests are posted on the EBR. Even more worrisome, is knowing that most if not all requests will be granted. This request is a two-fold threat because not only does it threaten to destroy habitat for two species at risk, Blanding’s turtle and fox snake, it plans to do away with a wetland. Ironically, today as this comment is posted, February 2nd is World Wetlands Day, meant to draw attention to one of the most precious, and most abused, habitats on Planet Earth. In the last century alone, 64 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been eradicated, and more are being drained and bulldozed every day. According to Environment Canada, “… in southern Ontario, 68% of the original wetlands have been converted from their natural state to support alternative uses such as agriculture and housing.” https://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=27147C37-1 In 2015, Ontario Government under the MNRF recognizing the importance of preventing further loss and degradation of wetlands requested feedback on how to better ‘conserve;’ with the emphasis on the word ‘conserve’ wetlands. https://news.ontario.ca/mnr/en/2015/07/ontario-seeking-input-to-better-conserve-wetlands.html There should be no loss of wetlands - PERIOD. Southern Ontario wetlands are facing a the horrible prospect of disappearing completely because of the invasive plant Phragmites australis which is not being seriously addressed by any level of government so each and every piece of wetland must be considered most precious. The cumulative impact of this death by a thousand cuts filling small wetlands across southern Ontario is not considered. Aside from destroying a habitat that supports numerous other life forms aside from species at risk that are wetland dependent, the plan to “relocate all individuals that are encountered within the site to a safe location in accordance with SAR safe handling protocol before any construction activities occur.” is unworkable. The recent series Striking Balance – Georgian Bay demonstrated that when researchers moved massasauga rattlesnakes in their attempt to mitigate new highway construction, over 40% of the snakes returned to their original habitat. The species at risk turtles and snakes will die trying to go back to where they came from. Maintaining 89 hectares of managed wetland at a nearby property as habitat for Blanding’s Turtle and Eastern Foxsnake (Carolinian Population) including maintaining water levels suitable for Blanding’s Turtles is an unknown whether it will be successful or not. Parts of Ontario experienced severe drought conditions in 2016 which are ongoing. The MNRF does not follow up long term to see if the mitigation techniques have been successful and if they aren’t – what then? I know of several examples where mitigation techniques employed where SAR habitat was destroyed were failures and nothing comes of that – there are no penalties. This application flies in the face of conservation in so many ways and should be denied.