Page 7 - Huronia Community Foundation - 2023 Vital Signs Report

LAND COVERAGE & INVASIVE SPECIES

• Over 70% of North Simcoe and area are under natural
land cover that provides wildlife habitat.
• Just over 15% of North Simcoe and area is productive
agricultural land and located in the Simcoe County
portion (13).
• Nearly 50 Provincially Significant Wetlands (14)
• More than 40 Species at Risk (15)
• Over 80 invasive species identified, with targeted
monitoring and/or management for 8 species (16)

FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS THE WYE MARSH PROVIDES EDUCATION AND
The Vital Signs surveys indicated that residents DAY CAMP ADVENTURES
and business owners are concerned about Photo courtesy of the Wye Marsh.
the environment, identifying issues like water
quality, climate change and loss of habitat, B R I GH T L I GH T
natural heritage and farmland as top issues
(17). Across North Simcoe and area, there are a A Climate Change
number of volunteers participating in a variety Solutions Park
of citizen science programs, demonstrating announced in September
the power of positive action by those who 2022, is a partnership
are connected to their local environment. between the Town
To combat environmental issues, solutions of Penetanguishene
must include introducing new technologies, and York University,
engaging and empowering people from and will be located in
all ages, going beyond the normal scope the Penetanguishene
of outreach, adapting existing policies, Ecology Garden at 144
working with stakeholders, promoting active Fox Street (19).
stewardship, and strategically allocating
funding (18). REFERENCES
1. Environment Survey Analysis, HCF 2022
THREATS & TRENDS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: 2. Ecosystems of Ontario Part 1: Ecozones and
• Sodium and chloride Ecoregions, Ministry of Natural Resources and
• Nutrients and algae blooms Forestry 2009
• Invasive species 3. Municipal Boundary – Lower and Single Tier layer,
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 2019
• Climate change 4. Environmental Focus Group, HCF 2022
5. Monitoring, Severn Sound Environmental
Huronia Community Foundation recognizes Association 2022
the significant contribution of Severn Sound 6. Ontario Well Records, Ministry of Environment,
Environmental Association Staff and Alexandra Conservation and Parks 2022
Sbrocchi, University of Guelph student to the 7. Severn Sound Drinking Water Source Protection
Assessment Report, South Georgian Bay-Lake
creation of the Environmental section of this report.
Simcoe Source Protection Committee 2015
To get more in-depth on this issue, and 8. Beaches, Severn Sound Environmental
potential solutions, go to Call to Action. Association 2010 and municipal Parks Dept.
websites
9. Climate Atlas of Canada, V2, 2019

North Simcoe and Area’s Vital Signs Report 2023 | 7