Press Release
For Immediate Release
|
For More Information
Cynthia Shipley
416 392-5938 |
Ontario ripe for change in the development of important road crossings for
wildlife
North American experts note Ontario way behind
March 22, 2007, Toronto: Experts on the transportation impacts on wildlife
conclude Ontario’s first ever three-day “Roads & Ecopassages Forum” hosted at the
Toronto Zoo, with Parks Canada, Environment Canada Habitat Stewardship Program,
and Banrock Stations Wetland Foundation. Today’s final session focuses on the
development of an action plan to improve road safety from animal collisions and reduce
the tremendous loss of wildlife on roads and highways.
Road ecology is a growing field that explores the impacts of transportation
infrastructure on wildlife and examines potential solutions for new and existing
transportation networks to mitigate the influence on wildlife. One of the most effective
solutions is to take proactive measures by designing roads that minimize landscape
fragmentation and that include wildlife ecopassages.
Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts, pointed out that Ontario’s stream crossing
guidelines are excellent but road crossings for wildlife are far behind those used in
British Columbia and many US States. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is in the
process of including new crossings for moose, deer, bear and turtles near Parry Sound
but there is an acute lack of crossings elsewhere in the Province.
“Ontario is ripe for change. With increasing development pressures these is no time to
wait. Ontario has everything it needs to address the problem and create a future
landscape for people and wildlife that we all want” comments Trish White of Defenders
of Wildlife. Other key note speakers include Dr. Patricia Cramer, Utah State University,
Matt Aresco, Lake Jackson Ecopassage Alliance, Florida and Dr. Lenore Fahrig,
Carleton University.
Where: Toronto Zoo
When: 12:00pm, March 22, 2007 - Final day of Forum
