Natural Heritage

What is Natural Heritage?

Natural Heritage refers to the landscape in a natural vegetated state. This can consist of woodlands, valleylands, watersheds, wetlands, prairie, meadowlands, swamps, marshes, fence rows, treed windbreaks and ditchbanks, and restored site and plantations.

Why is Natural Heritage important?

Natural Heritage is a vital component in the overall health of our communities. Natural Heritage lands provide habitat for wildlife, filter and clean our watercourses and drinking water, support our foodchains and health, and provide greenspace for recreation. These natural systems also offset the impacts of a changing climate such as increasing flooding, drought, urban heat island impacts and air pollution. The balance of the natural environment with the built community environment not only ensures a high quality of life for our citizens and visitors, but also helps in sustainability for future generations and ecosystem health both on a local scale and globally.

How does the Town support the protection of Natural Heritage?

Through overwhelming response and input from the public during the strategic planning process, it was outlined that protection of our natural environment and community health was a top priority. In response, the Town of Essex is pursuing paths to achieve the goals of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan through the following initiative programs:

• Community Services Master Plan
• Parks Tree inventory
• Memorial Tree Program
• Climate Ready: Climate Adaptation Plan strategic goals
• Shade Tree & Windbreak initiatives in parks and sports fields
• Contributions to ERCA's Clean Water Green Spaces programs
• Work with our partners, levels of government, and public programs to link trail systems
  • CWATS (County of Essex)
  • ERCA Conservation Areas and Trails
• Support Source Water Protection initiatives Watershed Health | ERCA (essexregionconservation.ca), such as protecting drinking water at the source such as creeks, drains , and ensuring Town policies are in place through legislation

Visit Local Natural Heritage Parks

What can you do to help us achieve Natural Heritage goals together?

Volunteer

• Volunteer at a local parks clean up event. Check out the Community Calendar for upcoming events.

• Organize a Fundraiser or make a donation for tree planting at your favourite local park. Contact the Town of Essex at 519-776-7336 ext.1100.
• Participate in a local parks clean-up program or help out in neighbourhood watch to deter vandalism.
• Contact the Nature Conservancy of Canada if you wish to donate your lands for protection of natural heritage
• Explore the ERCA Calendar for new and interesting events, important gatherings, and opportunities to join conservation all across the watershed.

Take Action

• Plant trees on your private property
• Join in on a neighbourhood public urban garden, or buy local at a farmers market
• Convert a portion of your property for a natural habitat, wetland, or native prairie

• Protect the legacy of your woodlot for future generations through establishing a Conservation Easement
• Create a pollinator garden on your property
• Apply for a grant through ERCA's restoration programs
• Enroll in an agricultural stewardship program
• Learn how to manage and protect natural elements
• Contact the Planning Department to learn about conservation easement

Tax Incentive Programs

• Register you woodlot under a Managed Forest Tax Incentive program
• Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program, for wetlands and areas of natural and scientific interest.

Learn

• Learn about nest box programs for: Eastern Blue Birds, Wood Ducks, Kestrals, Screech Owls, Purple Martins, and Bat Boxes.
  • Ducks Unlimited Canada
  • Barn Owl Recovery Strategy
• Research your ecological impact on the environment

Report

• Report invasive species
• Report a wildlife sighting

• Report a Species at Risk sighting

• Become a Birder or nature enthusiast and report your local sightings:
  • e-bird
  • Nature Watch
  • Ontario Turtle
  • Natural Heritage Information Centre