People who use Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) property can share their views about the features and facilities they use and suggest improvements.
Projects Coordinator Kate Monk said the ABCA's 3,616 hectares of land was acquired for purposes like flood control and conservation, but they are also used for education and recreation. There are 30 kilometres of trails owned or managed by the ABCA. Conservation areas have trails, pavilions, privies, boardwalks, and bridges.
"So with our conservation authority lands, we're always balancing protecting the environment with the use of the lands by the public because they are important green spaces for people to hike and use for things like that," Monk said.
Monk added a lot has changed and a new Conservation Lands Strategy will update documents that are about 20 years old.
"Things that have changed through the pandemic, the use of our lands increased greatly by members of the public and still it's a substantial number of people," said Monk. "So how do we, you know, provide them with safe spaces, and yet still protect the environment. So it's a balancing act that we look at."
Thousands of people use ABCA conservation lands for hiking, nature appreciation, bird watching, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. And thousands of school children learn more about nature at the properties. Hunters can also use certain properties.
"We don't have good statistics on how many people use our lands or what they're using for," explained Monk. "And so we would like to find out why people visit our lands, how often they visit, and then what can we do to better protect the lands and what can we do to make their visitor experience better?"
A survey is available so people who use conservation areas and other ABCA properties can share their opinions.
"So we have a survey that's live now, and its very simple to survey monkey and people can access that survey on our website at abca.ca and it takes just a few minutes to complete and if people could finish that survey by the second week of December by December 7, that would be greatly appreciated," continued Monk.
Monk pointed out the updated plan will guide the stewardship, restoration, and visitor use of its conservation areas and other ABCA properties. The information collected in the survey will help the Authority prepare the land use and financial plan.
"Right now we're working on background information," said Monk. "And so we hope to get the plan developed this winter, and then there'll be an opportunity for the public to review the plan and then provide their input to that."
The presence and increase of invasive species and forest pests are among the environmental issues and challenges facing conservation lands. Flooding and weather variability, as the climate continues to change, are also environmental issues and challenges.
A link to the survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023-conservation-lands-strategy-survey) is on the abca.ca website on the public consultation page (https://www.abca.ca/involved/consultation/). The deadline to complete the survey is December 7.