Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

pests will not be controlled unless they threaten significant park values, such as
vegetation communities or heritage structures, or if they threaten public well-being.
When necessary, park staff will be educated to recognize the various life stages of
serious insect pests, and will cooperate with OMNR and Canadian Forestry Service
(CFS) staff in monitoring programs. Control methods used should give preference to
non-chemical and species-specific treatments when possible, and should be considered
in discussion with the Forest Health Unit and zone office staff.
• Native insect pest outbreaks and diseases are natural processes and
should not be controlled unless significant values within or adjacent to the
park are threatened or the pest is a recent invader to Ontario. Forest
Health Unit and zone office staff must be consulted.
Fire Management
MNR recognizes fire as an essential ecosystem process, fundamental to restoring and
maintaining the ecological integrity of protected areas in the Deciduous Forest Region.
Studies of the historical role of fire in this region are limited. Though fire did occur
occasionally, it was much less common than in other forest regions. Aboriginal use of
fire may have been a significant factor but its extent and impacts are not well understood
(Van Sleeuwen, 2006).
The Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario (OMNR 2004a) provides strategic
direction for the management of wildfire across Ontario. Sandbanks Provincial Park is in
the Southern Ontario Fire Management Zone according to this provincial strategy. Fire
management involves the protection of values and attainment of resource stewardship
objectives in two ways:
• Fire response: the protection of people, property, and natural areas from wildfire
• Fire use: the strategy of maintaining fire as an ecological process through the
application or management of prescribed fire
Given the size and shape of the park, its proximity to adjacent developed areas, and the
fuel load in the plantations, fire management within Sandbanks will focus on protection
of public health and safety, property and infrastructure. Therefore all forest fires will
receive a full response and sustained action. Sustained action, if required, will be
directed through an approved Fire Assessment Report that has been developed in
consultation between the Park Superintendent or Zone Manager and authorized fire
management personnel.
“Light on the land” fire suppression techniques will be used whenever feasible. These
minimal impact suppression techniques do not unduly disturb natural or cultural values.
Examples may include limiting the use of heavy equipment or the felling of trees during
fire response.
Consistent with the Ontario FireSmart program, a forest fire hazard identification and risk
assessment should be completed for park infrastructure, and steps taken to reduce or
mitigate the threat posed by fire to park infrastructure.
Response for structural fires and forest fires is guided by a municipal forest fire
management agreement between the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR)
and the municipality.
Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan 14 of 28
Ontario Parks, SE Zone
2009