Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

Summary of Key Management Recommendations
All park staff involved with operations potentially affecting Sandbanks’ vegetation
communities will be required to be familiar with this plan’s intent and specific directives.
Operations and Maintenance Policies (Section 3.1)
• Herbicide use is restricted and must be in compliance with provincial regulations
(p. 12)
• Herbicide use must be kept to a minimum, using suggested chemicals and
avoiding areas where park visitors and staff may contact it (p. 12)
• Unless it is unsafe to do so, windthrown and dead standing trees should be left in
place as they serve important ecological functions. Refer to Appendix A for a
decision guide (p. 13)
• When woody material must be removed from the site, it will be used to create
brush piles for restoration, chipped for trail maintenance, or salvaged for firewood
(p. 13)
• 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. (p. 14)
• Fire management will be in accordance with existing policies and strategies (p.
15)
• Mowing will be done to the least extent possible, and will not damage natural
vegetation or trees. A mowing plan will be developed (p. 15)
• Leaves and vegetation debris will be disposed of in a composting area (p. 15)
• Native trees and shrubs from a local source will be used for landscaping (p. 16)
Protection and Education Policies (Section 3.2)
• Any proposed developments in nature reserve and natural environment zones
require consultation with zone ecologist (p. 16)
• Plant and seed collection must be approved through a research permit or an
agreement with an Aboriginal user (p. 18)
• The NHE program should continue to include messages about vegetation
stewardship (p. 19)
• All staff must ensure locations of species at risk are kept confidential (p. 16)
Restoration Activities Policies (Section 3.3)
• Habitat destruction in development zones will be assessed and mitigated where
feasible. (p. 20)
• Local native stock will be used for all planting and restoration in the park. (p. 20)
Invasive and Exotic Species (Section 3.4)
• Aggressive invasive species should be controlled when possible following
approved guidelines. (p. 20)
• Invasive species that may pose a threat to park environments should be
monitored. (p. 20)
• Test plots will be established to determine the threat of Purple Loosestrife (p. 21)
• Many ornamental shrubs, periwinkle (myrtle), ground ivy, euphorbias, bellflower,
orange day lily, and sweet violet must not be used in landscaping and should be
removed where established (p. 21)
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