Sudbury task force finds protecting 30% of lands, water by 2030 beneficial, feasible
The City of Greater Sudbury is well on its way to protecting 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030 as part of a national initiative to reverse the decline in biodiversity and fight climate change.
The mayor's 30 x 30 task force was tasked with finding out if this was something that is feasible and beneficial for the city and it came back with an update during Tuesday's council meeting.
"Thirty percent of the land and water in Sudbury is 109,000 hectares," Franco Mariotti, the task force chairperson, said.
"What we’ve recognized as existing is already over a third, 40,000 hectares, that’s just existing. There’s no debate about those, they’re already protected."
Mayor Paul Lefebvre said Greater Sudbury has been recognized as a global leader in ecological restoration.
"Our community enjoys access to vast greenspaces and 330 lakes," Lefebvre said.
"This initiative provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the federal government’s 30x30 pledge and to continue to demonstrate how our natural environment mitigates climate change impacts and enhances our quality of life."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The city’s commitment can only include protecting lands that are publicly-owned and managed, such as city-owned parks, open spaces or Crown land, in coordination with the province.
"At the heart of those lands that will be protected is to maintain a sustainable habitat for all creatures that live there, but it doesn’t mean that we are kept out, we will have access to all of those places," Mariotti said.
A motion was voted unanimously in favor of the group working towards this goal by applying to have some lakes, as well as all lands that are already recognized as parks and public green space, considered for inclusion in the federal database.
Junction Creek in Greater Sudbury. May 1, 2024 (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV Northern Ontario)
Over the coming months, the mayor’s 30x30 task force will prepare a preliminary list of recommended existing sites that are suitable first candidates.
They will also prepare a community engagement plan to consult on these sites and broader 30x30 goals."You're not just doing this as a silo, you’re reaching out to other community partners, you’re including Indigenous Peoples, the public, business owners and community groups," Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti said.
"So it's not saying 'We’re disregarding the developers, we don’t want development.' We all know development needs to occur, but we're also being cognitive of the fact that our community needs to grow in the right way and we need to preserve what we have."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
'A really bad car crash': Why health experts are raising concerns over surging syphilis cases
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that was once thought to be a thing of the past is now a public health priority for North American doctors.
Purolator truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. save man walking in Hwy. 407 lanes
A pair of Purolator transport truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. are being hailed as heroes for their efforts in helping a person in crisis.
Trudeau responds to American senators calling on Canada to increase defence spending
Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.
Toddler dies after being struck by recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
Milk sold in Canadian grocery stores tested for avian influenza; results released
As avian flu spreads south of the border, Canadian officials are now testing samples of milk sold in grocery stores across the country.