Management & Stewardship Plans
 

A component of D&A’s restoration and conservation work is the preparation of management and stewardship plans.  The objective of these plans is to provide a framework for the conservation and/or ongoing management of a site’s natural heritage features which takes into account the site’s existing conditions and policy framework.  These plans vary in their scope and application, but can include Ravine Stewardship Plans, landowner stewardship information brochures, and Species-at-Risk recovery strategies.

D&A Approach

D&A regularly offers practical and effective protection, mitigation and stewardship strategies to help manage natural heritage features and functions in urban, rural, and protected park settings.  Our work often begins with wildlife and vegetation surveys and a review of background material to gain an understanding of the site’s existing conditions and landscape context.  Client and landowner consultation are often critical, as the long-term viability of these plans depend on the cooperation and participation of landowners to both agree with the restoration initially and to assist in maintaining the restored ecosystem over the long term.  Final reports synthesize the results of the investigations and provide detailed recommendations for the ongoing management and stewardship of the study subject. 

For projects with specific submission guidelines (i.e. Ravine Stewardship Plans, COSEWIC Recovery Strategies & Status Updates), we follow the established system to ensure that our final products are acceptable for the reviewing agency.

D&A Expertise

Our Ecologists have extensive expertise in the ecosystems of southern Ontario, and our Landscape Architects have a solid understanding of the theory and application of ecological restoration.  Together our team can provide scientifically-based, practical, and efficient management and stewardship plans tailored to suit each project’s needs.  For projects involving complex public engagement strategies, we partner with well-established companies with decades of experience in this work.

D&A’s Ecologists are also skilled at identification, habitat assessment and provision of management recommendations for plant and wildlife Species at Risk (SAR), and have been involved in rare species studies and the development of several reports and Recovery Strategies. 

Examples of our Work

• Management Plans (Ravine Stewardship Plans, public and private land management)
• Landowner Education & Stewardship (information packages, brochures, interpretive signage)
• Species-at-Risk planning (COSEWIC Recovery Strategies & Status Updates)