Management and Stewardship Plans
Take hold of robust and realistic conservation plans for a greener future.
We prepare management and stewardship plans that ensure a site’s natural heritage features will thrive in the years to come. In urban, rural and protected park settings, we navigate stakeholders, policy, wildlife habitat, and development and conservation goals to create an effective plan for your site.
More than just ecology
At Dougan Ecology we are experts in ecological assessment, restoration and conservation - but we also do more. Our integrated team of ecologists, GIS-experts, project managers and landscape architects work together to move your conservation goals forward.
We start with the right information
From fieldwork to GIS analysis, our team uses cutting-edge methodology to review your site’s existing condition and landscape context. We conduct wildlife and vegetation surveys including species identification, habitat assessment, identifying species-at-risk and rare species studies.
We navigate stakeholders and agency compliance
We conduct client and landowner consultations to inspire partnership and ensure the viability of long-term plans. With your goals at the forefront, we consider policy guidelines and specific requirements from reviewing agencies (such as the Ravine Stewardship Plan and COSEWIC).
We create the deliverables you need
Our final reports synthesize scientifically-based results and provide detailed practical recommendations for efficient, ongoing management and stewardship.
As requested, we can include additional resources such as:
- Ravine stewardship plans
- Landowner education information packages, brochures and interpretive signage
- Species-at-risk planning and recovery strategies
- Other custom reports
Embrace a future inspired by nature.
We are passionate about creating places where ecology thrives. You can trust us to offer quality services for environmental assessment, planning and problem-solving.
Frequently asked questions about management and stewardship plans
Management and Stewardship Plans are strategic documents that outline actions to protect, conserve, and enhance natural heritage and biodiversity over time. Developed by ecological consultants, they integrate environmental assessments, stakeholder input, and policy frameworks to support long-term, successful land stewardship.
A standard plan includes:
- Ecological inventory and site assessment
- Historical land-use review
- Identification of key natural heritage features
- Species-at-risk and rare species assessments
- Habitat connectivity and fragmentation analysis
- Threats and opportunity evaluation
- Long-term goals and performance indicators
- Monitoring and adaptive management strategies
- Recommendations aligned with restoration and climate adaptation goals
Dougan Ecology uses a multidisciplinary approach combining ecological science, GIS mapping, and community collaboration. Our team conducts detailed fieldwork and leverages our experience in consulting and policy interpretation to develop realistic, tailored strategies that achieve ecological and landowner goals.
A Ravine Stewardship Plan focuses on protecting and restoring urban ravine systems. These plans address vegetation communities, hydrology, erosion, trail use, and public awareness. In cities like Toronto, they are crucial to balancing ecological integrity with urban access and use. Dougan Ecology integrates nature-based solutions to manage these complex, dynamic environments.
