1. Background
Goals of the Oro Moraine Project
The forested hills of the Oro Moraine, which stretch from Bass Lake to near Midhurst, have been identified as one of the most significant natural landscapes in this region. This study was undertaken to provide a tool for better understanding the biological functions of the Moraine, as well determining pressures and impacts of human encroachment.
The findings of this survey will be used to educate landowners about the importance of their woodlands to the overall biological health of the Moraine, as well as encouraging and supporting their individual interests in good stewardship and longer-term conservation projects.
The Oro Moraine Habitat Project, which began in the fall of 2000, has three goals:
• to compile and analyze site-specific information on ecological significance and land use threats;
• to educate and involve landowners in conservation of forests on the Moraine; and
• to enlist the participation of a range of conservation agencies in specific, targeted protection projects.
This report summarizes the findings of the biological field work, and thus relates primarily to the first goal.
Project Partners
Support for this project has been provided by:
_ The Ontario Trillium Foundation
_ The EJLB Foundation
_ Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club
_ North Simcoe Private Land Stewardship Network
_ Sir Sandford Fleming College
_ Casino Rama
_ Ontario Stewardship Opportunity Fund
_ Ontario Nature Trust Assistance Program
_ The McLean Foundation
_ TD Friends of The Environment Foundation
_ Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation
Most of the field work for this study was carried out by David J. Hawke,
a local naturalist and writer who lives within the Moraine. Kerry Green coordinated landowner contacts and project administration. Field assistance was also provided by Catherine Trainor and Juliana Hawke. In later stages of the project, Ron Reid took on the coordinating role for the project.
The Oro Moraine Habitat Project was guided by a Technical Committee, comprised of several members of The Couchiching Conservancy. They were:
| Sandy Agnew |
Margo Holt |
| Gord Ball |
Ron Reid |
| Ted Duncan |
Jack Seigel |
| Kim Gavine |
Dave Wilkins |
| Janet Grand |
|
2. The Study Process
Field work for this study took place over the spring to fall seasons of 2001 and 2002, with related preparation, landowner contact, and reporting activities extending into the winter seasons.
Identifying Boundaries for the Moraine and for Study Sites
A boundary for the Oro Moraine was needed to determine where to concentrate field study efforts. Defining a specific boundary was difficult due to the mix of soil types, geological history, water discharge/recharge areas, and municipal/political lines that intersect with this area.
Four different boundaries were considered:
- a preliminary boundary established for a GIS mapping project by Sir Sanford Fleming College students;
- a topographical boundary set at a common elevation (875 foot);
- soils mapping of Taiga sandy loam, Vasey loamy sand, Sargent sand;
- a planning boundary proposed by Azimuth Environmental Consulting Inc. for the Township planning study.
In the final analysis, the boundary line used in this study is very similar to that used by Azimuth. Spatial mapping provided by the Severn Sound Remedial Association characterize current conditions within this boundary as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Current land use within the Oro Moraine boundary
| Land use |
Area (acres) |
Percentage of study area |
| Forested |
18450 |
58% |
| Agricultural or open |
10265 |
29% |
| Woodland subdivision |
1460 |
8% |
| Aggregate extraction |
1625 |
5% |
| Total |
31800 |
100% |
As shown on Figure 1, a series of 49 study sites were initially mapped for field work. Sites were determined by looking for areas of continuous canopy coverage, based on air photos. Typically, sites are separated by concession roads, hydro transmission corridors, or open farmland.
As the study progressed, some of these sites were dropped from further consideration for field work, and a few were combined. Most of the sites not visited were either outside the Moraine boundary, fragmented sites along the margin, or seriously compromised by housing developments or aggregate extraction commitments.
In total, 31 sites were surveyed in detail in the field, including all of the large sites within the core of the Moraine, and most of the remainder were visited at least briefly.
Identifying Priorities for Field Work
An initial ranking system was applied to the sites to determine an order of priority when contacting landowners and conducting field visits. This was not to say that Landowner A had a 'better' site than Landowner B, but rather was to determine if one site should be visited first due to site conditions, potential/real impacts or impending development pressure. The following criteria helped determine these priorities:
Priority A:
_ large continuous canopy coverage (over 500 acres);
_ contained 600 feet of buffer to an edge, indicating interior woodlot;
_ forest cover was mainly hardwoods;
_ riparian areas present;
_ old growth forest present;
_ contains ANSI boundary.
(8 sites identified; all visited)
Priority B:
_ medium continuous canopy coverage (200 to 500 acres);
_ contained 600 feet of buffer to an edge, indicating interior woodlot;
_ forest cover was mainly hardwoods, or mixed with hardwood dominant;
_ old growth forest indicated to be present.
(9 sites identified; all visited)
Priority C:
_ small amount of continuous canopy (100 to 200 acres);
_ minimal interior area;
_ fragmented from a nearby larger site;
_ hardwood dominant or mixed forest.
(6 sites identified; 5 visited)
Priority D:
_ interior lacking or minimal (less than 600 feet buffer from interior to edge).
(4 sites identified; 2 visited)
Priority E:
_ majority of site zoned for woodland subdivision or aggregate extraction.
(13 sites identified; all visited briefly)
Priority F:
_ close to but outside study area boundary
_ small (less than 100 acres) but obviously fragmented from a nearby site.
(3 sites identified; none visited)
Landowner Permissions
Over 245 people are registered woodland landowners within the Moraine study area. Most were contacted by letter and/or telephone; of these, 137 landowners responded. The majority of these (119) responded in favour of field staff visiting their property to gather data for this project. A fairly large number of land owners (109) could not be reached, or did not respond to the information sent out. A few landowners (18) requested that field staff do not enter upon their lands to gather data, and these requests were honored.
Overall, we were able to access just under half of the forested properties on the Moraine (48% of the landowners; 49% of the forested area) while only 7% refused access. The remainder could not be reached.
A special "thank you" is extended to those land owners who allowed us (at times invited us) to view their property. They are thinking as stewards for the land, and their actions and interest indicate that conservation options will be considered whenever land use decisions are required.
Field Methods and Data Collection
Data sheets were created by the contractor based on previous samples and experiences with wetland evaluations, woodlot surveys, bird atlas sheets, and specific, local requirements of the project. Data was collected on the basis of individual “stations”, located on the basis of topographic features, canopy type, and landowner permissions to represent as well as possible the range of ecological communities present in each site.
Where access had not been granted, some data could often be obtained from a 'fenceline' survey on adjacent properties, as well as from roadside and air photo interpretation.
Over two summer seasons, 183 field stations were set within 31 sites, including all of the high-priority sites.
The reference guide Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario: First Approximation and Its Application (1998) was used to determine forest type to the community level. This guide charts many typical types of habitats, providing a systematic breakdown of land cover from general terms to specific forms. Information was also collected on flora and fauna encountered at each station, habitat characteristics, and land use.
Data Summaries and Landowner Site Reports
All the field data sheets were summarized by topic on Excel spreadsheets. Each site was then summarized, providing a complete listing of information gleaned from all field stations within that particular site. Data was also compared from that site against the data summary for the entire Moraine.
A non-technical summary of information was compiled into a report for each site that has been sent to landowners. These landowner reports include a map of forest cover types, background information about the Moraine and good stewardship practices, and resource sheets about healthy woodlots and related topics. Individual follow-up with these landowners will continue to take place in the coming months.
3. Biological Characteristics of Oro Moraine Forests
Types of forest communities on the Moraine
Thirty types of Ecological Land Classification (ELC) forest cover were encountered, ranging from mature hardwoods to thick conifers to open grown fields. It should be noted that hardwood cover was the target of this study, and therefore some types of conifer plantations may not be represented here.
The hardwood canopy cover is dominated by hard (sugar) maple; few other species ever dominated the station's hardwood canopy.
Mixed-forest and swamp-forest occur more frequently around the edge of the moraine, where water emerges into large wetland areas. Only a few stations were set in this type of forest during this study.
Within the 183 stations set, the most common types of ELC hardwood forest stands were:
maple-ash (57 stations)
pure maple (31 stations)
maple-beech (29 stations)
Table 2 provides a summary of the frequency of all 30 types encountered.
Of the 183 field stations set, 117 were classed as mature (>40 years old), 50 were mid-aged (20 to 40 years), 13 were young (10 to 20 years) and 3 were pioneer stage (<10 years). As a maple dominant forest reaches maturity, it also reaches the climax stage of succession, it that it renews itself without further change to the forest species makeup. The mature stands are obviously well established woodlots, and the other three types indicate that forest renewal is underway.
Several community types deserve mention as unusual or significant associations. A single station had red oak as the only dominant species, and one other had a broader mix of hardwoods, but again dominated by red oak. Similarly, only two stations had American beech as the dominant canopy species, although it was quite common playing a lesser role in maple stands. Some of the hard maple-dominated stands were also unusual for their sub-dominant tree species, including those with red oak (6 stations), ironwood (1 station), butternut (5 stations), basswood (5 stations) and black cherry (2 stations). A single stand of poplar and red pine on a dry site also warrants mention, and 3 stations of mixed forest with hemlock as a major component.
As a general observation, butternut was found more commonly than expected, usually as scattered specimens. This species may be susceptible to insect-born diseases when mature.
Woodland Herbaceous Plants
The herbaceous plants discussed here are commonly referred to as wildflowers or non-woody plants. Forty-nine of these species found in woodland cover, as opposed to open field or wetland habitats, were documented through this study. The top 10 most common wildflowers were:
| Trilliums, Red and White |
102 of 183 stations |
| Cohosh, Blue |
94 |
| Solomon's Seal |
93 |
| Baneberry, Red and White |
88 |
| Mayflower, Canada |
72 |
| Violets, Canada and Yellow |
71 |
| Cicely, Sweet |
65 |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit |
63 |
| Grass species |
61 |
| Raspberry, Red |
60 |
One of the rare species, wild ginseng, was discovered at 6 locations. This species is probably a bit more widespread than this figure indicates, since it is difficult to find, but it's still far from abundant. The six stations are located across most of the Moraine, with a concentration of stations near the middle of the study area.
Associate species of ginseng include spikenard and pokeweed, both species fairly easy to observe if in the area and used as indicators to search more intensively for ginseng.
Another of the rare species is also one of the prettiest, purple-flowering raspberry. This large plant has leaves that look like maple leaves and a very showy blossom. Found on only 7 stations, it prefers the sun dappled edges of bush roads. Most of the stations were concentrated near the middle of the study area.
Other rare species discovered were wood betony (2 stations), early meadow rue (2), rattlesnake plantain orchid (2), feverwort (1) and running strawberry bush (1). This last species was of great interest as this is the only known site in Simcoe County; it does however become common in the southern reaches of the province.
Squawroot was found on one station, in a oak-poplar forest in the west end of the study area. This species has occurred in scattered locations in the county (one is at Awenda Prov. Park) related to the soils and soil fungus associated with red oak.
Ferns and their Allies
Eighteen species of ferns were encountered within the Oro Moraine study area. One of the target species searched for was ebony spleenwort, however a location was not found.
By far the most common fern of the moraine's hardwoods was spinulose woodfern, found at 134 stations. One of the smallest ferns of the area was discovered three times, somewhat remarkable considering the size of daisy-leaf grape fern. All three stations were clustered mid-Moraine, each having high, well-drained sandy soil.
Bird Species
Bird life within the study area is abundant and varied. Notes of observations at the field stations do not fully indicate this, as most visits were done after the usual early morning chorus, or after the breeding season of many species.
Despite this, 36 bird species were observed, heard or found evidence of their presence. Of the 183 field stations set, 138 contained bird life at the time of the visit.
A target species was the red-shouldered hawk, a bird whose populations have declined as forest cover has become fragmented in southern Ontario. One station provided a good view of this bird, yet within a few hundred meters a new woodland subdivision was being created, threatening the future of this species in the area.
The nest and young of a northern goshawk on the Moraine is one of few such records for Simcoe County. Two stations yielded the presence of scarlet tanagers, a woodland species of incredible colour yet of diminishing population.
Wild turkeys are fond of beech nuts, acorns and other woodland foods, and their presence was noted at 11 of the field stations. This species was absent from the area prior to the mid-1980's, but since a re-introduction program was implemented, they are now a common denizen of the Moraine.
Several species of songbirds are experiencing declines in their populations, partially due to diminishing breeding habitat. These birds prefer large tracts of hardwood forests with at least 100 meters (preferably 200) between the nest site and the forest's edge. These large forests are becoming difficult to find. Found within the Moraine's forests were some of the birds on this list of interior nesters, including:
| Veery |
20 stations |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
15 |
| Wood Thrush |
9 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler |
6 |
| Scarlet Tanager |
2 |
Mammal Species
Seventeen species of mammals were observed, or unmistakable signs of their presence found. Reliable reports from landowners indicate that at least 6 other species are also present, including black bear, flying squirrel, and fisher. These three species require relatively large undisturbed tracts of forest for their survival.
Special Wildlife Habitat Features
Several physical characteristics of upland forests can be especially valuable for a range of wildlife species, and these were noted at each station.
Vernal pools are short-lived bodies of water on the forest floor, usually caused by melting snow or a heavy rainfall. These small bodies of water are essential for many amphibians and invertebrates to complete their life cycles. Due to the fast draining characteristic of the sand and gravel within the moraine's soils, this type of habitat was rare. Of the 183 field stations set, 26 had scattered vernal pools and only 6 had common vernal pools.
Cavity trees are home for many species of wildlife, such as bats, wood ducks, raccoons, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and flying squirrels among others. Cavity trees have often been removed from woodlots for firewood, safety reasons or to let sunlight better reach surrounding healthy trees. They are somewhat scarce on the Moraine, despite the numerous mature stands of timber. Of the 183 field stations set, 105 had cavity trees scattered within the woods, while only 9 stations had cavity trees being commonly found.
New fallen logs and heavy branches laying on the ground provide excellent habitat as they rot for such species as salamanders, mushrooms and mosses, and eventually provide nutrients to young trees as nursery logs. 78 field stations had scattered new fallen logs while 72 contained common occurrences of new fallen logs.
A moss covered log indicates that the forest has been somewhat undisturbed for several decades, and therefore is probably in a fairly natural state of climax forest regeneration. Many species rely on these old logs for shelter, either by denning beside them or burrowing within them. Of the 183 field stations set, 59 had moss covered logs scattered about the forest floor, while 28 had them found commonly.
Old fence lines or piles of field stones provide shelter for reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. The Moraine soil contained many stones that had to be removed from fields prior to the planting of crops. Some of these original fields have been long abandoned and are now covered with tree growth; the stone fence lines are found deep within these second-generation forests. Of the 183 field stations set, 38 had rock piles scattered within, while only 5 had rock piles commonly found.
Observed Land Uses
Tree removal was commonly encountered across the study area. While usually done for firewood supply, the manner and intensity in which the forest was logged varied greatly between land owner parcels.
Of the 183 field stations set, only 47 indicated that logging had not recently occurred, and many of these were on sites of either young forest or wet woods.
On 54 stations logging had taken place on a local level, meaning that the trees removed appeared to be for personal use as firewood.
Widespread logging has occurred on 68 stations, having numerous trees removed over most of the landowner's parcel but on a selected basis. Generally this happens when the land owner sells firewood or logs in addition to their own needs.
14 stations exhibited signs of extensive logging, resulting in a much reduced forest cover. These are commercial operations involving skidders and large trucks for removal of trunks. Most of these stations were found on County owned property. Of note was that on 7 of these stations, the tree tops and broken stems were left behind, with no effort made to clean the site. Ruts from skidder operation in wet spring conditions also defaced the landscape at two stations.
Usually as a result of tree removal, and occasionally from natural death, gaps in the forest canopy appeared with regularity. An opening in the canopy allows sunlight to penetrate the interior of the forest, often stimulating plant growth that otherwise could not occur due to heavy shade. A little bit of this type of activity is a good thing, however a lot of gaps result in a degraded mature forest interior.
Woodlots with extensive logging also exhibited extensive and widespread gaps in canopy. The resultant floral growth of sun-loving species (e.g. dandelion, thistle, mullein, raspberry) indicates how quickly pioneer species can invade even interior spaces.
Very few stands of timber were untouched by logging. Continuous canopy cover is best found on Site 5 (oak-poplar), yet even there logging and subdivision development threaten the large size of the stand.
Despite the abundance of maple trees on the Moraine, few land owners participate in refining sap to syrup and sugar. Only 3 of the 183 stations had signs of an active syrup operation, and only one had modern plastic lines.
Almost every woodlot had a bush road through it, although the level of repair ranged from overgrown to well-rutted. Only a few were used extensively, those usually being unopened Concession lines now utilized by ATVs and/or horses (e.g Line 2, Line 9). Bush roads on private lands were leaf-covered and used seasonally or less.
Roads in County Forests were often used by public for bike riding, dog walking, horse riding or ATV travel. The Ganaraska Hiking Trail cuts through most of the moraine study area, and has varying intensity of use, being more heavily used near woodland subdivisions.
Hunting occurs within many private and public woodlots, mainly for deer and ruffed grouse in autumn and turkeys in springtime. Small game hunting (rabbits and squirrels) does not appear as popular as it once was.
Commercial recreational uses include golfing, down-hill skiing, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking. Some woodlots are leased to conduct these activities, and in some cases, there has been considerable loss of understory cover as a result.
4. Significance of the Forests of the Oro Moraine
The significance of the forests of the Moraine can be considered in two contexts: first, their significance in comparison to elsewhere in southern Ontario; and second, the relative significance of the various sites within the Moraine examined as part of this study.
How Does the Oro Moraine Compare to Other Southern Ontario Forests?
The Federation of Ontario Naturalists, as part of its Southern Ontario Woodlands Program, has been working with municipalities and other agencies to develop guidelines for evaluating woodlands on a consistent and defensible basis in the area south of the Canadian Shield. This project has reviewed evaluation approaches applied by such areas as Halton Region, City of London, Middlesex County, City of Ottawa, and others. Several workshops have been held with staff from municipalities, conservation authorities, ministries, and non-government conservation groups.
A working draft Guidelines for the Identification of Significant Woodlands, dated January 31, 2003, has been developed and is currently being tested. The intent of these Guidelines is to provide minimum standards for the evaluation process that would identify significant woodlands on a comparable basis across all of southern Ontario. Several levels of evaluation are proposed, and municipalities are encouraged to apply additional criteria that relate to local conditions.
We applied Level 2 of this draft evaluation approach to the Oro Moraine forests. Five criteria are identified within this level:
a) Woodland Patch Size: Thresholds for minimum patch size to be considered significant are based on the degree of forest cover within the surrounding landscape. In the case of the Oro Moraine, the highest category of forest cover has been applied, so only woodlands 40 ha or larger meet this criterion. (Note: under the FON approach, some of the Oro Moraine woodland sites would be combined, but we evaluated each one separately.)
b) Interior Forest Habitat: Any woodland patch with a minimum of 4 ha of interior habitat, defined using a 100 meter buffer from the woodland edge, meets this criterion.
c) Hydrological Linkages: A woodland is considered significant if any portion is within 30 meters of a stream or wetland, or within the catchment area of 1st order watercourses, or within recharge, discharge, or shallow aquifer areas.
d) Landscape Connectivity: Any woodland that falls within a designated core or corridor area defined by the Bigger Picture project or a municipal natural heritage network is considered significant for this criterion. We interpreted this on the Oro Moraine to include woodlands identified as part of the County of Simcoe natural heritage system.
e) Slope and Erodibility: Any woodland on slopes greater than or equal to 10%, or on soils subject to wind and water erosion. For sites on the Oro Moraine, we applied this criterion only if steep slopes were present in substantial parts of the site.
This application shows that among the 31 woodlands surveyed, 23 meet all five of the province-wide criteria, and a further five meet four criteria. In fact, the FON Guidelines specify that a woodland need only meet one Level 2 criterion to be identified as significant. All 31 woodlands meet that threshold.
This analysis serves as a potent reminder of the exceptional significance of the forests of the Oro Moraine in the broader context of southern Ontario. In most parts of agricultural southern Ontario, the remaining woodlands are small, scattered, and dominated by swamplands. The high quality upland hardwoods that dominate the Oro Moraine are a very scarce resource elsewhere in southern Ontario.
Comparison of forest sites on the Oro Moraine
Even if all of the Moraine woodlands are significant in the Ontario context, it is clear that some are even more significant than others. Based on the data provided from two years of field study, the original ranking of priority sites was reviewed and adjusted through a point scoring system that considered land use, natural features, and landowner attitudes.
Within this ranking, points were deducted for:
»evidence of intensive logging
» aggregate removal activity within or adjacent to the forest
» housing subdivisions adjacent to forested area
» intensive recreational uses within the forest
» landowner refusals to participate in the study
Extra points could be added within the scoring system for:
» presence of County forests as a managed land base
» Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest provincial designation
» presence of evaluated wetlands within the forest site
» greater than 50% hardwood cover within the site
» presence of interior forest with >100 meter edge buffer
» presence of a designated species at risk
» presence of a unique species on the Moraine
» presence of a vista, great natural beauty, or well-maintained representation
» sites forming part of green corridors connecting within or adjacent to the Moraine
» landowner interest in conservation or demonstrated good stewardship
After both the positive and negative adjustments for each site were tallied, the resulting scores were ranked in three tiers - gold for the most outstanding sites, silver for slightly less significance, and bronze for other significant forest sites on the Moraine. These rankings are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Significant Woodlands of the Oro Moraine
| Site Number |
Size (acres) |
Rank |
Notes |
| 3b |
502 |
Gold |
Partly within Copeland Forest |
| 3d |
1183 |
Gold |
Partly within Copeland Forest |
| 4a |
789 |
Gold |
County forest within site |
| 5 |
1050 |
Gold |
Large continuous forest |
| 9 |
605 |
Gold |
Adjoins site 4 |
| 18 |
660 |
Gold |
Partially outside north boundary |
| 20a |
1586 |
Gold |
Surrounds Sugarbush Estates |
| 29 |
433 |
Gold |
Headwater areas |
| 31 |
887 |
Gold |
Some aggregate areas, County forest |
| 33 |
542 |
Gold |
Includes some NCC land |
| 34 |
650 |
Gold |
Mix of conifer plantations, hardwoods |
| 40a |
948 |
Gold |
Provincially significant ANSI |
| 3a |
357 |
Silver |
Partially within Copeland Forest |
| 6 |
160 |
Silver |
Includes red oak forest |
| 8 |
170 |
Silver |
Diverse mix of species |
| 10 |
353 |
Silver |
Mostly County forest pine |
| 12 |
308 |
Silver |
Hardwoods, recently reduced in size |
| 13 |
414 |
Silver |
Hardwoods, conifers of diverse age |
| 15 |
340 |
Silver |
Relatively diverse |
| 16 |
336 |
Silver |
Majority is pine plantation |
| 17 |
278 |
Silver |
Good hardwoods, butternut |
| 21 |
290 |
Silver |
Mixed hardwoods, diverse |
| 22 |
527 |
Silver |
Includes Hardwood Hills resort |
| 25 |
199 |
Silver |
Partially outside north boundary |
| 28 |
82 |
Silver |
Mature mixed stand |
| 30 |
836 |
Silver |
Some sections licensed for aggregate |
| 32 |
642 |
Silver |
Diverse, some wetland and streams |
| 39 |
373 |
Silver |
Mostly hardwoods, mixed ages |
| 42 |
153 |
Silver |
Hardwoods, conifers, regeneration |
| 45 |
90 |
Silver |
Hardwoods, needs further study |
| 1a/1b |
85 |
Bronze |
Valley links to west |
| 2a/2b |
210 |
Bronze |
Fragmented, links to the west |
| 7 |
112 |
Bronze |
Mostly conifer, some mature hardwoods |
| 41 |
93 |
Bronze |
Mostly licensed for aggregates |
| 43 |
100 |
Bronze |
Needs further study |
| 44 |
50 |
Bronze |
Needs further study |
| 46 |
48 |
Bronze |
Mostly conifer, needs further study |
| 48 |
45 |
Bronze |
Licensed for aggregates |
In general terms, the most significant woodland sites on the Oro Moraine form a broad arc from southeast of Craighurst, northeasterly along the areas abutting Copeland Forest, and then easterly along the core of the Moraine almost to Rugby. A cluster of slightly less significant sites are located in the central and south-central parts of the Moraine.
5. Priority Actions to Maintain the Ecological Quality of Moraine Forests
a. Prevent fragmentation of large core woodland areas
One of the primary ecological values of the Oro Moraine is the presence of relatively large, intact cores of forest, which provides the forest interior conditions needed by a group of songbirds, raptors, and other wildlife that are under serious stress in southern Ontario. These conditions can be lost relatively quickly, since negative effects from houses, roads, gravel pits or other disturbances extend into adjacent forest lands for at least 100 - 200 meters.
Large core woodland areas that are primarily native hardwoods are especially valuable to keep unfragmented. These would include such sites as numbers 3a/b/d, 4a, 5, 20a, 34, and 40a, as well as many others with smaller cores of hardwood forest.
b. Maintain and strengthen linkages among woodland areas
Linkages among wooded areas are important to allow for travel of wide-ranging wildlife species, and to provide corridors for the interchange or replenishment of genetic material. On the Oro Moraine, these linkages operate at several levels.
First, it is very important to maintain the continuity of a broad forested corridor east-west along the Oro Moraine as much as possible. In both the eastern and western ends of the Moraine, forests have been fragmented to such an extent by agriculture, gravel pits, roads, and residential developments that their corridor function is seriously impaired. In several places in the central section of the Moraine, notably along the 4th line, the 6th/7th line, and the 9th line, there is a risk that future expansion of non-forest land uses could break the continuity of the forest corridor without careful planning.
Second, there are a series of significant connections to natural areas off the Moraine which are important to the long-term health of this ecosystem. Most notable are linkages:
- to the west to the Matheson Creek natural corridor;
- to the north across Horseshoe Valley Road in several places to Copeland Forest;
- to the northeast along two stream valleys to Bass Lake Swamp;
- to the south in several places to link to the wetlands along Hawkestone and Bluffs Creeks.
Finally, there are heavy wooded fencerows in some of the agricultural areas associated with the Moraine which may act as important local linkages.
c. Focus on the future of conifer plantations
Approximately 50% of the current forest cover on the Moraine is provided by conifer trees, particularly red pine plantations on both County forest sites and private land. Many of these conifer plantations are approaching maturity, and removal of harvestable trees will be widespread. How these sites are managed prior to and after harvest will have a major impact on the future ecological integrity of the Moraine.
In many cases, the preferred outcome would be a gradual transition of the conifer plantations to native hardwood stands. Some plantations are showing a lush shrub layer of hardwoods, with young red cherry, maple, beech and red oak. Other plantations have little or no young growth to regenerate the forest once the pines are removed.
A survey would be beneficial to study understory replacement in the Moraine’s pine plantations and to recommend proactive management strategies, such as staged removal of the pine canopy, that would encourage the development of future native hardwood forests in its place.
d. Encourage logging practices that maintain the quality of hardwood stands
Forest harvesting for firewood and logs is a widespread and economically important activity on the Oro Moraine, and operations from small-scale firewood removal to full-scale commercial logging were frequently encountered. Unfortunately, the quality of management practices in these operations was variable, with examples of poor logging practices found on both County forests and private lands.
Problems encountered included a tendency to leave tops and broken stems where they fell, creating a tangled mess that is difficult to traverse and not conducive to good regeneration (especially by commercial loggers); skidder tires cutting deep ruts in soft soils; cutting of trees with large stick nests; and heavy cutting that creates frequent gaps in the canopy and allows weedy plant species to invade.
These practices could be improved by encouraging the use of forest management plans and professional tree-markers before cutting takes place, by providing a list of competent loggers to interested landowners, and by working with the Simcoe County forester to make sure that operations on County lands provide examples of high standards. Forest management on the Moraine also needs to pay special attention to other values, such as protecting rare species and wildlife habitats, maintaining a high degree of canopy closure, providing a range of forest ages including some old growth, and protecting erodible sites and stream headwaters.
e. Support conservation initiatives for acquisition of key sites
An important headwater area on the Moraine, the East Coulson Swamp, has recently been donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and purchase of an adjacent property is underway. The County of Simcoe owns extensive forest areas on the Moraine, including both conifer plantations and hardwood stands, and occasionally purchases additional properties. The Ministry of Natural Resources has extensive holdings in Copeland Forest, some of which extend onto the fringe of the Moraine. The Orillia Fish and Game Club also owns a woodland parcel.
Strategic acquisition of other woodland areas should be supported where appropriate, and these agencies and other organizations such as The Couchiching Conservancy should be encouraged to work cooperatively towards that end. In some cases, joint management of adjacent properties may also be desirable.
Another effective land securement tool is the use of conservation easements, which are voluntary legal restrictions on future land use. The Couchiching Conservancy currently holds one conservation easement just north of the Moraine, and is discussing several other potential easement donations within Moraine forests.
f. Enlist private landowners in good stewardship of forests
Many Moraine landowners take great pride in their forests, and actively try to manage them to maintain their ecological health. The Couchiching Conservancy, and other organizations including the Huronia Woodlot Owners Association and the North Simcoe Land and Water Stewardship Network, can assist these owners by providing information and encouragement.
Each of the landowners within the significant woodland sites on the Oro Moraine has been provided with a site report that summarizes its significance and provides background information and resource materials. Follow up with personal contacts and site visits where possible was provided to answer questions and encourage good stewardship. A program of recognition of good stewardship, with gatepost signs and recognition events, resulted in 28 landowners receiving stewardship awards, covering a total of 1855 acres. Promotion of stewardship activities by residents of woodland subdivisions is another area with promise.
g. Carry out additional field work to fill data gaps
Despite considerable field effort over the past two years, there are always areas where additional data would be useful. In particular, more field work should be considered in three areas:
- seasonal re-visits to sites that have been visited only in the late summer or fall;
- specific surveys to increase coverage of breeding birds, amphibians, and invertebrates; and
- improved coverage of sites visited briefly or not yet visited.
For more information about current Conservancy projects and activities, please contact us:
The Couchiching Conservancy
Box 704, 1485 Division Road West
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 6K7
Contact the Conservancy at:
(705) 326-1620
nature@couchconservancy.ca
