RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill, in collaboration with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Ontario Nature, is proud to announce the contribution of 550 hectares of environmentally significant natural areas towards Canada’s 30x30 conservation target. The federal government has set the goal of protecting and conserving 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.

Ontario Nature led an extensive assessment of these lands, determining that 31 properties, including 429 hectares of City-owned and 121 hectares of TRCA-owned public lands meet the rigorous national standard for conservation. 

Notable lands within Richmond Hill’s Natural Heritage System that now count towards the 30x30 target include East Humber Trail, Haynes Lake Wetlands and Uplands, Oak Ridges Meadow and Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory Park. These natural areas are home to significant forests, wetlands, valleys, meadows and waterways. They provide vital havens for biodiversity, including federally and provincially listed species at risk including eastern wood pewee, redside dace, barn swallow, midland painted turtle, snapping turtle and black ash.

Protecting these areas also provides our community with vital services, including clean air, climate adaptation, water filtration, flood risk reduction, greenhouse gas absorption, recreational and stewardship opportunities.

Visit RichmondHill.ca for more information about the City’s natural heritage system.

Quotes

“We’re proud to contribute important natural heritage lands and waterways to Canada’s 30x30 target. This initiative really aligns with our commitment to safeguard biodiversity, mitigate climate change and create a community where humans and nature can thrive together. It also highlights the importance of partnerships in achieving our conservation goals. We’re grateful to TRCA and Ontario Nature for helping us to build a more sustainable community for future generations to enjoy.” – Richmond Hill Mayor David West

"Conserving nature isn’t just a goal, it’s a responsibility. The recognition of these 121 hectares of TRCA-owned public land under Canada’s 30x30 conservation target is an important step forward. This milestone highlights our long-term environmental stewardship and reaffirms our dedication to biodiversity and climate resilience. We thank the City of Richmond Hill and Ontario Nature for their partnership in preserving these lands as vibrant habitats, offering communities valuable opportunities to connect with nature."– John MacKenzie, CEO, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

“A heartfelt congratulations to the City of Richmond Hill, in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, for their impressive contributions to the 30x30 target. The city’s prioritization of nature and biodiversity is reflected across layers of planning, policies and inter-organizational collaborations. Ontario Nature is proud to work with municipalities like Richmond Hill that are putting in the work to create a resilient future.” - Tony Morris, Conservation Policy and Campaigns Manager, Ontario Nature

Quick facts

• Municipal lands can qualify as Protected Areas (PA’s) or ‘Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures’ (OECM’s) within the 30x30 conservation framework.
• PA’s and OECM’s must have clearly defined boundaries and long-term, year-round management by governing authorities, so that conservation outcomes are achieved.
• OECM’s differ from PA’s in that their primary objective isn’t conservation, but they are managed in such a way that conservation objectives are still being achieved.
• Richmond Hill’s contribution to the 30x30 goal includes 30 PAs and 1 OECM (Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory Park).
• Half of these sites are located within the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt.

About Ontario Nature

Ontario Nature is a charity that has been protecting wild species and wild spaces through education, conservation and public engagement since 1931.

About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.

TRCA’s jurisdiction includes nine watersheds and their Lake Ontario shorelines, spanning six upper-tier and fifteen lower-tier municipalities and representing almost five million people, approximately 10% of Canada’s population. 

To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.