Another in a series of articles on the health of ravines in the Globe and Mail; this one by
@AlexBozikovic and Oliver Moore
Invasive species and poor water management are threatening the web of rivers, creeks and valleys that define Toronto’s landscape, and hard work is required to undo the damage. Other cities will face similar challenges as their ecosystems weaken
www.theglobeandmail.com
It touches on a number of important subjects including invasive species and gives mention to why sourcing seed from local plant stock also matters.
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One other thing in touches on is a desire to see more people in Toronto's Ravines.
This one is more problematic, if we aren't going to acquire additional ravine parklands.
Most Toronto ravines are far from empty; its comparatively rare that I can't see two dozen people along my sightline on a nearby bike path.
Anyone whose spent time in the Humber Valley near Bloor will tell you it can get insanely crowded on a summer weekend.
There are isolated exceptions to this, typically areas without a formal bike path; or those sections currently used as Golf Courses.
.Flemingon Park is discussed; it just got a formal access to valley from Overlea Blvd last year.
Its access is limited to the East Don Valley by the presence of the DVP whose removal I can dream about; but not seriously imagine in the near or medium terms.
Flemingdon Golf Course is a further barrier.
If the land associated with Golf Courses were returned to nature, Toronto would something like 2,000 acres back to the valley system and room for another 10,000 people in the valleys at any given time.
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I do hope the series tilts more towards specific solutions.
There's some good general education.
But to better protect and restore our natural spaces requires a wide range of actions.
Legislative/regulatory changes; financial resources and political will around invasive species management; as well as large scale capital projects that
daylight buried streams, put back all-too rare habitats (wetlands, bogs, estuary, savannah etc etc.); and larger scale planting.
Another thing it means is displacing some inappropriate uses from some ravines.
This means sportsfields in particular, and to a lesser degree playgrounds. Of course, the object cannot be to deprive community's of these assets, but rather to put new parks on tableland above the valley which can feature these things.
Having a baseball diamond in a valley (as exists in portions of the Humber) means non-native grass, along with gravel, fencing, benches etc. covering several acres of land.
None of that serves to feed or shelter wildlife.
It also makes the sports facility prone to flooding, unlit; and largely inaccessible in the winter season. Playgrounds should be available year round; but that's hard to do when they're at the bottom of big hills covered in snow and ice.
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Good series, I look forward to more.
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www.thestar.com
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www.theglobeandmail.com
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