Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The City of Richmond Hill and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) are adding 550 hectares of protected greenspace to Canada’s 30×30 conservation initiative, a national effort to preserve 30 per cent of the country’s lands and waters by 2030.
Ontario Nature led the evaluation of 31 publicly owned properties — 429 hectares owned by the city and 121 hectares owned by TRCA — and determined they meet the federal criteria for protected areas or “other effective area-based conservation measures.”
Richmond Hill’s contribution includes key sites such as the East Humber Trail, Haynes Lake Wetlands and Uplands, Oak Ridges Meadow and the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory Park. These areas support a wide range of habitats — forests, wetlands, valleys and meadows — and shelter species at risk, including the eastern wood pewee, barn swallow, redside dace, black ash and midland painted turtle.
“Conserving nature isn’t just a goal, it’s a responsibility,” TRCA CEO John MacKenzie said in a statement. “This milestone highlights our long-term environmental stewardship and reaffirms our dedication to biodiversity and climate resilience.”
Mayor David West said the initiative reinforces the city’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and fighting climate change.
The properties contribute to 30 designated Protected Areas and one Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure (OECM), located largely within the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt.
According to Ontario Nature, municipal lands can qualify under Canada’s 30×30 target if they are managed year-round with defined boundaries to support long-term conservation outcomes. OECMs differ from protected areas in that conservation is not their primary purpose, but they still deliver conservation benefits.
“This initiative really aligns with our commitment to safeguard biodiversity, mitigate climate change and create a community where humans and nature can thrive together,” West said.
