Crown land use designations ensure a level of consistency in land use and resource management in the part of the province where the Guide applies, as well as providing standardized terminology for local planning.

There are six primary Crown land use designations:

  • Recommended Provincial Park
  • Recommended Conservation Reserve
  • Forest Reserve
  • Provincial Wildlife Area
  • Enhanced Management Area (five categories)
  • General Use Area

Establishing a new primary Crown land use designation requires an amendment to the Guide, other provincial level policy approval, or a basis in legislation or regulation.

Standard:
Part II of the Guide provides provincial policy for Recommended Provincial Parks, Recommended Conservation Reserves, Forest Reserves, Enhanced Management Areas, and General Use Areas.

12.1 Recommended Provincial Park

Crown land use planning establishes the land use intent to regulate areas as provincial parks, or additions to provincial parks, through the Recommended Provincial Park designation.

Following a land use decision designating the area as a Recommended Provincial Park, the policies applied during interim protection are replaced by the policies of the Recommended Provincial Park designation. Once designated as a Recommended Provincial Park, an area can be regulated as a provincial park under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA).

When designating a Recommended Provincial Park, or Recommended Provincial Park addition, Crown land use planning assigns the area to one of the six provincial park classes:

  • wilderness
  • nature reserve
  • cultural heritage
  • natural environment
  • waterway
  • recreational

Considerations in the application of the Recommended Provincial Park designation

In Crown land use planning processes, the following factors should be considered when a Recommended Provincial Park designation is being considered:

  • a very high level of protection of natural heritage values is desired. Other factors such as existing or potential recreation opportunities may also be a consideration
  • a substantial degree of permanency is desired
  • a considerable range of activities can be considered, depending on the classification. Some classifications (e.g. recreation) permit a broad range of activities while other classifications (e.g. nature reserve and wilderness) have a narrower range of permitted activities

Permitted uses and activities in Recommended Provincial Parks

The following activities are generally not permitted within the Recommended Provincial Park designation:

  • commercial forest harvesting
  • generation of electricity
  • prospecting, registration of mining claims, or mineral development
  • extracting aggregate, topsoil or peat
  • other industrial uses
  • new land dispositions, including sales, leases, licenses of occupation, and land use permits

Some existing activities may continue, subject to planning and the Recommended Provincial Park classification. Permitted activities must reflect the following:

Aggregate extraction and oil, gas and solution-mined salt resources

  • Existing aggregate pits authorized under the Aggregate Resources Act may continue to operate in accordance with existing licences, permits or other authorizations. Where aggregate is produced incidentally as a result of construction activities, the aggregate may be used for management purposes within the Recommended Provincial Park.
  • Existing oil and gas wells may continue to operate.

Commercial power generation and development

  • Existing facilities for the generation of electricity located in a Recommended Provincial Park may continue to operate and be maintained and, with proper approvals, improved, rebuilt or altered.
  • New commercial development of generation facilities is not permitted except:
    • facilities for the generation of electricity may be developed for use within Indigenous communities that are not connected to the provincial electrical grid
    • where a facility for the generation of electricity was identified in a Ministry land use plan before the site was designated a Recommended Provincial Park
  • In approving the development of a facility for the generation of electricity, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact

Commercial timber harvest

  • No new commercial forest harvest except harvesting trees for forest research or forest management purposes where in support of Recommended Provincial Park objectives. The trees harvested may be sold, subject to Crown timber charges.

Utility corridors

  • Utility corridors are permitted.
  • In permitting development of a utility corridor, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact
  • When a utility corridor is no longer required for the purpose for which it was approved or will not be used for a period of five years or more, the utility corridor will be closed and effective measures will be taken to prevent its use, and the rehabilitation and removal of infrastructure will be undertaken.

Resource access roads and trails

  • Resource access roads and trails are permitted where an existing use, subject to planning.
  • New resource access roads and trails are permitted where required for reasonable access to existing mining claims or mining lands tenure surrounded by a Recommended Provincial Park, or where required to access mining claims, mining lands tenure or Crown forests outside of a Recommended Provincial Park.
  • In approving the development of a resource access road or trail, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact
  • When the road or trail is no longer required for the purpose for which it was approved or will not be used for a period of five years or more the road or trail will be closed and effective measures will be taken to prevent its use, and the rehabilitation and removal of infrastructure will be undertaken.

12.2 Recommended conservation reserve

Crown land use planning establishes the land use intent to regulate areas as Conservation Reserves, or additions to Conservation Reserves, through the Recommended Conservation Reserve designation.

Following a land use decision designating an area as a Recommended Conservation Reserve, or Recommended Conservation Reserve addition, the policies applied during interim protection are replaced by the policies of the Recommended Conservation Reserve designation. Once designated as a Recommended Conservation Reserve the area can be regulated as a Conservation Reserve under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA).

Considerations in the application of the Recommended Conservation Reserve designation

In Crown land use planning processes, the following are factors should be considered when a Recommended Conservation Reserve designation is being considered:

  • a high priority is placed on retaining compatible recreation or non-industrial resource use activities
  • a very high level of protection of natural heritage values is desired
  • use levels are relatively low and expected to stay low
  • minimal facilities are contemplated
  • intensive resource or user management is not needed
  • a substantial degree of permanency is desired

Permitted uses and activities in Recommended Conservation Reserves

The following activities are generally not permitted within the Recommended Conservation Reserve designation:

  • commercial forest harvesting
  • generation of electricity
  • prospecting, registration of mining claims, or mineral development
  • extracting aggregate, topsoil or peat
  • other industrial uses
  • new land dispositions, including sales, leases, licenses of occupation, and land use permits

Some existing activities may continue, subject to planning. Permitted activities must reflect the following:

Aggregate extraction and oil, gas and solution-mined salt resources

  • Existing aggregate pits authorized under the Aggregate Resources Act may continue to operate in accordance with existing licences, permits or other authorizations. Where aggregate is produced incidentally as a result of construction activities, the aggregate may be used for management purposes within the Recommended Conservation Reserve.
  • Existing oil and gas wells may continue to operate.

Commercial power generation and development

  • Existing facilities for the generation of electricity located in a Recommended Conservation Reserve may continue to operate and be maintained and, with proper approvals, improved, rebuilt or altered.
  • New commercial development of generation facilities is not permitted except:
    • facilities for the generation of electricity may be developed for use within Indigenous communities that are not connected to the provincial electrical grid
    • where a facility for the generation of electricity was identified in a Ministry land use plan, before the site was designated a Recommended Conservation Reserve
  • In approving the development of a facility for the generation of electricity, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact

Commercial timber harvest

  • No new commercial forest harvest except harvesting trees for forest research or forest management purposes where in support of Recommended Conservation Reserve objectives. The trees harvested may be sold subject to Crown timber charges.

Utility corridors

  • Utility corridors are permitted.
  • In permitting development of a utility corridor, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact
  • When a utility corridor is no longer required for the purpose for which it was approved or will not be used for a period of five years or more, the utility corridor will be closed and effective measures will be taken to prevent its use, and the rehabilitation and removal of infrastructure will be undertaken.

Resource access roads and trails

  • Resource access roads and trails are permitted where an existing use, subject to planning.
  • New resource access roads and trails are permitted where required for reasonable access to existing mining claims or mining lands tenure surrounded by a Recommended Conservation Reserve, or where required to access mining claims, mining lands tenure or Crown forests outside of a Recommended Conservation Reserve.
  • In approving the development of a resource access road or trail, the following must be considered:
    1. there are no reasonable alternatives
    2. the lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification
    3. environmental impacts have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful environmental impact
  • When the road or trail is no longer required for the purpose for which it was approved or will not be used for a period of five years or more the road or trail will be closed and effective measures will be taken to prevent its use, and the rehabilitation and removal of infrastructure will be undertaken.

12.3 Provincial Wildlife Areas

Provincial Wildlife Areas are designated areas that are specifically managed for wildlife and to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, particularly hunting and wildlife viewing. The boundaries of the areas are not established in regulation.

Some Provincial Wildlife Areas have associated regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to provide controls on hunting activities. Some Provincial Wildlife Areas are located partly or entirely on lands owned by other agencies. The Provincial Wildlife Area Crown land use designation only applies to those lands administered by MNRF.

The boundaries of Crown lands designated as a Provincial Wildlife Area may overlap with Crown lands having other designations (e.g. a GUA). As Crown land use areas may only have one primary land use designation, part of a Provincial Wildlife Area may be represented as an overlay in CLUPA.

There are no land use or resource management policies that apply to all Provincial Wildlife Areas, other than the general intent to manage the areas for outdoor recreation, particularly hunting and wildlife viewing. As a result, the policies for individual Provincial Wildlife Areas are determined through local planning. In many cases the areas are managed through partnerships, and the management plans may be developed by other agencies or groups.

12.4 Forest Reserves

Forest Reserves are designated areas where protection of natural heritage and special landscapes is a priority, but there is some pre-existing interest or tenure under the Mining Act or Aggregate Resources Act, and activities authorized under these Acts can continue to take place.

This designation was applied through the 1997-1999 Ontario Living Legacy land use planning process to a relatively small number of areas where there was pre-existing mining lands or aggregate permits within Recommended Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. The intention is that these lands will be added to the provincial park or conservation reserve when the mining claim or lease, or aggregate permit expires through normal processes. To implement this intent, Forest Reserves are withdrawn from mining claim registration so that once the claim or lease is retired, the area cannot be registered again.

Policies for Forest Reserves are similar to the policies for a Recommended Conservation Reserve, except that mineral exploration and development and related access associated with existing mining claims or leases are allowed in a Forest Reserve. Mineral exploration and development within Forest Reserves are subject to the normal requirements established under the Mining Act and the PLA. MNRF and ENDM will work with prospectors and developers to make them aware of the values that exist in Forest Reserves and encourage practices that consider these values.

Permitted uses and activities in Forest Reserves

The following activities are generally not permitted within a Forest Reserve:

  • commercial timber harvest
  • generation of electricity
  • extracting topsoil or peat
  • other industrial uses
  • new land dispositions, including sales, leases, licenses of occupation, and land use permits

Aggregate extraction is not permitted except where:

  • there is an existing aggregate permit
  • aggregate is required in support of mineral exploration and development associated with existing claims or leases within the Forest Reserve and there are no feasible sources outside the reserve
  • an aggregate permit is required under the Aggregate Resources Act to produce industrial minerals and building stone

Any applications for new aggregate permits that meet the preceding criteria will be considered in accordance with provincial standards for aggregate resources.

Some existing activities may continue, subject to planning. Permitted activities in general should reflect the policy environment of the Recommended Conservation Reserve designation.

More detailed planning may be undertaken to determine site-specific policies that will maintain the identified values of a Forest Reserve. Such detailed planning must be done in consultation with the aggregate permit holder, or the registered mining claim/leaseholder and ENDM.

Considerations in the application of the Forest Reserve designation

Consistent with a government decision made in 2005, the number and extent of Forest Reserves is being reduced through Crown land use planning processes. The longer-term objective is to eliminate Forest Reserves entirely. As much as possible, MNRF will not designate new Forest Reserves when carrying out Crown land use planning.

12.5 Enhanced Management Areas

EMA is a Crown land use designation that can be used to provide more detailed land use policy in areas of special features or values. The provincial level policies for EMAs establish the general land use intent and may define policies for specific activities. However, most of the provincial EMA policies outlined in the Guide are not highly detailed, and the designation primarily provides a framework for the development of area-specific land use policies through local planning.

In some cases, the EMA designation has been applied to areas that already had special policies developed though previous Crown land use planning processes. Where pre-existing area-specific policies are more restrictive than the provincial EMA policies, the pre-existing policies are usually retained unless revised through a Crown land use planning process. New area-specific policies that provide more explicit direction, potentially including restrictions on land uses or activities, can be developed but must be consistent with the direction provided in Section 9.1 on developing land use policies. The establishment of new EMAs, revising EMA boundaries, changing EMAs to another land use category, or modifying the area-specific policies for an EMA, should all occur through Crown land use planning processes.

Considerations in the application of the Enhanced Management Area designation

The following are some factors that should be considered during Crown land use planning processes when an EMA designation is being considered.

  • Like all Crown land use designations, EMAs are to be used to document longer term land use policy, rather than short term operational policy or prescriptions. Although it is possible to revise the policies or boundaries for individual EMAs, they should be relatively stable over time. Thus, it would not normally be appropriate to apply the EMA category to a situation where a particular land use, or set of resource management practices, is expected to occur for only a relatively short period of time (e.g. a few years).
  • EMAs do not have a detailed set of provincial level policies and primarily provide a framework for developing area-specific land use policies.
  • The EMA designation does not mean that the level of management activity will be noticeably different from other areas of Crown land. In most cases the EMA designation means that more detailed land use policies have been developed.
  • If an EMA designation is to be applied to a new land use area, it is desirable to develop reasonably detailed area-specific policies as part of the Crown land use planning process.
  • Separate management plans are not required or recommended for most EMAs. Deferring the development of management direction to a separate planning process usually results in a substantial period without adequate direction.

A wide variety of resource and recreational uses can occur in EMAs. In some areas, specific uses may be subject to conditions to maintain the features or values that make the area special.

Policies for EMAs must be consistent with the Mining Act. Restrictions cannot be placed on mining claim registration unless the mineral rights for the area are withdrawn. Certain controls may be placed on mineral exploration and development activities and access; however, discussion with ENDM is required prior to implementing any measures that could impact on these activities and obligations under the Mining Act. The use of best practices in mineral exploration and development activities will be encouraged.

EMAs may lead to modifications (e.g. timing, location, method, access) in resource management practices to recognize other land use values. Where new policies (new policies mean that the policies do not just re-state land use policies that had been previously approved) are being applied to EMAs, these adjustments will be implemented with no impact on wood supply, and only in exceptional cases will wood costs be affected. EMAs will provide a specific focus for the application of guidelines and other planning and management strategies. More detailed implementation strategies may be developed with the participation of stakeholders.

There are five categories of EMAs:

  • Natural Heritage
  • Recreation
  • Remote Access
  • Fish and Wildlife
  • Great Lakes Coastal Areas

12.5.1 Natural Heritage

Natural Heritage EMAs are intended to provide partial protection to areas with significant natural values, while allowing a range of resource activities. Where a high level of protection is desired, a formal protection designation (i.e. Recommended Provincial Park or Recommended Conservation Reserve) will be more effective than a Natural Heritage EMA. More resilient natural heritage values (e.g. some earth science features) may be adequately protected using this designation.

Forestry, aggregate extraction, generation of electricity and road development are permitted, but may be subject to conditions to protect natural heritage values. These conditions may outline controls on matters such as the location, size and timing of operations. Mineral exploration and development can occur subject to meeting the requirements established under the Mining Act, PLA and other applicable legislation, although the use of best practices for exploration and development activities will be encouraged.

Commercial bait harvest, commercial fishing, commercial fur harvesting, and wild rice harvesting are permitted subject to existing controls and policies, and existing access related to the carrying out of these activities would normally continue, provided there are no conflicts with the objectives and land use intent of the EMA. There is no guarantee of continued access for these activities, because roads or trails may need to be closed for environmental, safety or financial reasons. Where new access is proposed, usually through the development of new roads or trails, planning should carefully consider the potential impacts of the access and may establish conditions or restrictions.

Disposition of Crown lands under the PLA may be considered where it would not conflict with the objectives that have been defined for the specific EMA. Existing commercial tourism operations can continue, and expansions or new operations may be considered. The full range of Crown land recreational activities would normally be permitted in Natural Heritage EMAs, however in some cases there may be controls on access to protect significant values.

Wherever possible, Crown land use planning processes that establish Natural Heritage EMAs should provide direction for activities controlled by MNRF, rather than deferring this to subsequent planning.

12.5.2 Recreation

The Recreation EMA designation can be applied to areas with high recreational use or significant recreation values for activities such as angling, hunting, motorized and non-motorized trail use, and canoeing. This EMA can be used for a wide variety of recreation values and management intents, ranging from areas where relatively substantial recreation development is permitted, to areas providing low density, high quality recreation in a natural setting. Because of this range of application and the resulting potential variability in policies, detailed policies should be developed when the EMA is established.

Some Recreation EMAs have been identified to protect remote recreation values. The intent is that these areas will be managed to provide high quality recreation, resource based tourism and natural values within a remote or semi-remote forested setting, while also permitting sustainable business and industrial activities. In these recreation areas, industrial activities such as forestry, mineral exploration and development, aggregate extraction, and generation of electricity, and the related construction and use of new roads, should be planned in a manner that supports the maintenance or enhancement of the area’s remote recreation qualities. Where a Crown land use planning process identifies the protection of remote recreation values as a priority in a new Recreation EMA, the area-specific land use policies must adequately outline the policies that will be applied to the area. Existing commercial tourism operations can continue, and expansions or new operations may be considered.

Commercial bait harvest, commercial fishing, commercial fur harvesting, and wild rice harvesting are permitted subject to existing controls and policies, and existing access related to the carrying out of these activities would normally continue, provided there are no conflicts with the objectives and land use intent of the EMA. There is no guarantee of continued access for these activities, because roads or trails may need to be closed for environmental, safety or financial reasons. Where new access is proposed, a review would be required to assess the potential impacts, particularly in areas that are identified to protect remote recreation values.

Disposition of Crown lands under the PLA can be considered where disposition would not conflict with the objectives that have been defined for the specific EMA.

Recreation EMAs could be used in future planning to identify areas in which enhanced management and use of accessible fish and wildlife resources is an objective of planning and resource management. Other resource interests will be accommodated. Where enhanced management of fish and wildlife is a primary objective, the Fish and Wildlife EMA category may be a more appropriate choice.

Where consideration is being given to using the Recreation EMA to protect remote recreation values, consideration should also be given to the use of the Remote Access EMA. The Remote Access EMA has more specific policies for new road planning and construction and includes the standard policy that new roads will be restricted from public use.

12.5.3 Remote Access

Remote Access EMAs are intended to maintain the remote character of selected areas. Typically, this designation would be applied to relatively large areas which can provide high quality remote recreational experiences including hunting, fishing, canoeing, and camping. These experiences may be associated with commercial resource based tourism operations. Some of these areas may currently be road-less, while others may have road systems that are managed to maintain a sense of remoteness.

Forestry, mineral exploration and development, aggregate extraction, and generation of electricity may occur in this category of EMA. The remote character will be retained through planning and establishing standards for the location and the use or abandonment of roads and trails. Roads for industrial and commercial use are permitted, however their standards should be lower than those that would normally be applied to primary access roads, while still allowing permitted activities and considering the health and safety of users. New roads, or substantial upgrades to existing roads, must be planned through comprehensive long term access planning that considers the values of the area, particularly the remote character of the area. Some guidelines are:

  • roads should be constructed to the lowest possible standard possible
  • new roads/trails should be directed to existing corridors where possible
  • road layout should consider potential impacts on aesthetics (i.e. the visual experience of the visitors to the area)
  • design and construction must facilitate access controls and closure/rehabilitation
  • the feasibility of effectively restricting public use of new roads will be considered in determining the appropriateness and location of new resource access roads

New roads will not be open for motorized travel by the public. Existing authorized access will continue.

Commercial bait harvest, commercial fishing, commercial fur harvesting, and wild rice harvesting are permitted subject to existing controls and policies, and existing access related to the carrying out of these activities would normally continue, provided there are no conflicts with the objectives and land use intent of the EMA. There is no guarantee of continued access for these activities, because roads or trails may need to be closed for environmental, safety or financial reasons.

Crown lands may be disposed of under the PLA where disposition would not detrimentally affect the remote character of the area.

Existing commercial tourism operations can continue, and expansions or new operations may be considered. New operations must be consistent with the emphasis on retaining the remote character. Crown land disposition for purposes that would require new roads open to public use is not consistent with the intent of the designation.

12.5.4 Fish and Wildlife

The Fish and Wildlife EMA category can be applied to areas that are managed for the maintenance and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and populations, while allowing for the multiple use of other natural resources. The criteria for selection of these areas include:

  • areas of known or potential fish or wildlife habitat for species that require special management practices
  • areas where forestry practices can be applied to enhance or maintain special habitat requirements
  • areas where enhanced hunting and fishing opportunities may be provided through specific management and land use practices

One or more of these criteria may apply to a specific EMA.

Forestry, aggregate extraction and generation of electricity are permitted, but may be subject to conditions to protect fish and wildlife values. Mineral exploration and development can occur subject to meeting the requirements established under the Mining Act, PLA and other applicable legislation. The use of best practices in mineral exploration and development activities will be encouraged. Commercial bait harvest, commercial fishing, commercial fur harvesting, and wild rice harvesting are permitted, and associated existing access would normally continue. There is no guarantee of continued access for these activities, because roads or trails may need to be closed for environmental, safety or financial reasons.

Crown lands may be disposed of under the PLA, where disposition would not detrimentally affect fish and wildlife values of the area.

Existing commercial tourism operations can continue, and expansions or new operations may be considered.

12.5.5 Great Lakes Coastal Areas

Great Lakes Coastal Areas is a category of EMA that has been applied to a relatively small area of lands and waters along the shore and islands of Georgian Bay, the North Channel, and Lake Superior. This category fits within a larger featured area or signature site concept — the Great Lakes Heritage Coast — that applies to all Crown lands along the portion of the Great Lakes shoreline within the 1999 OLL Planning Area. The Great Lakes Coastal Areas EMA has been applied in conjunction with other Crown land use designations, including other categories of EMA, found within the Heritage Coast. It is expected that few — if any — new Great Lakes Coastal Areas EMAs will be designated. Boundary refinements may be considered through local Crown land use planning that could expand or reduce the extent of existing EMAs.

In the coastal areas, ecosystem protection and the promotion of recreation and tourism are the primary land use and resource management goals.

Traditional Crown land recreation and non-industrial activities that have occurred within the Great Lakes or along the shoreline can continue. This includes activities such as commercial and sport fishing, hunting, fur harvesting, boating, camping, tourism and trail use. Activities occurring on or within the water portion of this land use category should be undertaken in a manner consistent with ecosystem protection, the recreation and tourism focus of the category and the land use intent of the adjacent land use category.

The following policies on commercial resource use and access apply to the Great Lakes Coastal Areas EMAs:

  • commercial timber harvesting will generally not occur in this area
  • mineral exploration and development can occur subject to meeting the requirements established under the Mining Act, PLA and other applicable legislation, although the use of best practices for exploration and development activities will be encouraged
  • aggregate extraction may occur where it has been demonstrated that extraction and associated activities will have no significant impact on the ecological, aesthetic or tourism values of the coastal area
  • cage aquaculture may be permitted provided the objectives of maintaining the ecological, recreational, and aesthetic values of the coastal area are maintained, and where federal and provincial regulations ensure protection of water quality and fish populations
  • commercial fishing will be permitted, will be managed in accordance with Great Lakes fisheries management plans, and will take into consideration values as identified in any management direction for any adjacent provincial park or conservation reserve. Commercial fishing includes gill netting, trap netting, trawling and hook lines and other techniques as authorized by a license. It may also include the issuance of special licenses from time to time and buildings for commercial fish camps
  • new facilities for generation of electricity facilities may be permitted but must be planned to be consistent with the values of the area, and any detailed land use policies that have been developed for specific areas. Underwater and underground utilities are encouraged where environmentally appropriate
  • new access roads must be carefully considered to maintain the character of the coast and minimize potential impacts to the environment. New permanent roads are normally not permitted on Crown lands. Exceptions include: being permitted for short infill roads in areas that already have road access, and roads required for permitted activities that cannot be carried out without road access. Where roads are constructed to access existing or new development or industrial activity, they must maintain the scenic, ecological, and land use values, and they must retain remote characteristics where they exist

The preceding guideline on land use is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible uses, but rather it is an outline of general direction. Other uses (e.g. sunken log removal) can occur where consistent with the overall intent for the area and provincial policy.

Land disposition under the PLA should only occur where it is clearly consistent with the intent of the specific land use area, the overall intent of the Heritage Coast. As an example, a sale or lease of Crown land or water lot to permit a marina may be appropriate in areas where recreational boating is being encouraged.

Some portions of the coast have had longstanding restrictions in land use plans on certain types of activities (e.g. the establishment of new tourism facilities or the sale of lands) in order to maintain the character of the area. Where these plans are more restrictive than the provincial EMA policies they will be retained, unless revised through a Crown land use planning process.

12.6 General Use Areas

Most Crown lands are subject to the General Use Area (GUA) designation. The specific policies for individual GUAs are established through local Crown land use planning and should reflect an area’s identified land use attributes and context. Where there is specific land use intent for a GUA it is essential that this be clearly defined in the policy report, because of the limited provincial policies defined for GUAs.

Considerations in the application of the General Use Area designation

The following are some factors that should be considered when a GUA designation is one of the possible Crown land use designations for an area:

  • GUA designation is the most flexible Crown land use designation. However, GUAs can have specific land use policies. If there is detailed land use intent for an area, consideration should be given to whether the intent better fits a more specific designation (e.g. one of the categories of EMA)
  • GUA designation is the default designation where no more specific designations have been applied

A full range of resource and recreational uses can be permitted in GUAs. However, the GUA designation does not mean that all uses and activities must be permitted. For example, policies for GUAs can establish controls on access (e.g. identifying where roads will be closed or restrictions on public access) in specific areas or circumstances. Some GUAs have specific protection policies, for example several GUAs substantially restrict or prohibit specified resource management activities administered by MNRF to protect Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest. A few GUAs have also been withdrawn from claim registration, although this can only occur in special circumstances and with the agreement of ENDM.

There are no provincial level policies on disposition of lands, resources or other rights that specifically relate to GUAs. Disposition is governed by standard MNRF policies and procedures.

Some GUAs have titles such as “resource management area” or “core protection zone”. No provincial-level land use policy or specific resource management direction is associated with these titles, and thus the corresponding areas may appropriately be classified as GUAs.

The GUA designation can be used as an interim holding category. This approach could be used where the intention is to transfer land to another agency, but the transfer may take substantial time, and in the interim a suite of policies is required to protect specific values. In this circumstance a new land use area with detailed policies should be established. The holding designation approach has been used where land is being transferred to the federal government for protected area purposes or for the creation of an expanded or new Indian Reserve.

The vast majority of the GUAs resulted from Crown land use planning decisions made in the 1983 DLUGs, or other pre-1997 Crown land use planning initiatives. As a result, some of these areas may be more appropriately designated in another land use category, such as an EMA designation. GUAs should be reviewed through local Crown land use planning to determine the currency of the land use policy and decide whether there is a more appropriate designation.

Planning for GUAs needs to consider the implications of management actions on adjacent Crown land use designations. For example, Recommended Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves may have been delineated on the basis that extensive buffering is not required because of the ecologically sustainable management that occurs on adjacent lands.