Renewable energy projects

Natural Heritage Assessment Guide for Renewable Energy Projects, Third Edition

This guide provides direction for completing a natural heritage assessment, an environmental impact study and an environmental effects monitoring plan. The guide was developed to support Ontario Regulation 359/09: Renewable Energy Approvals made under the Environmental Protection Act.

Past guidance for renewable energy projects

Natural heritage features and areas

Ontario Wetland Evaluation System

These Ontario Wetland Evaluation manuals are technical guidance documents that use scientific criteria to assess wetland values and compare wetlands. The manuals are the procedures used to determine wetland significance.

Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide and related resources

Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide

Use this guide to find detailed information about identifying, describing and prioritizing significant wildlife habitat. This guide is available in English only.

Significant wildlife habitat additional resources

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules support the Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide and provide information on the description, criteria, information sources and assessment methods for significant wildlife habitat in ecoregions 3E, 5E, 6E and 7E. Available in English only.

Significant Wildlife Habitat Mitigation Support Tool

This tool describes the functions of wildlife habitat, potential impacts and recommended mitigation approaches to minimize and avoid impacts. Available in English only.

Inland lakes designated for lake trout management

Learn about Ontario lakes (excluding the Great Lakes) that are being managed for naturally reproducing lake trout and for the "put-grow-take" fish stocking program.

Natural Heritage Reference Manual

This manual provides guidance for implementing the natural heritage policies of the Provincial Planning Statement. It can be used as a reference by municipalities, planning boards, approval authorities, developers and other organizations or individuals. Available in English only.

For more information, request a copy of the Natural Heritage Reference Manual.

Provincial plan resources

Niagara Escarpment Commission

Learn about the Niagara Escarpment Commission, a regulatory agency of the Ontario Government that manages development on the Niagara Escarpment and implements the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

Greenbelt technical paper

This document provides technical definitions and criteria for key natural heritage features in the Natural Heritage System of the Protected Countryside Area of the Greenbelt Plan.

Oak Ridges Moraine technical paper: significant woodlands

This document provides technical criteria for identifying significant woodlands in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area. Available in English only.

For more information, request a copy of the Oak Ridges Moraine technical paper: significant woodlands.

Maps, classification systems and data access

Ecological land classification system

The ecological land classification system is used to identify geographical areas for certain natural heritage policies. Access resources and learn how these areas are defined based on ecological factors.

Make-a-map: natural heritage areas

Make a map of some of Ontario’s natural heritage areas. This tool provides access to natural heritage information, including wetlands and woodlands. Use this tool to view and identify natural heritage features, mark areas of interest and create and print a custom map directly from the web application.

Natural Resources Data Access Requests

Access open data or make a request for restricted datasets related to natural resources.