Accessibility

We are committed to providing accessible customer service.

If you need accessible formats or communications supports, please contact us.

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules overview

These documents provide information on the description, criteria, information sources and assessment methods for significant wildlife habitat in ecoregions 3E, 5E, 6E and 7E.

These documents are in English only.

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules: Ecoregion 3E

Summary

This schedule provides the recommended criteria for identifying Significant Wildlife Habitat (SWH) within Ecoregion 3E.

Planning authorities, or anyone involved in assessing wildlife habitat significance in Ecoregion 3E, use this schedule along with the Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide when completing an ecological site assessment.

The schedules, including descriptions of wildlife habitat, wildlife species and the criteria provided for determining SWH, are based on science and expert knowledge.

Tables 1.1 through 1.4 in the schedules provide guidance for SWH designation for the 4 categories of SWH, outlined in the Significant wildlife habitat technical guide and its appendices.

The ecological land classification (ELC) ecosite codes are described using the provincial ecological land classification system for the boreal forest.

Download PDF

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules: Ecoregion 5E

Summary

This schedule provides the recommended criteria for identifying SWH within Ecoregion 5E.

Planning authorities, or anyone involved in assessing wildlife habitat significance in Ecoregion 5E, use this schedule along with the Significant wildlife habitat technical guide when completing an ecological site assessment.

The schedules, including descriptions of wildlife habitat, wildlife species and the criteria provided for determining SWH, are based on science and expert knowledge.

Tables 1.1 through 1.4 within the schedules provide guidance for SWH designation for the 4 categories of SWH outlined in the Significant wildlife habitat technical guide and its appendices.

Table 1.5 contains and provides descriptions for exceptions. Exceptions are candidate wildlife habitats that have different criteria than what is proposed in the above schedules (Tables 1.1 through 1.4) for an area within the ecoregion.

Download PDF

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules: Ecoregion 6E

Summary

This schedule provides the recommended criteria for identifying SWH within Ecoregion 6E.

Planning authorities, or anyone involved in assessing wildlife habitat significance in Ecoregion 6E, use this schedule along with the Significant wildlife habitat technical guide when completing an ecological site assessment.

The schedules, including descriptions of wildlife habitat, wildlife species and the criteria provided for determining SWH, are based on science and expert knowledge.

Tables 1.1 through 1.4 within the schedules provide guidance for SWH designation for the 4 categories of SWH outlined in the significant wildlife habitat technical guide and its appendices.

Table 1.5 contains and provides descriptions for exceptions. Exceptions are candidate wildlife habitats that have different criteria than what is proposed in the above schedules (Tables 1.1 through 1.4) for an area within the ecoregion.

Download PDF

Significant wildlife habitat ecoregional criteria schedules: Ecoregion 7E

Summary

This schedule provides the recommended criteria for identifying SWH within Ecoregion 7E.

Planning authorities, or anyone involved in assessing wildlife habitat significance in Ecoregion 7E, use this schedule along with the Significant wildlife habitat technical guide when completing an ecological site assessment.

The schedules, including descriptions of wildlife habitat, wildlife species and the criteria provided for determining SWH, are based on science and expert knowledge.

Tables 1.1 through 1.4 within the Schedules provide guidance for SWH designation for the 4 categories of SWH outlined in the significant wildlife habitat technical guide and its appendices.

Table 1.5 contains and provides descriptions for exceptions. Exceptions are candidate wildlife habitats that have different criteria than what is proposed in the above schedules (Tables 1.1 through 1.4) for an area within the ecoregion.

Download PDF

Significant wildlife habitat mitigation support tool

Summary

The Significant Wildlife Habitat Mitigation Support Tool (SWHMiST) provides an understanding of the functions of wildlife habitat, potential impacts and recommended mitigation approaches to minimize and/or avoid impacts.

Planning authorities may request natural heritage studies if a proposed development occurs in or adjacent to areas that have been designated as significant wildlife habitat.

SWH includes:

  • seasonal concentration areas
  • rare vegetation communities or specialized habitats for wildlife
  • movement corridors
  • habitat of species of conservation concern

The SWHMiST is intended to be used after a site and/or natural heritage feature is identified and confirmed as a significant wildlife habitat.

About the tool

This information is provided to help planning authorities review assessments made by developers about the impact of a proposed development and/or land use change on significant wildlife habitat.

The tool outlines the habitat and lifecycle needs of species and/or groups of species requiring similar significant wildlife habitat features.

The function of significant wildlife habitat is described for each species or group. For example, certain woodlands function as winter concentration areas for white-tailed deer. Deer migrate seasonally to these areas, and by doing so, they increase their chances of surviving the winter. Information is provided about the composition and structure of woodlands which allow them to function as winter concentration areas for deer.

The SWHMiST also provides information regarding anticipated impacts of different types of development on significant wildlife habitat as well as information about possible mitigation techniques.

Download PDF

Significant wildlife habitat references

Find the resources used to develop the Significant Wildlife Habitat Ecoregion Criteria Schedules.

Download PDF