Ontario Parks is responsible for preparing management plans for all provincial parks in the province. Management plans address topics such as zoning, resource management, operations, development and seasonal activities. Management planning for the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2005.
The Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Act, 2003 (KHSSP Act) provided for the establishment of a Management Advisory Board which will play a substantial role in management planning, working closely with Ontario Parks as an integral part of the planning team. As required, advice and support will be encouraged from the general public, Aboriginal communities, stakeholder groups, non-government organizations and the academic community. The roles and responsibilities for the team have been outlined in the Terms of Reference document, which will be posted as a link on this page when formally released for public viewing.
The Charter mandates that preparation of a management plan be initiated within one calendar year of the legal establishment (i.e., proclamation of the Act) of the KHSSP. The management plan will address a wide range of issues, and will incorporate the direction that has been identified in the legislation and Charter. It will establish broad resource management policies for the park. The management plan and the resource management policies will provide management prescriptions for the traditional uses that occur within the area.
The management plan will contain provisions that the protection of the ecological integrity of the park is recognized as the overriding priority in the management and administration of the park, so as to preserve, protect and enhance the natural composition and abundance of native species, biological communities and ecological processes in the park (Section 2 of the KHSSP Act).
While the management plan will set the overall direction for the management of the park, specific actions needed to implement the plan may be provided in subsequent plans and strategies. These implementation plans will provide further detailed guidance for the operation, management and protection of the parks resources, and managing traditional uses.
