Biodiversity conservation in Ontario: An examination of legislation and government policy

This research posits that biodiversity conservation should be integrated into applicable pieces of legislation and government policies in the Province of Ontario. Ideally, the application of biodiversity conservation indicates an ecologically-informed attempt to maintain, and restore when needed, biodiversity. Therefore, this research is based on the integration of the scientific ideas of biodiversity conservation with legislation and government policies. The objectives of this research are: (1) to examine biodiversity conservation itself; (2) to establish a base set of the core ideas of biodiversity conservation; (3) to evaluate the content of selected legislation and government policies based on the established set of core ideas of biodiversity conservation; (4) to expose gaps in relevant legislation and government policies in regard to ideas of biodiversity conservation; and, (5) to recommend changes to relevant legislation and government policies in Ontario based on ideas of biodiversity conservation. This research involves a descriptive evaluation of the content of legislation and government polices based upon a professional review, in addition to the provision of information for design and policy advocacy. This research demonstrated that a biodiversity strategy for Ontario should be drafted. This research also recommended that reforms should be made to the Planning Act, Endangered Species Act, the Provincial Parks Act, and the Public Lands Act . The utility and importance of the Provincial Policy Statement was also demonstrated.