January 15, 2008
Water, air and soil: LO growers’ fall dinner meeting focuses on environmental stewardship
Environmental stewardship was the theme for the Landscape Ontario growers’ fall dinner meeting, held November 29 at the Grand Chalet in Milton. The evening featured two guest speakers, Dr. John FitzGibbon, chair of the Ontario Environmental Coalition (OFEC) and faculty member at the School of Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph, and Nathan Helder, president of Jan Gelderman Landscaping and chair of Landscape Ontario’s Environmental Stewardship Committee.
Dr. FitzGibbon presented possible future environmental challenges facing the nursery industry. In particular he spoke about Ontario’s Clean Water Act. The Act’s objective is to protect drinking water. It sets out to accomplish this through a multi-barrier approach. The Act divides the province into source water protection areas (SWPA) based on watersheds. Selected Conservation Authorities are designated to manage each SWPA. Each managed area is required to establish a source water protection committee (SWPC). Committee membership consists of several representative groups, including agriculture. OFEC provides training for participating agricultural representatives.
The nursery industry, as part of Ontario’s agricultural community, needs to be involved in the SWPC discussions. The following agricultural threats to water quality have been identified: drains and waste water storage and removal, fuel storage, pesticide storage, septic systems, active and abandoned wells, and septage and bio-solids spreading.
In the more immediate future, the nursery industry can expect to see an impact on Permit To Take Water applications. New regulations may affect permit approval as renewals and new permits consider in-stream water needs, seasonal flows and low flow conditions.
Dr. FitzGibbon encouraged the industry to participate in discussions and be aware of their local SWPC. Committees are expected to be in place by February 2008. For additional information about the Clean Water Act and Source Water Protection, visit www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/water/cleanwater/index.php.
The Environmental Stewardship Committee was recently established in the Landscape Ontario committee pantheon. Personally committed to improving industry’s role in the environment, Helder accepted the challenge as the new committee’s chair. Representing all commodity groups, the committee’s mandate is to:
The next growers’ dinner meeting is set for February, 2008. The evening will feature a panel discussion with growers, landscape architects and planners. It will provide an opportunity for Ontario’s nursery industry and its clients to have an open dialogue about current and future issues around plant availability, selection, quality and supporting successful landscapes.
Dr. FitzGibbon presented possible future environmental challenges facing the nursery industry. In particular he spoke about Ontario’s Clean Water Act. The Act’s objective is to protect drinking water. It sets out to accomplish this through a multi-barrier approach. The Act divides the province into source water protection areas (SWPA) based on watersheds. Selected Conservation Authorities are designated to manage each SWPA. Each managed area is required to establish a source water protection committee (SWPC). Committee membership consists of several representative groups, including agriculture. OFEC provides training for participating agricultural representatives.
The nursery industry, as part of Ontario’s agricultural community, needs to be involved in the SWPC discussions. The following agricultural threats to water quality have been identified: drains and waste water storage and removal, fuel storage, pesticide storage, septic systems, active and abandoned wells, and septage and bio-solids spreading.
In the more immediate future, the nursery industry can expect to see an impact on Permit To Take Water applications. New regulations may affect permit approval as renewals and new permits consider in-stream water needs, seasonal flows and low flow conditions.
Dr. FitzGibbon encouraged the industry to participate in discussions and be aware of their local SWPC. Committees are expected to be in place by February 2008. For additional information about the Clean Water Act and Source Water Protection, visit www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/water/cleanwater/index.php.
The Environmental Stewardship Committee was recently established in the Landscape Ontario committee pantheon. Personally committed to improving industry’s role in the environment, Helder accepted the challenge as the new committee’s chair. Representing all commodity groups, the committee’s mandate is to:
- enhance environmental stewardship activities within the horticultural industry and help the industry understand its significance and contributions with respect to the environment
- raise public awareness for environmental benefits of the green industry activities.
- coordinate activities with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s Environmental Stewardship Committee
- prepare industry sector environmental scans
- develop industry sector environmental report cards
- understand the power of public perception
- examine the future directions of Eco Accreditation, and developing standards and guidelines.
The next growers’ dinner meeting is set for February, 2008. The evening will feature a panel discussion with growers, landscape architects and planners. It will provide an opportunity for Ontario’s nursery industry and its clients to have an open dialogue about current and future issues around plant availability, selection, quality and supporting successful landscapes.