Linking Mapping to Policy

Using the Biodiversity Atlas Layers in Planning

Planners need to take into consideration the natural environment to:

Protect the community by being prepared for the impacts of climate change such as flooding, drought and wildfires.
Develop resilient communities that are able to recover quickly from extreme events.
Improve the health, well-being and quality of the lives of the community by ensuring that future generations can benefit from the resources provided by the natural environment.

This policy toolkit aims to create links between what planners do and the fundamental goals of climate resilience and biodiversity protection, using the atlas layers as information to guide decisions. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand why the environmental values represented in the atlas layers are important and link them to policy objectives.

Click on the boxes below to learn more or download the pdf here

Terrestrial Carbon

Carbon

The carbon layer focuses on forests, including standing live and dead timber, woody debris, soils and roots. Knowing the sources and volume of forest carbon in an area and quantifying its loss under different development scenarios will help planners make informed choices, support compliance with climate change strategies, and can be useful if applying for carbon credits.

Land Cover

Land Cover

Mapping current land cover helps planners account for the cumulative impacts of development. By comparing current data with historical layers, decision-makers can identify land-use trends and implement zoning that protects ecosystem services.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are important ecosystems that support plant and animal species at risk. Due to decades of intensive forestry and urban development, many ecological communities are at risk of being lost. They are further imperilled by climate change. ESAs are priorities for conservation due to their provincial and regional scarcity, fragility or vulnerability to disturbance, and their value to biodiversity.

Species at Risk and of Cultural Significance

Species At Risk

Species at risk (SAR) are those in danger of extinction in Canada. Their habitats often overlap with Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). Protecting and connecting these ecosystems through zoning or parks supports species recovery and prevents further declines.

Ecosystem Connectivity

Ecosystem Connectivity

The Ecosystem Connectivity layer will highlight features on the landscape that enable species to migrate between key habitat areas (hubs). Connectivity mapping will also seek to highlight pinch points for species movements which could be the focus of restoration efforts in the future. The final product will be available in 2027.

Hydrologically Sensitive Ecosystems

Hydrologically Sensitive Ecosystems

These areas include riparian zones, wetlands, estuaries, and shorelines. They support aquatic and tidal species, providing habitat and food. They are crucial for biodiversity, connectivity, and ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, storm protection, and water filtration.

General Planning Objectives

General Planning Objectives

To advance nature-based climate resilience and biodiversity protection, local governments should establish clear and long-term land use and environmental objectives that can be achieved through policies linked to targets and indicators.