On August 19, 2021, the Friends of the Beaver Valley (FBV) and representatives from The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) met with staff at the Municipality of Grey Highlands, Mayor McQueen and Councillors Cathy Little and Tom Allwood to present a collaboration proposal, PROTECT AND INCREASE THE NATURAL ECONOMY OF THE TALISMAN SITE WHILE PRESERVING NATURE. Our messages were as follows:
The goals of EBC are similar to those found in Grey Highland’s Official Plan – “To provide opportunities for sustainable resource development and outdoor recreation for the continuous economic, social and health benefit of area residents and visitors, and to support the management, protection and conservation of public lands in an environmentally sound manner”. FBV and EBC, while seeking to acquire the municipally owned lands on the Talisman site, propose a collaboration with Grey Highlands to increase the economic value of the lands, to preserve nature, to combat climate change and support other green initiatives.
Nature Tourism: EBC is committed to working with Grey Highlands to make the valley a sustainable tourism destination for those seeking natural escapes. According to DESTINATION ONTARIO May 21, the majority, 49 %, of those travelling in 2021 in Ontario are seeking sites to walk and hike” while the second largest group, 34 %, are looking for natural wonders. The good news, according to the same study, is that every group that visits nature spends $910 dollars per group, be it a couple or a family during their excursion.
EBC has proven success in creating trails for tourists with the Cup and Saucer Trail on Mantoulin, (returning approximately $4 million to the local economy in 2020), trails on the Elephant Thoughts/Kimbercote property in the Valley, and most recently the Trout Hollow Muir trail in Meaford.
Ecosystem Services: EBC described other benefits of a nature preserve to the Municipality including natural climate solutions from green spaces and even potential revenues from the sale of carbon credits. Ecosystem services or the role nature plays to protect species and prevent flooding for example, has real dollar value according the Ministry of Natural Resources. Open partially treed lands like those found on the Talisman site provide $353 per hectare per year but, if re-wilded with forest cover, the value would increase to $4400/h and increase potential carbon sequestration revenue significantly.
The proposed collaboration between the Municipality of Grey Highlands and EBC will shelter the lands under a social enterprise model with the priority of developing a sustainable green economy that will create a new prosperity in the valley.
Prepared by LINDA READER for the ESCARPMENT BIOSPHERE CONSERVANCY escarpment.ca