Learning Outcomes for Unit 7
"The urban forest is the forest we live in."
- Gather the final perspectives of the University community members in our case study of woodlot biodiversity and complete your concept map of the campus woodlots and natural areas.
- Understand fundamental concept of population density and recognize the various local patterns of distribution of organisms within a particular species.
- Examine historical processes impacting global patterns species diversity.
- Apply concepts of biological population regulation to interpret a popular science news report.
- Examine the concepts of ecosystem function and services.
- Define the terms such as forest fragmentation and the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) and discuss how it might influence forest biodiversity.
- Discuss modern ecosystem management tools such as adaptive management.
- Which natural area would you develop?
"The urban forest is the forest we live in."
We're going to start this week by adding to the various perspectives that we've already heard from. Up to now, we've spoken with various members of the University community and the City of Guelph. Another important perspective is the Provincial. The Province of Ontario in the "Places to Grow Act - 2005" designated specific parts of the province that will be developed to accommodate future population growth. This act states that, "directing a significant portion of new growth to the built-up areas of the community through intensification" with an explicit focus on "intensification areas". What this means is that, for a city like Guelph that is included in the "outer ring" of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area (see the map below from the act), it must actively plan to accommodate a growth by a third in the next 17 years.
This is the Guelph that students of BIOL*1070 born today will experience.
The explicit plans for the development of Guelph through intensification rather than expansion make the type of decision that you are attempting to figure out likely to become much more common.
This decision, at a provincial level - is reflected in the preparations you heard about from Mr. Gord Gavrilovic, the Manager of Space & Facility Renewal for the University of Guelph, for a continued increase in need for "capacity" on campus.
This is the Guelph that students of BIOL*1070 born today will experience.
The explicit plans for the development of Guelph through intensification rather than expansion make the type of decision that you are attempting to figure out likely to become much more common.
This decision, at a provincial level - is reflected in the preparations you heard about from Mr. Gord Gavrilovic, the Manager of Space & Facility Renewal for the University of Guelph, for a continued increase in need for "capacity" on campus.
Remember when Mr. Neumann (Manager of Forestry for the City of Guelph) described his experiences with Trees for Guelph - and how recently the urban spaces that Trees for Guelph plants trees are now much more focused on schools than industrial spaces. "Those opportunities don't seem to exist anymore" - due to the increased emphasis on intensification.
The Community Members
We re-introduce ourselves once more to some of the community members of University who have perspectives about this development. They will share with you their respective thoughts regarding the biodiversity in each of the campus natural areas.
At this stage in the Inquiry Case, make your final considerations this week regarding how these perspectives have helped in making your decision about which area(s) should be protected, and which one(s) should be developed.
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Dr. Doug Larson — emeritus Professor, University of Guelph
“This represents the hope for biodiversity.....this could always be a doubling of the size of the Dairy Bush.”
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Gwyn Govers — Graduate Student, University of Waterloo
“We see (invasive species) like Garlic Mustard around the edges and the paths.”
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Martin Neuman – City of Guelph Manager of Forestry
"If there is no development here, where is it going to be?"
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Gord Gavrilovic – University of Guelph Manager of Space & Facility Renewal
"We need to maintain them (natural areas) but we also need to increase capacity on campus"
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Chris Earley --– University of Guelph Arboretum Interpretive Biologist & Education Coordinator
“That's going to make this wild space, in the city limits, an island.”
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YOU — new member of the University community!
“What do I know about the biodiversity in each of the campus woodlots? How can I use this information to help inform my decision about development on campus?”
We re-introduce ourselves once more to some of the community members of University who have perspectives about this development. They will share with you their respective thoughts regarding the biodiversity in each of the campus natural areas.
At this stage in the Inquiry Case, make your final considerations this week regarding how these perspectives have helped in making your decision about which area(s) should be protected, and which one(s) should be developed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Doug Larson — emeritus Professor, University of Guelph
“This represents the hope for biodiversity.....this could always be a doubling of the size of the Dairy Bush.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwyn Govers — Graduate Student, University of Waterloo
“We see (invasive species) like Garlic Mustard around the edges and the paths.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martin Neuman – City of Guelph Manager of Forestry
"If there is no development here, where is it going to be?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gord Gavrilovic – University of Guelph Manager of Space & Facility Renewal
"We need to maintain them (natural areas) but we also need to increase capacity on campus"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Earley --– University of Guelph Arboretum Interpretive Biologist & Education Coordinator
“That's going to make this wild space, in the city limits, an island.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU — new member of the University community!
“What do I know about the biodiversity in each of the campus woodlots? How can I use this information to help inform my decision about development on campus?”
A(nother) final reminder about development on the University of Guelph Campus
By now, you are all very familiar with the fact that all development within the University of Guelph happens under the guidance of the Campus Master Plan. This plan, “describes the history of the Campus and provides guidelines for future development. The guiding/planning principles are environmental quality; spatial structure and composition; project design; movement and associated systems; land use locations; and implementation.” The most current version is from 2013.