Examining current woodlands conservation by-laws in municipalities located within the Carolinian Region of Southwestern Ontario

This paper examines current Woodlands Conservation By-laws in municipalities located within the Carolinian Region of southwestern Ontario. The Carolinian region encompasses only 1% of the total land area of Canada, however it is one of the most threatened ecological regions in the country (Carolinian Canada, 2004). Forest resources in this region are under considerable pressure as a result of land development and the intensification of agricultural activities. A majority of the municipalities within southern Ontario use Woodlands Conservation By-laws as a tool to regulate and conserve forest resources. These by-laws vary considerably in aspects such as allowable harvest, fees required, and fines imposed for violations. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the current by-laws in this region, as well as examine their effectiveness in protecting forest resources.