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The layer Environmentally Sensitive Policy Areas (ROP15_EnvSensitivePolicyArea)is a component of Map 4 (Greenlands Network) of the Regional Official Plan (ROP) as adopted by Council on June 16, 2009, and approved by the Ontario Municipal Board on June 18, 2015 . Environmentally Sensitive Policy Areas are regionally significant natural areas that comprise: (a) Provincially significant Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, regionally significant Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, or provincially significant Earth Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest; or (b) At least two of the following criteria: i) comprise ecological communities deemed unusual, of outstanding quality or particularly representative regionally, provincially or nationally; ii) contain critical habitats which are uncommon or remnants of once extensive habitats such as old growth forest, forest interior habitat, Carolinian forest, prairie-savanna, alvars, cliffs, bogs, fens, marl meadows, and cold water streams; iii) provide a large area of natural habitat of at least 20 hectares which affords habitat to species intolerant of human intrusion; or iv) provide habitat for organisms native to the region recognized as regionally, provincially or nationally significant; or (c) fulfill one of the criteria in Policy 7.C.5(b) and any two of the following: i) contain an unusual diversity of native life forms due to varied topography, microclimates, soils and/or drainage regimes; ii) perform a vital ecological function such as maintaining the hydrological balance over a widespread area by acting as a natural water storage, discharge or recharge area; iii) provide a linking system of relatively undisturbed forest or other natural habitat for the movement of wildlife over a considerable distance; iv) serve as major migratory stop-over or significant over-wintering habitat; or v) contain landforms deemed unusual or particularly representative at the regional scale. |