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Natural Heritage
Areas of natural heritage contribute to the character and essence of Muskoka as a mix of natural and man-made features generally including biologic, geologic, scenic and archaeological values. To maintain the long-term integrity and the special character of the Muskoka environment, it is essential that many of these locally, regionally and provincially significant areas and features be preserved.
In the early 1990’s Muskoka undertook a field-based program to identify the most significant natural areas in the District. This was a joint initiative in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Muskoka Heritage Foundation. Six percent of the land base of Muskoka was identified as Muskoka Heritage Areas or Sites. Muskoka’s Heritage Areas are those areas of Muskoka’s landscape that on a local, district, provincial or national scale, exhibit entities of historic, geologic, archaeological, scenic or biologic value.
Crown land makes up approximately half of that area, or three percent of Muskoka’s total land base. The Province of Ontario, through the Ontario Living Legacy Program, has recognized the Crown land portions of those sites as Conservation Reserves or part of new provincial parks. The remaining three percent of the identified Heritage Areas and Sites and are protected through Land Trust Ownership, Official Plan Policy and Private Land Stewardship.
As background to the Muskoka Official Plan review, Muskoka is undertaking a Natural Heritage Strategy that is to be initiated in 2008.
