Halton's Natural Areas: What You Need to Know
From beautiful natural landscapes to recreational activities, there is no lack of things to do in Halton. What will you do first?
Halton is home to the City of Burlington and the Towns of Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville. Combining the charm of small town life with the amenities, shopping and culinary delights of major urban centres, Halton is truly something out of the ordinary. Defined by a varied and dramatic topography and intersected by the majestic Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World’s Biosphere Reserve, Halton Region is bound on the south by 25 kilometres of frontage on beautiful Lake Ontario.
As one of the safest communities in the country, Halton is a great place to live and visit, offering ample access to nature, arts, culture, heritage, leisure and sporting activities, fantastic shopping and more – all year round.
Many of the natural areas are considered environmentally sensitive areas and contain rare plant and animal species.
Much of the natural areas are under private ownership and therefore private stewardship of these areas is essential for their preservation and continued existence on the landscape for the enjoyment of future generation.
Other natural areas, such as the Conservation Halton parks are under public ownership and provide unique outdoor experiences for adventure, exploring, learning, and family fun, including hiking, biking, canoeing, and other outdoor recreation and leisure activities.
Halton is fortunate to have some globally unique features in the watershed including the Niagara Escarp-ment, the Lake Ontario shoreline, and the glacial Lake Iroquois shoreline.
Benefits of Halton's Natural Systems
Green spaces
Create attractive, liveable communities by providing relaxing, walkable, and aesthetically pleasing neighbourhoods; help us to adapt to impacts of climate change; help prevent flooding and erosion; provide habitat for wildlife and birds; reconnect us with Nature.
Wetlands
Improve water quality; regulate water flow for drought and flood management; provide wildlife habitat; provide carbon storage; contribute to climate change adaptation; provide opportunities for recreational fishing and hunting.
Forests
Improve air quality; absorb carbon emissions; filter air pollution; improve water quality and soil; provide important wildlife and bird habitat; provide sources of materials for building and manufacturing; provide shade and block winds.
The Great Lakes
Provide for transportation routes, recreation opportunities, and the manufacture of goods and services, contributing billions of dollars to Ontario’s economy; are a source of drinking water for eight million people; provide raw power and cooling water for the province’s energy supply.
For more information, visit conservationhalton.ca/natures-spaces
