MNRF: Climate Adaptation Strategy 2017-2021

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is engaging the people of Ontario to seek feedback on Naturally Resilient: MNRF’s Natural Resource Climate Adaptation Strategy.

The impacts of climate change on the landscapes, ecosystems, species, and natural resources of Ontario are becoming increasingly visible.

With Naturally Resilient, MNRF is introducing a strategic and coordinated five-year framework (2017-2021) to guide the ministry in taking actions to continue sustainable natural resource management in Ontario, and support resilience, as the climate changes.

The strategy is based on a foundation of five goals:

(1) Mainstream Adaptation
(2) Build Resilience and Biodiversity
(3) Increase Science, Research and Knowledge
(4) Increase Awareness and Motivation
(5) Optimize Services and Response

The strategy outlines 23 specific actions MNRF will take in pursuit of these goals, across the ministry’s policy, science, operations, and service delivery activities. The actions build on existing climate change adaptation efforts and support future initiatives over the next five years.

Taking action to accomplish the goals of Naturally Resilient is MNRF`s commitment to continuing sustainable natural resource development, emergency response, recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship in Ontario, while confronting and adapting to the risks posed by climate change.
MNRF`s adaptation work contributes to climate change initiatives already underway across the Ontario government, including Ontario’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, and Climate Ready (Ontario’s Adaptation Plan), led by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

While Naturally Resilient is focused specifically on adapting MNRF’s daily business of natural resource management, MNRF is also actively supporting efforts to renew the government-wide set of adaptation actions found in Climate Ready, as part of an update planned for 2017.