Council has voted unanimously to adopt the Toronto Ravine Strategy implementation plan that includes extensive cleanup and protection of the city's ravine system, which measures more than 300-km and 11,000 hectares, making it one of the largest in the world.
If the plan is approved, an additional $2.7 million will go toward new and enhanced services to increase ravine litter collection and invasive species control annually.
"Healthy ravines are the roots of Toronto's environmental sustainability," said Mayor Tory. "While climate change is a global phenomenon, the work that needs to be done is local and that is why this expanded long-term investment in our ravines is so important."
"This Ravine Strategy will make sure we do better and that we are much more aggressive when it comes to investing in our ravines, cleaning them up, and making sure we are protecting them now and into the future."
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According to a release from the city, additional capital budget funding of $104.9 million will focus efforts in the first 10 priority investment areas in the ravine system.
"This funding will build upon the impacts of the $460 million in this year’s staff-recommended 2020 to 2029 capital budget for work in ravines."
Moreover, if the funding is approved, the city will take on two initial projects including "Loop Trail" to connect 81 kilometres of ravine trails across the city and the "InTO the Ravines: Nature at your doorstep" micro-grant and community engagement program.
The city also said it will ask other levels of government for funding to help implement the strategy in addition to creating a "ravine unit" within the Parks, Forestry and Recreation division.
