Township of Cavan Monaghan: Proposed Woodland Management By-law

The Township of Cavan Monaghan is taking steps to strengthen the protection of its natural heritage with the introduction of a draft Woodland Management By-law.

The community’s rural landscape includes extensive thriving woodlands. The proposed By-law aims to safeguard these features while allowing normal rural and agricultural practices to continue.

Currently, no formal regulation exists to protect sensitive natural features or to manage tree cutting in environmentally sensitive areas of the Township.

The draft Woodland Management By-law focuses on responsible management rather than restricting everyday practices. It applies only to:

• Healthy clusters of five or more trees,
• Trees with a minimum diameter of 15 cm (6 inches),
• Trees located within sensitive natural areas, such as provincially significant woodlands, wetlands, or areas mapped in the Township Official Plan.

The draft by-law also regulates clear cutting, defined as the removal of trees in an area greater than 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres). Clear-cutting permits may be issued but require a public meeting and support from Council.

Several exemptions are included. A Woodland Management Permit is not required for:

• Trees under 15 cm in diameter
• Groups of fewer than five trees
• Trees outside sensitive natural areas
• Dead, diseased, or hazardous trees
• Invasive species
• Normal farm practices
• Forest Management Plans
• Firewood use
• Trees removed under an approved Building Permit, and
• Exemptions listed in Section 135(12) of the Municipal Act.

The draft By-law is designed to work proactively and reactively. All Planning Act and Building Permit applications will be reviewed to identify proposed tree removal and applicants may be required to complete environmental or tree preservation studies. The By-law is also complaint‑based with enforcement carried out by Township By-law Officers.

Proposed penalties for contraventions include:

• $300 per infraction for non‑compliance with an order
• Potential requirements for replanting or rehabilitation
• Clear cutting fines in excess of 50 trees

The Township’s approach is consistent with other Ontario municipalities, many of which have introduced stronger penalties and oversight to protect natural areas.

This initiative supports the Township’s Strategic Plan and Official Plan, helping ensure long-term woodland health without impeding typical rural activity or the removal of single trees by property owners.