Imagine taking a tranquil morning walk through the serene landscape of Moore Park Ravine situated in Toronto, Canada. This enchanting urban forest is a hidden gem, drawing over a million excited explorers annually. The city's revitalization initiatives aim to safeguard the untouched beauty of these ravines for the enjoyment and discovery of coming generations.
It's interesting to note that Toronto boasts one of the largest urban forest networks globally, boosting the region's biodiversity. This grand sanctuary serves as the lungs of the city, absorbing carbon and purifying the air.
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Unveiling Toronto's Hidden Urban Forest
Discover the breathtaking beauty of the city's ravines in these four immersive approaches, offering a much-needed wildness within urban boundaries.
Toronto, Canada's most populous metropolis, boasts a remarkable geological feature that runs deep beneath its urban sprawl - an extensive network of ravines. These multi-faceted ecosystems - consisting of winding rivers, verdant plains, subterranean woods, secluded beaches, and miniature valleys - were meticulously sculpted over 12,000 years ago by retreating glaciers. Remarkably, this system of ravines is among the largest globally, spanning an area that's 30 times greater than New York's Central Park. This vast natural network has significantly influenced Toronto's layout and endows it with the popular moniker "a city within a park."
For visitors intrigued by this urban wilderness, finding a hotel to stay nearby allows for convenient exploration. The proximity to these serene landscapes offers a unique opportunity to experience the harmony of city life and natural splendor. Whether you're traversing the lush trails by day or reveling in the metropolitan buzz by night, the comfortable accommodations cater to all preferences.
But these ravines, which now cover an estimated 17 percent of the city, are at risk from urban development and invasive species. Decades of rapid urbanization transformed what was once a thriving ecosystem connecting the major rivers of Toronto. During the early 20th-century, many of the city’s pristine meadows and wetlands were paved over; much of the forest floor became an illegal dumping site; and companies used the creeks and rivers as a waste disposal system.
Fortunately, ongoing efforts to sustain the natural heritage of Toronto are showing signs of success. The revitalization will benefit the environment and locals, as well as adventure-seeking visitors. More than a million people use the urban forest to bike, hike, and discover lesser-known parts of the city each year. In 2021, the city council agreed to invest $66 million toward enhancing the gullies and creating a 50-mile continuous multi-use Loop Trail that will encourage people to explore the city’s ravine system, developing waterfront, and trendy neighborhoods.
Reviving the ravines
In 2017, Toronto adopted a 10-year strategy to preserve and revitalize the ravines. An important focus of the strategy is the mitigation of invasive species. The ravines are a vital habitat that contains 87 percent of the city’s indigenous wildlife and plants.
These forest ecosystems “are critical to providing climate resiliency,” says Kim Statham, acting director of urban forestry for Toronto, citing how forests reduce what’s known as the urban heat island effect. Cities often report higher temperatures than rural areas because of the amount of roof and road surfaces that absorb and reflect the sun’s rays. Areas with more tree cover are better able to fight these high temperatures, a discovery that is factoring into Toronto’s efforts to protect the ravine system.
However, invasive species such as the Norway maple and Japanese knotweed are harming the native flora. Norway maples, for example, have reproduced so rapidly they have killed nearly half the forest floor with their roots and poisonous sap. As the protective barrier continues to erode, there is a greater risk of floods and native animals losing their nesting grounds.
(One way to fight invasive species? Eat them.)
Anqi Dong, who coauthored a University of Toronto ravine study, found that the amount of non-native tree cover in the ravines had increased from 10 percent in the 1970s to 40 percent in 2016. If the proliferation of invasive species continues at this rate, Dong estimates that it could reach at least 60 percent in the coming decades.
They have managed to thrive exceptionally well without their natural predators and have created a monotonous landscape in the process," Dong explains. This has led to the suppression of indigenous species in the area.
Dong is optimistic that future research will provide vital insights into combating invasive species within this setting. In the interim, the strategy to counter this issue involves manually eradicating the undesirable vegetation and reintroducing native flora into the forest.
Several of these conservation initiatives are spearheaded by Toronto citizens, including Catherine Berka, a member of the Toronto Nature Stewards community association. Berka, and people like her, are working zealously to rehabilitate ravines and instruct property owners on proper land stewardship methods. This is crucial given the fact that approximately 40% of these ravines extend into private properties.
Unveiling the Enigmatic Urban Forest of Toronto
Delving into the depths of Toronto's ravines reveals a secret world that is capturing the attention of both locals and visitors. With an aim to showcase these hidden gems as part of the city's global image, Toronto is actively promoting the use of ravines to both its residents and tourists alike.
Over the next ten years, the city has ambitious plans in store for its ravine system. Extensive enhancements are on the horizon, including the construction of new trails and bridges, as well as extensive planting of native species. These initiatives will establish a solid foundation for upcoming long-term projects, such as the Loop Trail, which is set to stretch across the entirety of Toronto.
Immerse yourself in this enigmatic urban forest, where the intertwining trails unveil the city's natural splendor. Traverse the newly built bridges and witness the resplendent beauty of native flora. As you walk, you'll bask in the dual delight of exploring both a local treasure and a focal point for international admiration.
The ongoing development aims to bridge nearly a third of Toronto's sprawling ravines with numerous trails, traversing over 20 culturally rich neighborhoods across the city. The loops are ingeniously designed to engage with the Meadoway, an extensive, multipurpose thoroughfare set to be among Canada's most prominent urban linear parks, which will forge a direct path from Toronto's bustling downtown to the tranquil Rouge Urban National Park, a first-of-its-kind urban national park in the nation.
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An array of adventures awaits within Toronto's densely forested ravines, spread over a whopping 27,000 acres. One spectacle not to overlook is the Lower Don Trail, an enchanting three-mile journey, undulating north-south along the river of the same name. It's a haven for urban dwellers seeking solace in nature, offering multiple entry points tucked within the downtown area, providing a swift plunge into tranquility from Toronto's vibrant urban scene.
Rosedale Ravine Trail, which can be accessed at the corner of Yonge and St. Clair streets in downtown Toronto, takes adventurers under the city into a forest where sightings of red-tailed hawks, beavers, and other wildlife are almost guaranteed.
Scarborough’s Doris McCarthy Trail, about a half-hour drive from downtown Toronto, offers a moderate six-mile hike leading to Scarborough Bluffs, a towering cliff featuring picturesque views of Lake Ontario on Toronto’s eastern waterfront.
For something less crowded, Koa Thornhill, program manager at Park People, a group that mobilizes Canadians to get into outdoor spaces, says Birkdale Ravine in Scarborough is well worth the trek. “It’s a little bit off the beaten trail, but it’s what I consider to be a hidden gem,” she says, especially in spring to see the rows of cherry blossom trees gifted by Sagamihara, Japan (Toronto’s sister city).