Planning

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This is the collection for the University of Waterloo's School of Planning.

Research outputs are organized by type (eg. Master Thesis, Article, Conference Paper).

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Now showing 1 - 13 of 13

Advancing Municipal Natural Asset Management through Standardized Evaluation
(University of Waterloo, 2021-09-28) Mollame, Lucas; Drescher, Michael
In Canada, many urban and near-urban ecosystems are in decline. As well, engineered infrastructure is aging, its capital and operating costs are rising, and municipal service delivery is strained. Local governments are searching for new strategies to deliver services in financially and environmentally sustainable ways. They are also looking to incorporate ecosystems and ecosystem services into their understanding of service delivery. Unfortunately, many municipalities struggle to view these ecosystems as green infrastructure that can provide local communities with a wide range of important services such as stormwater management. However, some Canadian municipalities are beginning to incorporate ecosystems and the services they provide into their asset management planning and service delivery frameworks, an approach known as municipal natural asset management. To conduct municipal natural asset management, municipalities should restore, conserve, inventory, and track ecosystems under their jurisdiction. As more municipalities incorporate municipal natural asset management, evidence of its efficacy is required to upscale and mainstream this approach. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to evaluate municipal natural asset management programs. Evidence from this evaluation will contribute to a broadening database of the beneficial outcomes of a municipal natural asset management program. To do this, this research created a rigorous evaluation framework for municipal natural asset management and has applied it to a national cohort of five case studies. This evaluation framework includes a Program Logic Model and an Evaluation Matrix as two common evaluation tools. As well, evaluation questions, indicators, benchmarks, and a five-point, colour-coded scoring system were created for program outcomes based on four distinct outcome streams in the Program Logic Model. These four outcome streams are (i) Awareness, Capacity and Education Outcomes, (ii) Implementation Outcomes, (iii) Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Restoration Outcomes and (iv) Service Delivery Outcomes. Findings from the evaluation showed that the five municipalities received high scores for Awareness, Capacity and Education Outcome indicators and some Implementation Outcome indicators. However, the municipalities did not receive high scores in later Implementation Outcome indicators, Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Restoration Outcome indicators, and Service Delivery Outcome indicators. These findings reveal that municipalities are aligning municipal natural asset management with existing municipal climate action initiatives. Moving forward, Canadian local governments should focus on partnerships and champions to enable municipal natural asset management, recognize municipal natural asset management as a full municipal program, and use existing tools to identify sites for ecosystem rehabilitation and restoration. Findings from the evaluation also provide insights on complex and complicated Program Logic Models, nested outcomes, and outcome streams. This evaluation framework should be improved upon so more municipalities can be evaluated simultaneously and automatically. Finally, local governments should explore using funding from COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery to integrate municipal natural asset management.
Enabling the Integration of Ecosystem Service-based Approaches into Planning Organizations: Municipal Natural Asset Management
(University of Waterloo, 2019-12-06) Milligan, Zoe Emma Elizabeth; Drescher, Michael
This research seeks to help bridge the gap between science and practice around the integration of ecosystem service-based approaches within municipal planning. This thesis identified enablers of organizational change needed to implement Municipal Natural Asset Management (MNAM) from an Ontario planning context utilizing a socio-technical system theory lens. Staff and decision-makers from municipalities and conservation authorities within the field of planning were interviewed with open-ended questions. Enablers were formed from top challenges, opportunities, and actions identified by participants. The seven top challenges, five top opportunities, and four top actions identified resulted in the formation of six enablers. Enablers that emerged were: 1) reducing a lack of knowledge of the value of ecological systems, 2) creating a clear action plan addressing resource constraints and municipal capacities, 3) increasing cross-jurisdictional and interdepartmental coordination, 4) leveraging Ontario policy frameworks and processes to enable MNAM implementation, 5) creating clear and concise tools and processes for MNAM implementation, and 6) finding a champion to help create and continue momentum of MNAM implementation. The enablers addressed the top challenges while utilizing opportunities and actions identified during interviews. Results provided insight into enabling the implementation of MNAM within municipalities and tangible recommendations for implementing each enabler. It is recommended that to improve MNAM implementation success, enablers are strategically approached and implemented based on careful consideration of individual needs and capacities of municipalities.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community Engagement Strategies for Shifting Attitudinal Behaviour Towards Green Stormwater Infrastructure
(University of Waterloo, 2020-01-07) Coore, Danielle; Drescher, Michael
Climate change will cause increased frequency extreme weather events with more frequent stormwater runoff and flooding. Therefore it is increasingly critical to understand how to address the increased runoff as well as mitigate and protect against the effects of climate change. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) refers to features that can help absorb, collect and redirect increased stormwater runoff. However, GSI and stormwater management (SWM) are alien or overlooked concepts to much of the public. This study aimed to understand how education in the form of a design charrette and brochures impacts residents’ views, beliefs, values and actions towards GSI in a flood prone community in Cambridge, Ontario. Pre and post surveys, site visits, interviews, and observation at the charrette and facilitator notes were used to understand the effect of education on changing perceptions and actions among residents. Educational methods were largely not effective at changing residents’ attitudes and behaviors towards GSI, except on a few questions related to SWM action and the impact on water bodies. Being impacted by extreme weather, experiencing extreme weather and household income, were significant covariates that influenced residents’ responses. The lack of enthusiasm towards installing GSI was driven by cost concerns, perception of higher level of government responsibility, need for government leadership on GSI, and value of current property uses among residents. However, residents appreciated receiving education and desired more education on GSI. More research is needed to understand how to engage and motivate the public to install GSI. While education did not prompt most participants to install GSI, it created awareness for GSI and SWM, which was not previously considered by many residents. Upon education in GSI, participants were generally supportive of these endeavors. As climate change worsens, it will be increasingly critical to find ways to build the support and engagement needed to install GSI in communities. Researchers and land use practitioners must find ways to fund GSI, galvanize the public to implement it in their properties, show leadership by implementing GSI throughout the community, provide incentives, financial and non-financial, to spur residential implementation, and use risk mapping to prioritize and encourage GSI installation among residents. Practitioners should also encourage smaller non-GSI actions residents can take to improve SWM on their property as these are easier, cheaper and likelier to be done by residents. Practitioners should build on the momentum and support generated by public engagement events to implement GSI and SWM in their neighbourhoods and communities.
Evaluating the Progress of Municipal Natural Asset Management through Monitoring & Evaluation
(University of Waterloo, 2023-09-29) Sandhu, Sawroop; Drescher, Michael
Contemporary environmental and land-use planning in many Canadian municipalities is challenged with two key problems that have grown with increasing urban development: 1) natural ecosystems decline and 2) grey infrastructure service failure. The 2020 Living Planet Report Canada highlighted the continuing decline of many natural ecosystems in remote areas and near to sprawling Canadian cities. These risks are heightened, with the possibility of climate change-driven extreme weather resulting in grey infrastructure failure. A possible approach for slowing or reversing these concerns is the use of ecosystem services provided in the form nature-based solutions (NBS). An emerging NBS practice is the implementation of Natural Asset Management (NAM). NAM is being applied by municipalities, insufficient monitoring is causing a lack of evidence that would be required to demonstrate NAM’s ability to counter ecosystem decline and grey infrastructure service loss. We applied a standardized evaluation framework to assess NAM progress in six case-study municipalities in Canada. Data were collected with extensive review of municipal documents (e.g., Official Plan changes, Council meeting notes, budget allocations) and interviews with key municipal decision-makers. Data analysis was performed through thematic coding. The analysis reveals that while many municipalities are increasing their awareness and capacity for NAM implementation, large barriers to progress remain including limited enabling policies and lack of effective municipal governance. Especially changes in government and administrative organization tend to undermine the required long-term efforts in support of NAM. Municipalities must overcome these barriers to allow further progress towards restoration and conservation of natural assets that would improve the state of urban natural ecosystems and urban service delivery. An increasingly engaged public might provide pressure on municipalities to enhance permanence of NAM efforts and require accountability for NAM progress.
An Examination of Wetland Conversion and Resulting Effects on Landscape Connectivity in Southern Ontario Municipalities.
(University of Waterloo, 2019-09-25) Birch, Waverley; Drescher, Michael
The few wetlands that remain in the human-dominated landscape of southern Ontario are affected by degradation and conversion to other land use and land cover types. Conversion has negative impacts on wetland-provisioned ecosystem services, such as aquatic species habitat, water filtration and flood prevention. Impacts on the latter services are especially concerning, given the increase of flood events that likely will be exacerbated by a changing climate. Stormwater management (SWM) ponds are constructed to control urban runoff, but do not have the same form and function as wetlands. This study examined recent (2002-2011) trends and drivers of wetland conversion (i.e. wetland loss and SWM pond gain) in seven southern Ontario municipalities. Following this, a Markov model was constructed to project future conversion given specific land use and land cover types. Network analytical approaches were then used to investigate effects of conversion on landscape connectivity. Results show that most wetlands lost were smaller than 2 hectares. While the total area of SWM ponds gained was greater than that of wetlands lost, the size of the average SWM pond gained was less than the size of the average wetland lost. Wetland conversion is projected to continue under all examined land use and land cover types, with losses particularly high in extractive and urban land uses. Overall, wetland conversion corresponded with decreased connectivity. Wetlands appeared to be more connected over the landscape compared to SWM ponds. However, SWM ponds likely acted as stepping-stones between wetlands and compensated somewhat for connectivity losses. The results provide further evidence for the need to halt wetland losses, especially for small wetlands, while showing the potential for connectivity improvements by SWM ponds. By conserving wetlands, policy makers can help to protect human life and property that rely on the critical ecosystem services provided by wetlands.
Generating a New Evaluating System for Regional Scale Redevelopment Effectiveness of Brownfields in Waterloo Region Using a Multi-Criteria Analysis Mechanism
(University of Waterloo, 2017-05-19) Pan, Jialei; Drescher, Michael
Brownfield redevelopment has been a popular topic as part of the contemporary planning literature. Encouraging brownfields’ redevelopment and improving the redevelopment effectiveness and efficiency have been two of the top concerns for planners. Redevelopments with various purposes can benefit the region in different ways. It is not necessary that redeveloping into the most common purpose would make the greatest contribution to the region. A region-wide redevelopment projects’ effectiveness evaluation will help planners have a better understanding of the region’s current situation in terms of brownfield redevelopment. This research aims to integrate a multi-criteria analysis method with brownfield redevelopment effectiveness evaluation, with the intention of suggesting improvements to brownfield redevelopment resource allocation and enlightening regional land use efficiency. During the first phase of this study, a database was generated for previously redeveloped brownfields within Waterloo Region to fill in the informational gap of region-wide redevelopment projects. During the second phase, criteria were selected that can represent redevelopments’ influences, and a multi-criteria analysis technique was used to generate a region-wide effectiveness evaluation model. The redevelopment projects in Waterloo Region have been assessed by this evaluation model. This study not only creates an information database for redeveloped brownfields in Waterloo Region, but also provides an effectiveness ranking for previous redevelopment projects and identifies the best and worst performing projects. Based on the effectiveness evaluation, the region’s performance in terms of brownfield redevelopment can also be analyzed. Waterloo Region has planning tools and policies available to provide legal and technical advice for potential developers of brownfield sites. At the same time, different levels of financial supports, such as grants and tax incentive programs, are also available in Waterloo Region. However, a lack of monitoring and evaluation of programs after redevelopments is Waterloo Region’s shortcoming. In terms of brownfield redevelopment, efficiently allocating supportive resources would be the key for the region’s next step. The region-wide brownfield repurposing activities’ effectiveness evaluation could be a start that draws attention to development of efficient brownfield redevelopment resources allocation tools in the future.
Institutional Barriers and Enablers for Green Infrastructure Implementation: A Case-Study of the City of Brampton, Ontario, using the Institutional Analysis and Development framework.
(University of Waterloo, 2019-09-26) Ghadge, Kanchan; Drescher, Michael
Green infrastructure (GI) has increasingly being deliberated in the planning discourse for its multifunctionality and applicability to address a number of urban issues. However, despite the benefits, the mainstream use of GI principles and concepts in urban planning is limited. For some time now, city planners have found it challenging to institutionalizing GI approaches in policy and practise. Research has indicated a number of systemic barriers to operationalizing the concept including political will, funding opportunities, and existing city planning practises. However, despite these challenges, there are examples emerging in cities where municipal governments are foraying into implementing GI and the concept is finding a place in Official plans and policy documents. Using the City of Brampton as a case study, this thesis attempts to learn from the early experiences of policy and planning practises to identify enablers and challenges in GI implementation. Using a qualitative case study research approach, the thesis investigates GI implementation through Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. Semi-structured interviews with 16 experts and document analysis of plans, and policy documents are used to focus on the operational level action arena. The case study shows a polycentric model supported through nested rules from all levels of governments. Though the various levels of government outline different outcomes from GI implementation, in this case study of Brampton, GI implementation centres around naturalisation policies and use of new GI technologies in water resource management. The case study observed a watershed scale of planning for GI and emphasises the changing role of conservation authorities as a technical unit that provides expertise and support for GI implementation The study evaluates the observed polycentric model facilitated by a collaborative co-management approach for required time, transaction costs and effectiveness. The observed collaborative approach is reliant on prescriptive policies, negotiations, experimental projects, and creation of awareness and capacities around new GI technologies. The study recommends a master planning approach to facilitate decentralised community-led approaches and supporting them through financial incentives and technical assistance to upscale new GI technologies.
Local Government Planning and Maintenance of Ecological Connectivity in a Fragmented Landscape
(University of Waterloo, 2025-01-23) Bakelaar, Margaret; Drescher, Michael
With the continued loss of species and habitat together with the recognition that parks, and protected areas are insufficient to maintain biodiversity, the role of spatial planning to address land use change and account for ecological connectivity is becoming more significant. A well-connected system of natural areas is required to address the continued loss of biodiversity and to reduce threats to human well-being. The value of local governments in providing the spatial planning needed to reduce threats and protect natural areas and ecological connectivity is recognized. The need for a collaborative approach that engages multiple actors including all level of government and non-government organizations is required to implement policy direction on ecological connectivity effectively and efficiently. This dissertation explores the role of local government land use planning in the protection and maintenance of ecological connectivity through the control of land use change. As ecological connectivity crosses political boundaries, the coordination of local plans across the larger landscape is necessary for effective management of ecological connectivity. This case study research is placed within the Carolinian ecoregion in southwestern Ontario Canada, a recognized area of high biodiversity and intense development. My dissertation addressed three concerns, (1) the integration of ecological connectivity in local government land use plans; (2) factors that help or hinder the planning and maintaining ecological connectivity; and (3) how local governments interact with other actors in pursuit of ecological connectivity. This is done through three methods of investigation. First a qualitative content analysis of 16 Official Plans in the Carolinian ecoregion was undertaken. Second, 24 interviews were conducted with planning practitioners with thematic analysis applied to identify influential factors to the planning and maintenance of ecological connectivity. Third intended social interactions were examined in Official Plan policy and past interactions identified from the interviews. I found that ecological connectivity was consistently addressed in Official Plans through the identification of a natural heritage system, including linkages among natural areas. The policies were however inconsistently applied across the ecoregion with a notable variation between urban and rural areas in applying provincial direction. It was found that the integration of ecological connectivity in local government land use planning: is dependent upon clear and binding legislation from higher levels of government; benefits from an integrated policy framework; is addressed through site level development approvals and land stewardship initiatives; is less likely to be addressed across agricultural lands than urban areas; and lacks a coordinated approach across local government spatial boundaries. In the case study area, while some policy areas were readily integrated with ecological connectivity including water resources, parks and open space, and natural hazard lands, there was a lack of integration with climate change, green infrastructure and transportation polices. Through interviews with planning practitioners, key factor theme areas were identified including the physical landscape, environmental governance, land use planning practices, sharing information, and resources. The results show that while ecological connectivity is supported by legislation, addressed in policy, with implementation mechanisms recognized and applied, local government still struggles with a natural features focus, cross border coordination, land use planning practice limitations, justification of the need for ecological connectivity, public and political resistance, and a lack of capacity and funding. Both the interviews and Official Plan review contributed to the identification of actor interactions. I found that coordination across local government boundaries to accommodate the provincially legislated and delegated natural heritage system was not occurring. Planning practitioners interviewed did not see local government as leading but rather participating in collaborative actions. The main findings are a lack of provincial involvement, a large role to be played by Conservation Authorities, and a gap between policy and implementation. Collectively, this research advances our understanding of the role of local government land use planning in establishing and maintaining ecological connectivity through the control of land use change and management of the whole landscape involving nature conservation but also sectoral policies. Spatial land use planning has the potential to address ecological connectivity through a comprehensive multisectoral and collaborative approach. There are many limitations to local government land use planning to address ecological connectivity that will need to be addressed and this research contributes to the identification of issues as well as possible solutions to address those limitations.
Planning at the Interface of Nature and Culture: Theory, Methods, and Identification of Cultural Landscapes in the Townships of Woolwich and Wellesley
(University of Waterloo, 2018-09-21) DeGeer, Christopher; Drescher, Michael
Planning for cultural landscapes requires the inclusion of the public in the decision-making process. Yet, how to include the public in a meaningful way remains poorly understood, especially for rural areas. This study explores the basis for public participation in cultural landscape planning through a critical review of both cultural landscape and communicative planning theory to consider how these two bodies of theory may function together to guide participatory cultural landscape planning. The study also includes a review of cultural landscape conservation research and practice in the province of Ontario, Canada, as well as in Europe. It is found that that, despite policy stipulating that the public ought to be involved, cultural landscape research and practice has only begun to address the challenges of public participation. Cultural ecosystem services (CES) literature, however, does address similar challenges in the context of ecosystem planning. In order to assess the applicability of CES methods for the identification of cultural landscapes, four participatory methods informed by that literature were used to identify candidate cultural heritage landscapes in the Townships of Woolwich and Wellesley, in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Through the use of interviews, focus groups, photo-voice, and a web-based survey, each with associated mapping exercises, 122 participants collaborated to identify areas of shared cultural heritage value. We found that valued areas were not spread randomly across the landscape, but instead were aggregated around certain landscape features. After community members participated in a method, they were asked to complete an evaluation survey. Through that instrument, it was found that focus groups had the most favourable experiences of social learning and stated behavioural changes, while the web-based survey was most favourably rated for application in other planning initiatives. Although each of the methods had its merits, it was found that interviews were indispensable for gaining an understanding of what it means to dwell in the landscape. Through that method, cultural and individual barriers to participatory cultural landscape identification were identified, and, moreover, it provided the information to enable consideration of the negative potentialities of designating cultural landscapes for unique communities that reside in or have a stake in the study area.
A Speculative Exploration into the Current Planning Paradigm through Academic Planner Perspectives
(University of Waterloo, 2023-09-28) Chandy, Johan; Filion, Pierre; Drescher, Michael
This thesis centres on research aimed at understanding the essence of the current planning paradigm, identifying the factors that facilitate or hinder paradigm shifts, and determining the prevailing paradigm that governs contemporary scholarly pursuits within planning in an academic setting. This is achieved through an approach based on findings from interviews with planning academics. The first objective, vital to this thesis, scrutinizes whether the prevailing planning paradigm represents a novel trend, a continuation of previous paradigms, or perhaps a synergy of both. It seeks to unveil the core attributes of the existing paradigm and questions if we are operating within the thresholds of an unrecognized new approach in planning. Furthermore, recognizing the critical role of the factors that influence paradigm shifts stands as a focal point in this thesis. The research aspires to elucidate the circumstances and elements that either catalyze or restrain potential shifts in planning paradigms. It delves into understanding the intellectual environment surrounding these shifts, accentuating the critical role played by prevailing perspectives on truth and discourse. The intellectual landscape is bifurcated into two dominant paradigms: the traditional liberal paradigm, founded on the philosophies of stalwarts such as Descartes, Locke, and Mill, and the critical social theoretical paradigm, deeply influenced by diverse viewpoints including postmodernists, feminists, postcolonial theorists, and critical race theorists. This study navigates the delicate balance between these paradigms, dissecting their roles in fostering or hindering open discourse and critical examination. By spotlighting the intrinsic value each paradigm brings to the table and the challenges they pose, the research endeavors to craft a roadmap for a more balanced intellectual environment. It underscores the necessity for fostering open dialogue, critical evaluation, and respect for varying cultural contexts, thus nurturing an environment conducive to progressive shifts aligned with societal transitions, equity, and social progress. This is important as paradigm shifts have been largely corrective in nature and frequent shifts help keep planning up to date with rapidly changing societal reality. Lastly, the thesis is invested in determining the prevailing paradigm of truth within this academic sphere. It seeks to delineate the predominant assumptions, methodologies, and values that characterize this discipline. This involves an analysis of the frameworks adopted by scholars and researchers in their relentless pursuit of truth and knowledge creation, paving the way for a richer and more nuanced academic dialogue in planning theory. Regarding methodology, this study adopts a pragmatic approach to scrutinize evolving paradigms in the planning field, primarily utilizing Thomas's general inductive approach for qualitative analysis to identify trends within data collected from interviews. This methodology facilitates the transformation of extensive interview data into concise summaries, directly aligning findings with the research objectives and fostering the formulation of insightful theories. Interviews with planning academics from various Ontario institutions were conducted despite the hurdles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. This process, albeit impacted by the pandemic, yielded rich insights from 11 academic planning experts. The interview questionnaire was crafted to delve into current trends, barriers to paradigm shifts, and the prerequisites for facilitating change in the planning field's approaches. It also probed the participants' perceptions of "truth" and the significance of viewpoint diversity in strengthening the discipline's knowledge base. This thesis is a preliminary exploration into current trends and has several weaknesses. Since an inductive approach was used to analyze data, the presence of larger trends is assumed based on interviewee opinions. Several diverse data sources should have been used to bolster the veracity of these identified trends. Due to time and monetary constraints, this thesis focused solely on interviewing planning professors. Other potential data sources could have included students, administrative staff, planners within the private sector, planners within the public sector, and recent studies published by academic planning institutions, among others. This could be a focus for future research. Only Ontario institutions were considered as the original intent was to conduct interviews face to face and driving distances were considered, as such other planning institutions outside of Ontario were excluded from the study. Another weakness is that only 11 experts were interviewed, increasing this sample size would improve confidence in the veracity of the claims made within this thesis. Due to all of these limitations, the conclusions of this thesis should be considered weakly justified, and additional research will be required in the future to verify the accuracy of the claims made. This study provides a dive into the shifting currents of academic planning, uncovering a distinct move towards a social justice paradigm. Emphasizing equity, diversity, and inclusivity, the research underscores the planning profession's expansion beyond mere technical urban design into the realm of balancing economic, environmental, and social imperatives. The dialogues captured shed light on the profession's adaptability, revealing its commitment to creating communities that mirror the diverse needs and contributions of their members. A major finding is the notable convergence towards a critical social justice perspective, which values interpretive truths and has a heightened awareness of power dynamics. However, the journey towards this shift is intricate, with potential differences in its application and understanding, indicating the need for continuous reflection and examination. The transition from traditional liberal paradigms to a more context-dependent, power-conscious paradigm poses both opportunities and challenges. The research suggests that while this shift promises a more inclusive urban planning outlook, it may also face challenges, including potential epistemic closure and possible conflicts due to diverse interpretations. In essence, the findings spotlight the evolving landscape of academic planning, highlighting the rise of a social justice paradigm and the complexities accompanying such a paradigm shift. The research concludes with a call for persistent discourse, exploration, and critical assessment to ensure a balanced, sustainable, and inclusive urban future.
Toronto's Ravines: Conditions and Visitor Perspectives
(University of Waterloo, 2018-09-25) Oviedo, Monika; Drescher, Michael
This thesis evaluates whether there are significant similarities and/or differences between how visitors perceive ravine park management and the consultation process in six sites across the City of Toronto. This was done with the aim of evaluating the condition and maintenance of ravine parks in order to develop recommendations for future planning efforts under Toronto’s new Ravine Strategy. A short survey with closed and open-ended questions was completed by 140 on-site visitors. To complement this data, each site was audited with a park audit tool and photographs were taken. Results highlight that people who visit ravines feel broadly positively about them when it comes to their maintenance and management, the safety of these sites, and the features and facilities within them. The most positively identified features were: naturalization and conservation work, art features, and educational features. The most unattractive features and conditions were: lack of way finding and signage, lack of garbage facilities, prevalence of litter, and poor water quality. Additionally, there is general disagreement about the ravine planning process, equal proportions of respondents expressed cynicism, uncertainty, and optimism about the parks planning and consultation process. Results provide new insight into what the public perceives as the strengths and weaknesses of their local ravine parks which is important to inform future management efforts as the City has repeatedly stated that ravine park improvements are meant to be driven by the public. Recommendations are made to the future implementation plan of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy to conclude the thesis.
Towards Understanding the Development of Connectedness-to-Nature, and its Role in Land Conservation Behaviour
(University of Waterloo, 2016-02-19) Bogdon, Zachary; Drescher, Michael
Exploitation of natural resources for human consumption and development has led to widespread loss of habitat and biodiversity. To address this issue, policy has largely focused on protecting large parcels of public land. However, a purely public approach has proven insufficient at addressing the issue, which is exacerbated in densely populated areas such as southern Ontario. The recognition that public lands alone are unable to address land conservation issues has led to widespread acceptance that private land conservation is required to compliment existing public efforts. Given the relatively recent focus on private land conservation in most jurisdictions, fairly little is known about private landowner conservation behaviour. Traditional social-psychological models have been applied to understand general pro-environmental behaviours with mixed results. Connectedness-to-nature theory has also been applied towards understanding various pro-environmental behaviours, but has not focused on land-conservation behaviour specifically. Using a grounded theory approach, this thesis explores which factors might lead to the development of connectedness-to-nature. Further, this study explores the role that connectedness-to-nature plays in explaining land conservation behaviour. Three major interconnected categories emerged from analysis and interpretation. First, unstructured time spent in nature, and guidance from mentors may be important factors in the development of connectedness-to-nature. Second, landowners who feel connected to nature may be more inclined to see conservation as a land use priority. Finally, results suggest that landowners have strong, affective relationships with nature as it exists on their land developed over time, beginning with the initial rural lifestyle decision. Results suggest that land conservation behaviours are complex and represent specific types of pro-environmental behaviours. Connectedness-to-nature alone may be insufficient at explaining land conservation behaviours. Applying and integrating various social-psychological models that have been previously applied to general pro-environmental behaviours may further our understanding of land conservation behaviour.
A Use of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Determine the Social Barriers to the Implementation of Stormwater Green Infrastructure on Private Properties in Dundas, Hamilton, Ontario
(University of Waterloo, 2017-12-22) Sinasac, Sarah; Drescher, Michael
Climate change has resulted in more extreme rainfall events and most municipalities’ stormwater infrastructure is not prepared to deal with the increased flooding instances that may be associated with the increased rainfall. Updating inferior stormwater infrastructure would put a strain on municipalities’ budgets and require space that is not readily available. A potential option for municipalities is to implement green infrastructure options such as green space, green roofs and bioretention swales. Municipalities may be able to construct some green infrastructure options on publically owned space, however most of the responsibility for implementation will fall on private residents. Previous research has investigated methods of motivating private residents in the implementation of green infrastructure, however very little research has been done on whether residents respond to motivation and what the social barriers to implementation are. This project study focused on three neighbourhoods in the Town of Dundas (Hamilton, ON, Canada) as a case study. Dundas is in a position of pronounced flooding risk because of its location at the valley bottom of a break in the Niagara Escarpment and its past history of flooding. Through a partnership with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, this study used a questionnaire to attempt to elucidate the social barriers to the implementation of green infrastructure on private properties. The questionnaire was theoretically informed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour and analyzed using partial least squares path modelling. The results indicated that behavioural beliefs, attitude, normative beliefs, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control all contributed to the participant’s intention to install green infrastructure and ultimately their final behaviour. The model was able to predict 57% of the variance in intention, based on the associated constructs. Subjective norm contributed the strongest to intention with a path coefficient of 0.542. Attitude had the weakest contribution to intention with a path coefficient of 0.034. Individual question results indicated that time and finances were not statistically significant barriers to the implementation of green infrastructure on private properties. A comparison between the neighbourhoods showed no significant differences in questionnaire answers between any of the three neighbourhoods, however there were differences in income and response rate between the three neighbourhoods. The results from this study can be used to help conservation authorities and municipalities develop engagement and education programs to promote the use of green infrastructure on private properties in order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

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