Jasmine Chabot, B.Sc.
Conservation Biologist & GIS Technician,
French Planning Services

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Jasmine Chabot is a Conservation Biologist. She has a broad-based knowledge of various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, specializing in “at risk” natural heritage features in Ontario and their interpretation for various planning and development projects. Jasmine is well versed in Natural Heritage, Fisheries and Species at Risk (SAR) legislation as well as provincial and municipal Planning Policy, and has related working experience with the Natural Heritage Information Centre (MNR), Canadian Wildlife Service – Species at Risk Teams and the Toronto Zoo. Her expertise in natural heritage interpretation, assessment, research, report writing and communication as enabled her to provide sound advice to clients and effectively participate and assist in a variety of environmental planning processes including: co-authoring Ministry and municipal approved resource management reports; co-facilitating meetings and workshops for natural heritage planning and protection, resource management and stakeholder consultation; site evaluations for consent application, wetlands and SAR habitat using provincial protocols; and the production of GIS-based maps, web-pages and magazine articles for municipalities and the public sector. She is also certified in various MNR approved protocols including the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario, Streams Assessment Protocol, Fish Identification Level I, Core Heritage Methodology Training, and Data Sensitivity Training which
enable her astuteness in the field.

At FPSI Jasmine has played an integral role in either the synthesis of data, providing literary research, and co-authoring, editing or producing reports for several federal, provincial and local planning initiatives for the protection of natural heritage in Ontario including: the Lake Simcoe Science Advisory Committee – Lake Simcoe and its Watershed (MOE); Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Charter and Framework (EC); Forest Access Road and Water Crossings Planning Initiative (MNR); Impacts of Water Management on Mary Lake (MLCA); the Bay of Quinte Fisheries Management Plan (MNR); The Naked Truth, the Science behind Lake Simcoe’s Symptoms (Ladies of the Lake); the Mississippi River Water Management Plan (MNR); and the Cornwall Sediment Strategy (EC/MOE). As the Curatorial Assistant at the Toronto Zoo, Jasmine, coordinated the production of a curriculumbased science education and multimedia manual to be used by educators in Canada and Africa. At the NHIC, she was also an integral component in MNR’s habitat assessments and digital data verification for several projects including the Great Lakes Conservation Blueprint 2005 mapping products, a joint MNR-NCC project to identify and protect a network of core habitats and connecting corridors in Ontario.

Over the past five years, Jasmine has been a Project Manager for the natural heritage information collection and analysis on many in-land lakes for various associations, as well as co-author of several lake management plans. She also coordinates the collection, verification and creation of digital data from imagery files, CAD drawings, GPS field data, and non-spatial referenced data, as well as data management using ArcGIS and Access software for cartographic products. In recent years, Jasmine has led a small field staff to implement the Ecological Land Classification protocol for various Environmental Impact Studies and Site evaluations for consent applications in the Muskoka-Parry Sound areas and to execute rapid-assessments of wetland and fisheries habitat, as well as thorough wetland inventories using the Provincial Wetland Evaluation System protocol on three eastern Kawartha Lakes. The spatial data will be used by provincial and federal agencies and municipalities for habitat protection.

French Planning Services (2004-Present) - Bracebridge, ON - Conservation Biologist & GIS Technician
French Planning Services is involved in a variety of planning and consulting projects, including Lake Plans, Site Evaluations, Consent Applications, Official Plan review, First Nations consultation, Shoreline and Wetland Protection, and Environmental Action Plans and Strategies. As a Conservation Biologist and GIS Technician, Jasmine provides environmental planning expertises to clients; implements and peer reviews Environmental Impact Studies (EIS); manages natural heritage data collection, analyses and mapping projects; and has co-authored, edited and produced reports and communication overlays for our private, municipal, provincial and federal clients. She also provides administrative support to the Principal of the company.

Natural Heritage Information Centre, MNR (2002-2004) - Peterborough, ON - Species at Risk Biologist
As a species at risk biologist, Jasmine was responsible for reviewing and verifying information and technical reports, including Environmental Impact Assessments, COSSARO/COSEWIC Species’ Status and Assessments, Wetland Evaluations, Natural Areas and Life Science Inventories, Natural Heritage Features, and Species Monitoring Programs. The purpose of these evaluations is to ensure compliance with Ministry standards, regarding Ontario’s rare species and species at risk, natural heritage and natural resource management, as well as consulting and exchanging information with the information users. The position required analytical and interpretive skills, including habitat assessments and site evaluations, such as wetland and alvar communities and species at risk habitats; species identification and data collection throughout southern Ontario, such as electrofishing and bird banding; and air photo and mapping interpretation.

During this time, Jasmine also participated in several interactive species at risk workshops throughout Ontario, and the organization of data sensitivity training for the Ministry. Some of her other responsibilities included producing two editions of the NHIC Scientific Newsletter, several species at risk pamphlets and posters, including layout, production, distribution and budget requirements that met Ministry standards; editing scientific papers; web site development, including the editing and standardization of a NHIC French web page that met Ministry standards; ArcGIS mapping for various tracked species; the orientation and tutelage of several summer students; and facilitating the preparation of SAR funding proposals.

Toronto Zoo (2001-2002) - Scarborough, ON - Aquatics Biologist and Curatorial Assistant
Jasmine led the production of two scientific communication products, in collaboration with Partners, including the research, writing, layout and production of a “Species at Risk” communication program and a curriculum-based aquatic science and fish biology education booklet for Ontario educators and students. As well, Jasmine promoted community awareness and stewardship through various workshops, web site postings and newsletter articles. This position also entailed assistance with monitoring the health and the coordination of communication products for all aquatic exhibits at the Zoo, and the recovery efforts to rehabilitate in-stream aquatic habitat and shoreline stabilization projects.

Toronto Zoo (2000-2001) - Scarborough, ON - Curatorial Assistant, YWC International Biology Internship
As the Curatorial Assistant, Jasmine, through professional development training with the Ministry of Education and Training, coordinated the production of a curriculum-based science education and multimedia manual for Canadian and International educators and students. The process included facilitating various multidisciplinary discussion groups and workshops to disseminate and gather pertinent information, and to identify international funding sources and prepare preliminary funding proposals for various partners. This position also entailed assistance with monitoring the health and the coordination of communication products for all aquatic exhibits at the Zoo.

Other Related Experience

Parks Canada and Pitcher’s Thistle/Lake Huron Dune and the Karner Blue Recovery Teams

• Site inventories, including habitat assessments and species location verification
• French language translations of communication products

Ministry of Natural Resources

• Site inventories, including habitat assessments and species verification for Odonata, Lepidoptera, turtle, snake, bat and bird species

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

• Field assessments, including freshwater fish inventories (electro-fishing, netting and traps), and water quality and habitat assessments

Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada and Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team

• Species monitoring, habitat assessment, bird banding and public consultation

Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto Zoo and Redside Dace Recovery Team

• Habitat rehabilitation, species inventory and community outreach

Education
Bachelor of Science Environmental Science and Biology Trent University (2002) Peterborough, ON

Certifications

• Ecological Land Classification Certification
• Ontario Streams Assessment Protocol Certification
• Stream Habitat Assessment Crew Leader Certification
• Level 1 Ontario Freshwater Fish Identification Certification
• Class 2 Electro-fishing Crew Leader Certification
• Ontario Wetland Evaluation System Certification for Southern and Northern Ontario
•  NatureServe – Core Heritage Methodology Training
• Natural Heritage Data Sensitivity Training
• ArcGIS 9.1 Fundamentals Training in Geo-processing, Data Management and Cartography
• Project Management Training (MNR)

 Accomplishments
Jasmine has either led or participated in the following planning and research projects:

Projects

• Hull and South Bay, Stoney Lake Wetland Evaluation (WES protocol) (2008-2009)
• Lake Simcoe Science Advisory Committee – Lake Simcoe and its Watershed – A Report to the Minister of the Environment for Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (2008-current)
• Lake Planning Handbook for Community Groups – A Strategic Planning Guide for Shoreline Communities – Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations (2008-current)
• Site Evaluations and Environmental Impact Studies for the Township of the Archipelago and private sector (2007-current)
• MNR Primary Forest Access Roads and Water Crossings Planning Initiative, including Risk Management and Project Summary Presentations (2007-current)
• Expert technical advice on matters related to environmental science, policy and natural systems, and their relationship to managing growth for the purposes of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Renewal (2007)
• Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Charter and Framework, Environment Canada (2005-current)
• Clear/Ston(e)y/White Lake Management Plan (current)
• Baptiste Lake Management Plan (current)
• Greater Bob and Crow Lake Management Plan (2007)
• Kennisis Lake Management Plan (2007)
• Bridge Inventory Portal 1 – MNR (2007)
• Paint Lake Management Plan (2006)
• Grace and Dark Lake Management Plan (2006)
• The Naked Truth, The Science Behind Lake Simcoe’s Symptoms, Ladies of the Lake (2006)
• Bay of Quinte Fisheries Management Plan, MNR (2006)
• Public Consultation Plan, Bay of Quinte Public Survey, and the Bay of Quinte Fisheries Management Plan, MNR (2005)
• Mississippi River Water Management Plan, Mississippi Valley Conservation (2005)
• Paudash Lake Management Plan (2005)
• Co-management Opportunities for First Nations, Ontario Parks, French River Provincial Park (2004 – current)
• Co-management Opportunities for First Nations, Parry Sound MNR (2004 - current)
• Cornwall Sediment Strategy Accord, Protocol and Development Guideline (MOE 2004) Field and Literary Research Studies:
• Impacts of Water Management on Erodable Shorelines and Permanent Infrastructures, Mary Lake (2008);
• Wildlife Corridors – A Necklace of Natural Areas throughout Haliburton (Environmental Haliburton) (2005);
• Effects of Climate Change on Forest Composition in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region (2002);
• Stress Physiology of Arctic and Alpine Plant Species of Canada (2001);
• Social and Ecological Impacts of Global Conservation and Biological Reserves (2001);
• Global Changes in Amphibian Populations—Impacts of Climate Change (2000); and
• Environmental and Ecological Impacts of Oil and Mineral Extraction in Canada’s Tundra Ecosystems (2000).