A Manitoba man will have to restore native tree species to his cottage property on Lake of the Woods after being convicted of conducting work without a work permit.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry had charged the Winnipeg resident under the Public Lands Act in connection with changes he made on his lot on Clearwater Bay between 2013 and 2015.
The property, described in an MNRF news release as "large," is located within the bounds of a Restricted Area Order.
According to the ministry, the owner removed nearly all the natural vegetation and replaced it with non-native plants, crushed gravel and other landscaping material.
The result was that 60 per cent of the lot was now landscaped, whereas the allowed limit is 20 per cent.
In addition to a fine of $1,500, a Kenora court ordered the man to bring his property back into compliance by replacing the vegetation and other elements he had put in illegally, using native vegetation and soil.
