In Feb 2016 the Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously in favour of a biodiversity strategy that would see 25 hectares of "natural area" in the city restored or enhanced by 2020. But yet, this summer the Park Board voted to turn a quiet and natural biodiverse area of Vanier Park into a BYOB drinking zone. How does this fit with their biodiversity strategy?
CBC Feb 2, 2016 : "There are 20 at-risk species in the city according to the park board, which considers its new strategy a "legacy piece" that will ensure future generations can enjoy the biodiversity of Vancouver's forests, shorelines, and marshes.
"Somebody needs to do it. I would hate to be living in a city in 20 years when these natural areas are not here," said Sarah Kirby-Yung, the chair of the Vancouver park board.
"It's why we live here. It's why a lot of tourists come to visit."There were approximately 847 hectares of natural areas in Vancouver in 2010 according to the report" CBC article Feb 02, 2016
Some excerpts below from the Park Board Diversity Strategy:
Park Board Strategic Plan (2012): Includes five strategic directions, one of which is Greening the Park Board. The plan states that that the “preservation and enhancement of the natural environment is a core responsibility of the Park Board" and that the Board “will develop sustainable policies and practices that achieve environmental objectives while meeting the needs of the community”.
Rewilding Action Plan (2014): Supports a broader role for environmental education and stewardship in parks, particularly for children.
Bird Strategy (2015): Celebrates the importance of birds in Vancouver, and provides voluntary landscape and architectural guidelines to enhance urban bird habitats.
Urban Forest Strategy (under development): Policy and operational guidelines to enhance the urban forest on private lands, streets, and parks.
... While the Biodiversity Strategy emphasises the importance of native ecosystems and species, it also recognises the value of urban habitats such as green roofs, constructed wetlands, and pollinator gardens in supporting biodiversity within the city.
... Biodiversity is part of a healthy city, and access to nature sustains the mental and physical health of Vancouver’s citizens. Opportunities to hear songbirds in Queen Elizabeth Park, fish for crabs on the Jericho Pier, or catch a fleeting glimpse of a river otter along the Fraser River provide tangible connections to nature in an increasingly urban world.
... Direct Impacts to Wildlife: Mortality from roads (road-kill), collisions with windows, predation from cats, harvesting for food, DISTURBANCE FROM RECREATION, and trapping or poisoning for pest control all contribute to the loss or disturbance of birds, small mammals, and other wildlife in Vancouver.
Objectives
The Biodiversity Strategy has five objectives:
1. Restore habitats and species.
2. Support biodiversity within parks, streets, and other City-owned lands. 3. Protect and enhance biodiversity during development.
4. Celebrate biodiversity through education and stewardship.
5. Monitor biodiversity to track change and measure success.
Restore or enhance 25 ha of natural areas by 2020. The baseline is 847 ha of natural areas in the city in 2010.