Cities and Biodiversity Case Study Series

8/8/2019 Cities and Biodiversity Case Study Series

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Cities and Biodiversity Case Study Series

Canadian Best Practices in Local Biodiversity Management


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Front and back cover image: Kelowna./Flickr Pompeii Am GtterdmmerugBack cover image: Reserva Nacional Nahanni. Flickr/viajeacanada 2010, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability


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Table of ContentsSetting the Context:

An Introduction 1 Shift in Perspective: From Global to Local 1 Urban Biodiversity and the Role of Local Governments 2 About This Publication 3

City of Calgary 4 Creating a Biodiversity Strategy Based on Past Experiences

Dehcho First Nations 6Local Native Community Works to Protect National Treasure

City of Edmonton 8 Mainstreaming Biodiversity through Urban Design and Community Engagement

City of Greater Sudbury 12

Steady Approach to Biodiversity RecoveryCity of Guelph 15

Planning Canadas First Pollination Park City of Kelowna 18

Protecting Sensitive Ecosystems and HabitatsCity of Montral 22

Biodiversity as a Key Function of the MunicipalityCity of Toronto 25

Community Driven Urban Biodiversity ProtectionCity of Trois-Rivires 29

Integration of Biodiversity with Urban DevelopmentCity of Winnipeg 32

An Urban Forest: Valuable to both Ecosystem and CommunityTown of Wolfville 34

Transforming a Town into a Community Arboretum

About ICLEI 37

Edmonton Greater Sudbury Guelph Dehcho First Nations Greater Sudbury Toronto Trois-Rivires Winnipeg Cal-gary Montral Kelowna Guelph Edmonton Greater Sudbury Dehcho First Nations Wolfville Toronto Trois

Rivires Winnipeg Calgary Montral Kelowna Edmonton Greater Sudbury Guelph Dehcho First Nations WolfvilleToronto Trois-Rivires Winnipeg Calgary Montral Kelowna Edmonton Greater Sudbury Guelph Dehcho FirstNations Wolfville Toronto Trois-Rivires Winnipeg Calgary Montral Kelowna Edmonton Greater Sudbury

Guelph Dehcho First Nations Wolfville Toronto Trois-Rivires Winnipeg Calgary Montral Kelowna Edmonton

Calgary Montral Kelowna Edmonton Greater Sudbury Guelph Dehcho First Nations Guelph Dehcho First Na-


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Biodiversity is complex. The complexity lies in the interconnected relationships between living organisms andtheir environment and how those relationships drive ecosystem functions. Over the past hundred years, hu-mans have increased species extinction rates by as much as one thousand times, while the distribution of spe-cies is decreasing spatially.

Until now, there has been insufficient integration of biodiversity issues into broader policies, strategies andprogrammes around the world. The underlying drivers of biodiversity loss have not been sufficiently ad-dressed (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010, 9); however, the news is not entirelygrimwithout the actions already taken by communities, NGOs and governments, even less biodiversitywould exist today.

The connection between national governments and biodiversity protection was officially acknowledged inthe Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Enacted in December 1993, the CBD was the first global agree-ment to address all aspects of biological diversity, and this global agreement solidified the importance of bio-diversity protection and conservation. As humans continue to exert the most significant influence on therates of biodiversity loss and species extinction, local governments are in a unique position to implement bio-diversity actions, and reach out to people about the importance of sustainable biodiversity management.

The first biodiversity-oriented meeting of local governments was in Curitiba, Brazil in March 2007. The meet-ing produced the Curitiba Declaration on Cities and Biodiversity, which affirmed the need to engage local au-thorities in the implementation of the objectives of the CBD. In May 2008, the 9 th Conference of the Parties(COP) to the CBD took place in Bonn, Germany. ICLEI, the City of Bonn and the Service Agency Communities inOne World organized a parallel event, the Mayors Conference on Local Action for Biodiversity where local lead-ers discussed their contributions to slowing global biodiversity loss. Producing the Bonn Call for Action, thismeeting led to the official acknowledgement of local governments influence in the CBD and the need to sup-port their role so that local governments may in turn support its implementation.

Canadas involvement as a signatory and active participant in the CBD has provided many opportunities for provincial, regional and local governments to re-examine the way natural spaces connect to everyday life, andthe importance of ecosystem services to the species that depend on them.

Cities and Biodiversity Case Study Seriesserves as an introduction to the valuable role of local governments inbiodiversity management and provides a snapshot of the work Canadian municipalities are doing to preservelocal biodiversity and protect a global common good.

Setting the Context:An Introduction

National programmes or legislation can be crucial in creating a favourable environ-ment to support effective bottom -up initiatives led by communities, local authori-ties, or businesses.

Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 13

Shift in Perspective : From Global to Local

Setting the Context


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Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth upon which human well-being is dependent. Losses in biodiversity,along with the degradation of ecosystem services, have occurred more rapidly in the past hundred years thanat any other time in human history. The five main factors driving biodiversity loss are habitat change, overex-ploitation of resources, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. As cities and towns further develop

on their green spaces and encroach on the natural spaces surrounding them, rapid urbanization continues tobe a major contributing factor to the loss of biodiversity. Healthy ecosystems ensure long-term sustainability,however, urban regions, and the economies supporting them, consume 75% of extracted natural resources(UNEP, 2009). As urbanization increases and natural resources become more fragmented, the impetus toprotect and manage valuable ecological spaces grows.

The pressures on species in urban regions are broad; in order to combat these pressures and to achievegreater progress towards biodiversity conservation, local governments need to strengthen their responses byhighlighting conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Beyond the direct social and ecological benefit such as provision of food, fibre, medicine, fresh water, polli-nation of crops, filtration of pollutants, and protection from natural disasters the sustainable managementof biodiversity also contributes to cultural services, such as spiritual and religious values, opportunities for knowledge and education, as well as recreational and aesthetic values.

Commonly, biodiversity conservation and protection have been viewed as the domain and responsibility ofnational and provincial governments; however, local governments have a crucial role to play in mitigatingbiodiversity loss. The unique position of local governments, as the level of government closest to residents,along with their specific roles and responsibilities, allows for the development of locally tailored and inte-grated biodiversity strategies that protect and sustain ecosystems and species. There are a variety of mecha-nisms available to local governments which can be utilized to drive local action on biodiversity. These include:

Land Use and Urban PlanningA key role of local government is to manage local places in a coordinated and planned way that reflects thecommunitys shared vision of its biodiversity.

Licensing and RegulationLocal governments set the local regulatory environment through assessment and approval processes, the useof surcharges and rebates and through the enforcement of local laws to implement and enforce biodiversitymanagement and protection policies.

Facilitation, Advocacy and LeadershipLocal governments are in close contact with community organizations, businesses, residents and other stake-holders at the local level. The influence that results from this contact can be used to develop shared under-standings and encourage whole community responses to biodiversity loss.

Community Service Delivery, Community Development and Civic EngagementLocal governments are committed to preserving the health, safety and well-being of residents, while ensuringactive civic participation.

Workforce DevelopmentAs responsible corporate citizens, local governments can act as leaders to ensure good occupational healthand safety, sustainable business practices and increase local investments and services which foster biodiver-sity enhancement strategies.

As biodiversity loss will affect a broad range of government services, integrating biodiversity conservationand protection measures is a matter of sound biodiversity management and good governance.

Biodiversity and the Role of Local Governments

Setting the Context


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As 2010 is the International Year for Biodiversity, it is an important time to take note of the great efforts toprotect biodiversity, and at the same time, acknowledge the lessons to learn from various initiatives.Throughout Canada there are many local governments working directly and indirectly on biodiversity activi-ties through their planning, awareness-raising, and decision-making initiatives; however, very little is known

about their specific projects and how they can be replicated by others.

The Cities and Biodiversity Case Study Seriesserves as a collection of municipal best practices in urban biodi-versity management and protection. The local governments represented here have gained knowledge onbiodiversity management, and therefore, these case studies should serve as a learning tool for other localgovernments interested in engaging on biodiversity actions.

Eleven case studies have been selected from across the country, ranging from the small municipalities toCanadas largest metropolitan areas. Each case highlights a unique ecosystem and the initiatives that arebeing taken to sustainably manage and protect its biodiversity.

The purpose of each case study is to:

Highlight the contributions local governments have made to conservation and the sustainable use of biodi-versity.

Build Capacity of local governments to improve and expand their biodiversity management knowledge,skills, and activities.

Provide Tools that assist in learning and facilitation for municipalities with similar characteristics that arelooking to initiate biodiversity programs and projects.

About This Publication Setting the Context

Case Study Map

Dehcho First Nations,Northwest Territories

Kelowna,British Columbia

Calgary,Alberta

Edmonton,Alberta

Winnipeg,

Guelph,Ontario

Greater Sudbury,Ontario

Toronto,Ontario

Trois-Rivires,Qubec

Montral,Qubec

Wolfville,Nova Scotia

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3. Montral.

UNEP (2009) Cities and Green Buildings. Retrieved from: http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/PDFs/CitiesAndBuildingFactsheet_20091105.pdf


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Creating a Biodiversity Strategy

Based on Past Experiences

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Calgary, Alberta Population: 998,193 Area: 848 km 2

Calgary is the largest City in Alberta, and the third larg-est in Canada. Situated at 1048 metres (approx. 3483feet) above sea level, the climate is highly influenced bythe geographic elevation and proximity to the RockyMountains.

Calgary is on the rolling landscape of the prairies andthe edge of the Rocky Mountain Foothills. It has an ex-tensive network of open spaces, consisting of parks,natural corridors and trails. The most prominent naturalopen spaces are located in the City's periphery andalong the creeks and waterfronts in the river valley sys-tem. The City has taken a strong position on water qual-

ity and water resource management, and has been ac-tively working on the protection of natural spaces re-sources for over twenty years. The Citys water manage-ment initiatives have evolved and grown in scope fromsite-specific practices and consumer education to larger scale actions such as changing by-laws to make water efficiency a requirement and working with industrial andcommercial consumers to realize the value of water conservation.

In recent years, biodiversity conservation has becomean important consideration for the City, and a Biodiver-sity Strategy is currently in production. The Strategy,combining best practices with implementation tools,will use two key documents as a reference: the WetlandConservation Plan and the Open Space Plan.

The Wetland Conservation Plan provides policies andprocedures to help the City manage the thousands ofwetlands that stand to be impacted by further urbandevelopment. The Plan offers a holistic approach towetland conservation as it provides implementationmeasures and monitoring options that work best for theCity. Issue identification workshops hosted by the Cityof Calgarys Key Stakeholder Advisory Committee pro-

vided input for the development of the Plan, such asstrict approval procedures for development that poselarge ecological damages.

The Open Space Plan, focused on managing City parksand all other natural spaces bringing together a number of recommendations regarding environmental protec-tion practices, impact assessment, and options for pro-tecting environmentally significant areas. The OpenSpace Plan works to maintain the quality and integrityof natural ecosystems and enhance their structure andfunctions.

Biodiversity conservation has become an important consideration for the City of Cal-gary, and a Biodiversity Strategy is currently being produced by the City. Calgarys Bio-diversity Strategy aims to be a compilation of best practices, policy implementationstrategies, and ecosystem research tools with the goal of building upon existing envi-ronmental policies undertaken by the City for over twenty years.

ABSTRACT

Looking towards downtown Calgary, the landscape of thiscity reflects a rolling prairie environment on the edge of theRocky Mountain Foothills .

Calgary Suburban.Flickr/ecstaticist


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Working Towards a Biodiversity Strategy The City is preparing a Biodiversity Strategy that willbuild upon existing environmental policies and utilizetheir accumulated best practices and knowledge to en-hance the protection of biodiversity. The move towardsa Biodiversity Strategy also shows that biodiversity is anemerging field of municipal interest and can act as anoption for municipalities to use past experiences andgroup them into a comprehensive biodiversity plan. TheCitys Biodiversity Strategy will be the next step towardshabitat and ecosystem protection by achieving the fol-lowing:

Incorporating these two frameworks is a challenge tothe City as currently protection practices take on a landuse and development framework that inherently fo-cuses on individual areas, rather than viewing the City asan entire network of ecosystems. The Biodiversity Strat-

egy will incorporate these wider views and serve as thefundamental way to approach the Citys environmentalprotection practices for future efforts.

Lessons Learned from Past Environmental Practices In the past, the City has been challenged when workingwithin other legislative frameworks and policies that donot provide the necessary tools for municipalities toprotect environmentally significant areas. For the City,Provincial Legislation, such as the Municipal Govern-

ment Act, are intended to be interpreted broadly bymunicipalities, and as a result land use decisions canvary considerably from one community to the next. Thelimit in authority and autonomy has been an obstaclefor the City, having clear, consistent environmental pro-tection guidelines would facilitate further municipal ac-tion.

Beginnings of the Biodiversity StrategyAs stated, the City is currently in the beginning stages ofa new Biodiversity Strategy and updating its inventoryof natural areas, species at risk, sensitive ecosystems,and monitoring known species habitats. Responsibilityfor the collection of data will fall on various depart-ments, external parties and stakeholders that workclosely on biodiversity protection issues. Within the Citythe Parks Department within the Natural Areas Manage-ment Group will lead the production of the strategy,and will work closely with a number of departments,including, Water Resources, Office of Sustainability, and

Environmental Management. External stakeholders in-clude community groups, ENGOs, Province of Alberta,Federal Government, as well as neighbouring municipali-ties and local watershed management groups. Using theexpertise and resources of various departments andgroups adds an array of perspectives that will help tomake the Strategy a comprehensive city initiative.

The City of Calgary recognizes that residents also have aresponsibility to ensure that the objectives of the Strat-egy are achieved. The Environmental Education andInitiatives section of Parks will act as a liaison betweenthe City and the community to assist with public educa-tion on what biodiversity is, why it is important to Cal-gary residents, and how they can get involved in under-standing, monitoring and protecting biodiversity in theCity.

The interconnected benefits of protecting, establishing,and restoring natural corridors and habitats will ensurethat future generations in Calgary live in a City that val-ues the quality of their communities and ecological ser-vices. The City has been active in protecting water re-sources and natural spaces for many years, but nowrecognizes that biodiversity is the framework that will

tie together their previous efforts. With a focus on thebiodiversity in Calgary, staff are able to come together and use their existing knowledge to produce a compre-hensive plan that will mark Calgary as leader in en-trenching biodiversity protection as a core function ofmunicipality.

For more information, visit www.calgary.ca

Serving as an opportunity to update andstrengthen existing policies.Though there is a good foundation of municipaltools, it is necessary that documents, such as theWetland Conservation Plan, are subject to reviewand improvement. This Plan has strong policiesregarding the protection of wetland habitats aswell as a component that focuses on land com-

pensation mechanisms. In the future, the City an-ticipates receiving compensation funds from de-velopment amounting to over $10 million. TheCitys future work looks to incorporate wetlandmitigation banking from a regional, rather thancity limit, perspective. The City is able to collectcompensation funds from proponents of develop-ment, and use those funds at a later date for fu-ture wetland preservation.

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Becoming an umbrella policy for biodiversityprotection.

The Strategy will encapsulate all relevant plan-ning and protection policies the City currentlyutilizes, as well as new mandates, specific to theprotection of biodiversity. It will approach biodi-versity protection from a systems perspective andaddress the relationships and functions betweendifferent ecosystems.

2.

Case Study 1 City of Calgar
mailto:www.calgary.camailto:www.calgary.camailto:www.calgary.ca


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Local Native Community Works

to Protect National Treasure

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Location: Dehcho First Nations, Northwest Territories Population: 1,216 Area: 30,000 km(NNPR land area)

Established to protect and highlight outstanding naturallandscapes and heritage, national parks have a greatsignificance in Canada. Nahanni National Park Reserve(NNPR) was designated as a National Park Reserve in1972, and was formally incorporated into the NationalParks Act in 1976. Globally, the NNPR is recognized as aUNESCO World Heritage Site, the first natural region inthe world to receive the designation, as it serves as anoutstanding example of the major stages in the Earths

evolutionary history and exceptional natural beauty.The geological history of the park is unique as the regionwas not affected by glaciers, and as such, the structuralevolution is different from any other part of Canada(for more information, see Did you know?). T he park hasa diverse topography, which includes mountain ranges,rolling hills, four canyons, an elevated plateau, broaddepressions, and river valleys.

The NNPR built a strong reputation as a legendary iconof Canadian wilderness and features the South NahanniRiver, a central feature of the park. The river is a tribu-tary of the Liard River that flows out of the MackenzieMountains and spans 563 kilometres (350 miles). Theriver is also of great importance to the local communityof the Dehcho First Nations, which thrives off of theriver as a source of local livelihood and connection tothe land. Protecting the river and the canyons were driv-ing factors for the establishment of the park as a na-tional reserve.

Nah Deh is the traditional name for the park, whichserves as a reflection of the Dehcho First Nations heri-tage. The river is named after the Naha, a Dene tribe ofwarriors who claimed the Mackenzie Mountains as their territory and were notorious for being protectiveagainst all who resided within their borders.

The Dehcho First Nations are self-governing native communities located in thesouthwest corner of the Northwest Territories. The region is home to some ofthe Countrys most diverse and protected landscapes, most notably, theNahanni National Park Reserve, a legendary icon of Canadian wilderness. TheDehcho First Nations and the Government of Canada have been cooperativelymanaging the park by incorporating traditional knowledge and connectivity inorder to maintain the natural heritage of the geographic region.

Did You Know? Glaciers covered so much of Northern Canada that most landforms have been al-tered significantly, as recently as the last glaciations10,000 years ago. The Nahanni National Park Reserveis a unique case, as the area escaped glaciations dueto the mountains in the west which intercepted mostof the precipitation during the glacial period and pre-vented the build up of snow that would form a glacier.

As a result, the mountains and river canyons have notbeen widened or rounded by the crush of ice.

ABSTRACT


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Dehcho First Nations Using a Cooperative ManagementProcess Work to protect the park has been a joint effort be-tween the Federal government and the Dehcho FirstNations people. In order for the Government of Canadaand the Dehcho First Nations to actively work together,Parks Canada has been working through the Dehcho

Process, a land-use and self-governance process tomaintain the areas ecological integrity and establishlong-term management planning. The Dehcho Process isa cooperative management approach that relies on ne-gotiating self-governance practices, land use planning,and resource management. As part of the agreementbetween the two parties, the Nah Deh ConsensusTeam was created, which allowed members to worktogether cooperatively, while the Park moves to fullnational park status.

The Nah Deh Consensus Team is comprised of four appointees from the Dehcho First Nations, and threeappointees designated by Parks Canada. Together, theytook on four main tasks:

1. Review and finalizing of an Ecological Integrity State-ment;

2. Preparation of a new management plan;3. Development of an interim park management agree-

ment (IPMA) to guide the cooperative managementprocess until the Dehcho Process is complete; and

4. Creation of a Memorandum of Understanding be-tween the two parties regarding the parks expan-sion.

Currently, efforts have shifted to maintaining the man-agement actions outlined in the IPMA. Both parties aremoving forward in this process and hope to achieve apermanent management partnership.

Protecting the Park to Preserve BiodiversityNational parks across Canada create a network of highlysignificant areas that maintain biodiversity and show-case the extraordinary natural features of the country.Strengthening Canadas network of parks in keepingwith global biodiversity efforts, such as the CBD, to raisepublic awareness on the importance of preserving biodi-versity for human livelihoods. The Dehcho First Nationsis one example of a local community that plays an activerole in the protection of a park that is also their home.By using local knowledge and a cooperative approach tothe parks management, the integrity of the river andlandscape remains constant and protection of the natu-ral systems will continue for decades to come.

For more information, visit www.dehcho.org/home

The land area of the park was originally 4,766 km, and

early on in its establishment as a National Park Re-serve, the area was considered too small to protect allnatural features. The Dehcho First Nations establisheda working group that succeeded in expanding the areaof the park to a total of 30,000 km; making it the thirdlargest national park in Canada and the sixth largest inthe world.

Reserva Nacional Nahanni. Flickr/viajeacanada

Nahanni National Park Reserve

Case Study 2 Dehcho First Nations
mailto:www.dehcho.org/homemailto:www.dehcho.org/homemailto:www.dehcho.org/home


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Mainstreaming Biodiversitythrough Urban Design andCommunity Engagement

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Edmonton, Alberta Population: 730,372 Area: 684 km 2

ABSTRACT

The City of Edmonton is a leader in biodiversity protection and has made educationon the importance of biodiversity a major local effort. The City has mainstreamedbiodiversity and recognized the roles different stakeholders and community can playto move ecological efforts forward.

The City of Edmonton is a large urban centre with themajority of its population living in the city core. The to-

pography of the City is relatively flat, but has many river valley parks that provide opportunities to enhance andprotect valued ecosystems. Biodiversity protection iskey among City staff and residents as both groups placea high value on natural spaces. The City has become aplayer in international dialogues as they are a member of many global biodiversity protection efforts, such as:Local Action for Biodiversity (a joint initiative hosted bythe ICLEI Africa Secretariat, partnered with the Interna-tional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)), andparticipated in the City Biodiversity Index. The CitiesBiodiversity Index is a measure of biodiversity levels basedon three categories including: diversity of species (plantand animal); type of service the species provide for thecity (pollination, carbon sink); and how the city promotesbiodiversity (museums, public campaigns).

Edmonton has made biodiversity protection a priorityby integrating biodiversity considerations into urbanplanning, and community engagement practices. Thesetwo areas help the City move towards mainstreamingthe understanding of urban biodiversity and the bene-fits of ecological preservation. Through many programsand activities, the City has successfully incorporatedbiodiversity into various departments and fostered

strong community and stakeholder involvement on con-servation.

Edmonton Skyline, and the Edmonton River Valley.

Autumn Edmonton.Dreamstime.com/ Fallsview

Did You Know?Edmonton's River Valley is one of the longest urban river valley parkland inNorth America at 7, 400 hectares. There are 22 major parks and over 150 kilometres of trails to walk,cycle, snowshoe, and cross-country ski.


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An Ecological Design Approach to Biodiversity Protec-tionThe City has actively protected 3700 hectares of naturalareas, and created the largest municipally owned parksystem in Canada. Throughout the Citys growth therehave been a myriad of development pressures, but de-spite this, the City was able to protect five hectares for every eleven hectares of Priority Natural Areas (formallyknown as environmentally sensitive areas and significantnatural areas), and worked around Provincial restrictionsand limited tools to protect significant lands. As habitatfragmentation is a major contributor to biodiversity loss,the City has incorporated biodiversity and urban designin a biologically sensitive approach to city planning. Landacquisition became a key area of interest to the City, andin 2009 Council authorized a $20 million fund allocationand permit borrowing for land acquisition. The Edmon-

ton and Area Land Trust, is a resource established tocreate partnerships with private landowners and allocatefunds to purchase valuable lands. The Land Trust is theresult of collaboration among environmentalists, philan-thropists, developers and the City. Prior to permit bor-rowing, the City Council allocated over $1 million for landacquisition and over $1 million for wetland purchasing.

The City has adopted urban planning and design meth-ods that address the loss of natural areas, and utilize anecological approach to expand the potential for large-scale biodiversity protection. The incorporation of eco-system functions into city building and municipal opera-tions promoting sustainable development, and the pro-tection of natural systems. The following are some ofthe key implementation tools to guide planning in Ed-monton:

Ecological Design Report:The production of this report included community mem-bers in defining specific biodiversity values and out-

comes that should be preserved. This engagement strat-egy has led to outside developers moving towards de-signing neighbourhoods that are more sensitive to biodi-versity values, and reducing community conflicts.

Ecological Network Model:The Ecological Network Model is a planning methodol-ogy that merges an ecosystems existing structure withcommunity design. This approach is meant to increaseecological corridors, create habitats, increase biodiver-sity, and maintain the integrity of an ecosystem, by view-ing the land area as a network of core habitats that arefully connected and integrated.

This model was implemented in 30 neighbourhoods withmeasurable results. The model is a powerful tool for neighbourhood design as it is aligned with increasing

growth demands, while producing healthy and biodiver-sity rich neighbourhoods.

Wildlife Passages Engineering Design Guidelines:The guidelines provide engineers with a simple method-ology for maintaining connectivity at different scaleswithin the community. They are meant to target loca-tions that have been impacted by engineering works,and therefore, require more ecologically sensitive plan-ning guidelines.

The three approaches outlined above have led to better neighbourhoods and engineering procedures that pre-serve Edmontons biological diversity. Ecologists andbiologists interested in the Citys efforts are studying thelevels of biodiversity, and are finding significant changesand improvements where the three methods have beenimplemented. The next step for the City is to gather thecommunity to quantify the results of the Ecological De-sign Approach.

Case Study 3 City of Edmonton

Did You Know? The City of Edmonton has 299,000 trees on boulevards and parks, and in the last decade, morethan 20,000 trees have died to due drought conditions and invasive species. The effects of climate change are ex-pected to further increase these environmental threats to the Citys urban tree canopy.

As summer drought continues to affect the region, the City will require intensified replanting and restoration actions,while reconsidering which tree species best fit the changing weather conditions.

Invasive species and disease, such as Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease, are expected to migrate from thesouth, this threat would have devastating effects on the urban tree count, as both these trees make up about 68% ofstreet trees. The City is working towards an Urban Forest Management Plan that addresses this impact through shortand long-term actions, such as inventorying of urban forests and field research to test potential solutions to decreas-ing tree canopy.


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Municipal Policies and Plans for Biodiversity Protection:The various approaches in Edmonton demonstrate thateconomic viability does not need to come at the ex-pense of the natural environment. The City has manyplans and strategies in place that balance developmentwith biodiversity, some of which include:

Edmonton Environmental Policy: promoting thedevelopment of environmentally sustainable com-

munities;Protection of the Natural Environment Plan: com-mitting Edmonton to taking a leadership role inprotecting its natural heritage and biodiversity;Natural Connections Strategic Plan: demonstrat-ing the critical role of habitat connectedness andhighlighting ways to approach the issue bothstructurally and functionally to ensure long-termsustainability; andEdmontons Natural Connections BiodiversityAction Plan: provides baseline information andnext steps that apply an ecological network ap-

proach to biodiversity protection;Natural Area Management Plan: the City will bere-releasing this plan late 2010 as it integratesconservation planning with operational guidelinesfor staff and community volunteers; andBiodiversity considerations have been integratedinto the Citys The Way We Grow, The Way WeLive, The Way We Move,and The Way We Green(to the released in late 2010).

As the City of Edmonton implements their environmentalplans, the City has leaned that there is a need to measureperformance by monitoring implementation, overall ef-fectiveness, and extent of its influence. For a full reporton monitoring outcomes, see the Citys EcoVision Re-port.

Mainstreaming Biodiversity to Community MembersThe idea of mainstreaming a concept as broad as biodi-versity is an onerous task, as it involves considering allforms of life and their ecological processes. The City hasplaced a great deal of importance on ensuring that biodi-versity is understood by the community and that mes-sages are tailored to reach the greatest number of peo-ple. This commitment is apparent in a variety of initia-

tives undertaken by the City to promote biodiversityawareness to diverse groups, notably the BiosphereBiokit for New Canadian Immigrants and the Master Naturalists Program.

Master Naturalists Program: Part of the newly-launched Learn and Serve Program,Master Naturalists provides the community an opportu-nity to complete 35 hours of training and field trips inexchange for 35 hours of stewardship volunteer-servicein areas such as: natural area monitoring, inventory,naturalization, restoration, and ecological education.Modelled after the Citys successful Master Composter and Recycler Program, Master Naturalists provides par-ticipants with hands-on educational and awareness rais-ing opportunities and the skills to effectively stewardthe natural environment. Participants become ambassa-dors for the City, and for biodiversity stewardship, asthey work alongside city staff to build community learn-ing capacity.

City staff and local experts educate the team on variousplant communities and restoration techniques. Master Naturalists has the makings for long-term success as it isdesigned to ensure that these groups do not work in

isolation. As a result, the Master programs have createda hub, or network, for local action through the opportu-nity to make connections with other local naturalists.This has generated local excitement and momentum asit presents what is possible through meaningful collabo-rations.

Biokit for New Canadian immigrants: The Edmonton Newcomers BioKit Project is an educa-tional and outreach pilot project that reaches approxi-mately 100 recently arrived immigrant families. They areeducated on both local natural areas and biodiversitywhile receiving hands-on training to help them learnabout the natural world through positive experiences.

The Biokit initiative is a two-year pilot project with thefollowing goals:

Helping the City engage with a wider audience inbiodiversity stewardship;Making information more accessible to the gen-eral public, and particularly to audiences who facesignificant barriers in exploring and learning aboutlocal natural areas; and


Black-capped chickadee seen at Beaumaris Lake

Black-capped Chickadee Flickr/Shawn McCready


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Developing mentorship opportunities for thoseinterested in more involvement opportunities.

The Biokit was developed from Environment CanadasBiosphere BioKit, which provides children the opportu-nity to learn more about their communitys natural fea-tures. The City of Edmonton is the first municipality todownscale the biodiversity publication to an audience ofrecent immigrants.

The Biokit is a result of a partnership with the Edmon-ton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers and the City ofEdmonton Office of Natural Areas. Other partners in-clude the Federation of Alberta Naturalists, EdmontonFederation of Community Leagues, Multicultural HealthBrokers, and City of Edmonton Community Services.These groups support the publications developmentand distribution, but also, connect with other multicul-tural communities. Leaders in the Master Naturalistsprogram are recruited to deliver the program due to

their understanding of the landscape and educationalbackgrounds.

Opportunities and Lessons Learned through Main-streaming BiodiversityThe range of initiatives the City has implemented is areflection of the entrenched and motivating principlesfor biodiversity protection in Edmonton. Important les-sons have been learned as the City gains experience andinsight into the variety of effective ways to manage bio-diversity initiatives and further prompt mainstreaming.These include:

For more information, visit www.edmonton.ca


1. Integrating biodiversity conservation into the Citysvision, policies, and high level plans;

2. Partnerships are strategic ways to work around lim-ited staff and resources;

3. Engage citizens as they demand high standards inbiodiversity conservation, and create opportunities for them to demonstrate their interests;

4. Measuring and reporting on progress to help de-velop a system of effective environmental manage-ment;

5. Implementing plans that are still being written tobuild momentum;

6. Participate in biodiversity networks to avoid workingin isolation; and

7. Cross-department initiatives allow for biodiversitymanagement to become a priority across differentdepartments and staff.

Whitemud Creek runs through Edmonton as itflows into the North Saskatchewan River.

ICLEI, 2009
mailto:www.edmonton.camailto:www.edmonton.camailto:www.edmonton.ca


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Steady Approach to BiodiversityRecovery

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario Population: 157,857 Area: 3,200 km 2

ABSTRACT

The City of Greater Sudbury has undergone many changes in the past two centuries.At the present time, the City has focused on maintaining its new reputation as anenvironmental leader, through extensive re-greening programs to restore fragileand damaged landscapes. Through extensive regreening efforts, Greater Sudbury isan example of what is possible by reintroducing nature to the city.

As the most populated city in Northern Ontario, theCity of Greater Sudbury has many distinctive character-istics that make it a highly significant region in Canadashistory. It is located within the Canadian Shield (a bio-logically rich geological shield covering almost half ofCanada) and is rich in lakes and forests. The shield isalso home to mining ores nestled throughout the land-scape, of which Greater Sudbury has the largest andmost resourceful ore deposits.

For over two centuries, the City of Greater Sudbury wasknown as a mining community, as the ore deposits lo-cated within the Sudbury Basin contain large amounts

of nickel, selenium and tellurium. Rampant mining ac-tivities affected the environment of the region and con-tributed to high levels of sulphur in the atmosphere,resulting in an influx of acid rain that chronically de-graded the landscape. By the late 1960s, an estimated84,000 hectares of land was considered barren or semi-barren.

The City is now working to change its image andmove away from the strong mining associationsthat have stereotyped the community.

Currently, the City is maintaining its new reputation asan environmental leader, through extensive re-greening programs to restore fragile and damagedlandscapes. Efforts to change the pre-existing socialpresumptions have presented a set of challenges andopportunities to hone in on a different industry, andmove away from a reputation of being an environmen-tally damaged, mining community. Diversifying theeconomy has given the City economic strengths in ar-eas, such as commerce, government, tourism, and sci-ence and technology research. In the 1970s, the miningcompanies once employed about 75% of the popula-

tion, now mining employment accounts for less than 5%of the population.

Biodiversity and Regreening EffortsThe Citys restoration efforts started in 1978 with theinitiation of the Sudbury Land Reclamation Project. Theproject, managed by the Vegetation EnhancementTechnical Advisory Committee (VETAC), in partnershipwith local mining companies and stakeholders, aimedto distribute large amounts of lime into the acidic soilto act as a neutralizer and promote growth. Over 3,300hectares of land were re-greened, with millions of treesand shrubs reintroduced into the landscape. The posi-

tive results have transformed the landscape into park-land, habitat, ecological corridors, and forests. Thisprogram marked the start of biodiversity actions for the City, as it was a necessary first step to jumpstartecosystem recovery. The regreening of the City is lo-cally acknowledged as being a fundamental turningpoint for the community.

Did you know? The Citys history dates back toapproximately two billion years ago when a meteoritecrashed into the region causing the Earths crust tocrack. The meteorite left behind what is known as theSudbury Basin, which contains large amounts of nickel,copper, and platinum, making it the largest knownnickel ore deposit in the world.


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Another effort, the Sudbury Soils Study, commissionedby the mining companies Vale Inco and Xstrata Nickel,was one of the most comprehensive studies of its kindin Canada. The study analyzed soil quality over a sevenyear period from 2001-2008 and worked within a40,000 square kilometre study area. The Ecological RiskAssessment (ERA) portion of the study evaluated cur-rent and potential risks to humans and the environ-ment and monitored the risks associated with sevenchemicals of concern (COC): arsenic, cadmium, cobalt,copper, lead, nickel, and selenium. COCs are foundnaturally in the area, but their levels were found tohave increased over the years through particle depositsfrom smelter emissions and other industrial activities.

The ERA was administered by a multi-stakeholder Tech-nical Committee, comprised of members from the On-tario Ministry of the Environment, the Sudbury & Dis-trict Health Unit, the City of Greater Sudbury, Vale Inco,Xstrata Nickel, and the First Nations & Inuit Health

Branch of Health Canada. Alongside the Technical Com-mittee, this study had several other committees in-volved to ensure that all issues were equally addressed.The committees included an:

Independent Process Observer to ensure that allstakeholders were given equal access and inputto the process, and that public interests wereaddressed; Public Advisory Committee that facilitated com-munity involvement and promoted the move-ment of information between the TechnicalCommittee and the public; andIndependent Scientific Advisor that providedinput to the Technical Committee to ensure reli-able scientific principles and current methodolo-gies were used to conduct the study.

Creating Greater Sudburys Biodiversity Action Plan In March 2009 the ERA portion of the study was re-leased. It found that terrestrial plant communities havebeen, and continue to be, impacted by COCs in the soil,and other factors, such as soil erosion, low nutrientlevels, lack of soil organic matter, and/or low soil pH.The study also found that there are few recognizedthreatened or endangered species within the studyarea. This suggests that it is unlikely that COCs fromlocal smelters were having a direct effect on area spe-cies. However, deposits from smelters have historicallyaffected habitat quality and, therefore, would influencebird and mammal populations.

In order to move forward with regreening and habitatprotection efforts, the City made a commitment to fur-ther biodiversity actions by producing a locally drivenBiodiversity Action Plan, Living Landscapes. The Planwas co-funded by Vale Inco ($60,000) and XstrataNickel ($48,000), and marks a long-term commitment

to enhancing biodiversity in the region. Living Land-scapes is guided by the following principles:

Building on existing accomplishments;Ensuring the local community and their needsare considered in biodiversity recovery efforts;Developing and promoting educational opportu-nities;Stabilizing soil conditions;Developing ecological resilience to guard againstfuture environmental stresses;Continuously improving conditions by monitor-

ing and reporting;Ensuring that Living Landscapes remains a livingdocument one that adapts to changing condi-tions, interests and priorities; andEnsuring the City remains a world leader in landreclamation and biodiversity recovery.

Dire landscape, 1981 (left), transformed landscape due to large-scale re-greening efforts, 2008 (right).

City of Sudbury City of Sudbury

Case Study 3 City of Greater Sudbury


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Developing the Biodiversity Action Plan through Com-munity EngagementThe Biodiversity Action Plan was developed under theleadership of the Citys Environment Planning InitiativesSection, overseen by VETAC, which together have over 30 years of experience in community-based environ-mental planning. Based on the pre-established guidingprinciples of the Biodiversity Action Plan, the City foundit necessary to incorporate community concerns intothe production of the Plan. The City and VETAC organ-ized stakeholder involvement sessions to gain directinput from a broad range of community members, in-cluding naturalists, university and college professors,researchers, government staff and the general public.The facilitated sessions helped to ensure biodiversityactions were aligned with community needs and expec-tations. Other methods used were the Have Your SayWorkshops, telephone surveys, and in -person meet-ings. The community also had a chance to review andcomment on the final draft before the release of thePlan in December 2009.

Community Response to the Biodiversity Action Plan

Before regreening, the landscape was bleak and hadbeen that way for over two centuries. The Communityfelt they were resigned to living with acidic soils, highlevels of acid rain, and few vegetated spaces. This cre-ated a grim picture of the region as many residents hadbeen living in Sudbury for generations and knew onlythis image of the City. The biodiversity efforts provideda spark that showed residents how the City could bechanged, and discover what could be achieved by rein-troducing nature to the city. Though it is too early totell how the community will be impacted by the eco-logical changes initiated through the Biodiversity Action

Plan, it is important to consider the social and quality oflife benefits that can be achieved by enhancing and pro-tecting biodiversity, such as: outdoor recreational activi-ties; increased number of bicycle and walking trails; Citybeautification; and improving human health.

Moving Forward in Biodiversity RecoveryFostering community involvement and changing theway a community looks at, and uses natural spaces, re-quires affirmative action and risks to engage differentinterest groups. Based on the outcomes of the Citysbiodiversity efforts, the following points are importantlessons learned:

Build, sustain and nurture partnerships at alllevels: between the municipality and schoolboards, universities, industries, researchers,government agencies, and local naturalists;

Relationship building with various groups andindividuals early in the process;

Municipalities should help build awareness andrecognition of what local groups and institu-tions are doing on biodiversity-related matters.This is an important role for municipalities asthey have access to media and communica-tions tools. A local authority is a fair represen-tative of community needs and is in a positionto own up to act on those needs.

For more information, visit www.greatersudbury.ca

Case Study 3 City of Greater Sudbury

Forest vegetation transplant plot - one of about 250 plots (each 4m x 4m) established in 2010 throughout Greater Sudbury's im-pacted areas established to spread and colonize surrounding areas.

City of Sudbury
mailto:www.greatersudbury.camailto:www.greatersudbury.camailto:www.greatersudbury.ca


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Planning Canadas First

Pollination Park

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Guelph, Ontario Population: 114,943 Area: 87 km 2

ABSTRACT

The City of Guelph is working towards completing Pollination Park, the first and larg-est pollinator protection initiative in Canada. The purpose of the park is to providehabitat protection for pollinating species, like bees and hummingbirds, and to act amodel upon which future parks can be based. Though the project is a new develop-ment, it presents many opportunities to conserve urban biodiversity.

Guelph is a medium-sized city located in southern On-

tario. Its current population is approximately 115,000,with an additional 18,000 throughout the academic year as students attend the University of Guelph. The Cityspopulation is expected to grow to 180,000 by 2031. Thisincreasing population supports significant commercialand industrial development. As one of Canadas fastestgrowing cities, development continues to pressureprime ecological space within the city.

In response to these development demands, the Cityhas created progressive environmental policies to en-sure the safety and protection of its natural habitats. A

component of the Citys Official Plan acknowledges theimportance of pollinator species and their habitat. Thisacknowledgment presented a unique opportunity for the City to establish an international first - a designatedpark for pollinators.

Pollination Park is a proposed 45-hectare (112 acre) pieceof land that will be located at Eastview Landfill - a de-commissioned landfill site adjacent to a planned com-munitys recreational park. The Pollination Park is classi-fied as a biodiversity project with varying levels of for-mal municipal involvement and stakeholder support.While the City provides the land and political support,the initiative is very much a local one with multi-stakeholder efforts that require input from various par-ties across the community.

From Proposal to Planning: Involving ResidentsPollination Park was initially proposed by communitymembers advocating for City Council to realize the im-portance of pollinator species, and the lack of pollinator habitats within urban areas. The engaged communitymembers got together and formed Pollination Guelph,who was later designated by Council to act as the offi-cial working group to spearhead Pollination Park.

The City incorporated the protection of pollinators intoits Official Plan, thereby making Guelph the first munici-pality to include such progressive goals for pollinator protection into city-wide policies.

A technical committee, represented by City staff andPollination Guelph members, reviewed all legal mattersrelating to the creation of the pollinator habitats inGuelph, and acted as the liaison between the City andother stakeholders.

City of Guelph landmark, Church of Our Lady Immaculate


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Pollination Park represents a progressive biodiversityinitiative that was driven by the community. Along withPollination Guelph, the City hosted a variety of meetingsand workshops to educate the public and plan for Polli-nation Park; education and awareness campaigns havebeen a large component of the workshops as therewere many biases against this project. The main chal-

lenge has been raising awareness on the safety of usingold industrial spaces, and getting the community to lookbeyond the grounds as a landfill. By providing morelearning opportunities and opportunities for public par-ticipation, support is building across the community.Both the meetings and workshops were well receivedand the momentum for Pollination Park continues tobuild.

From Landfill to LandscapeWorking with a team of graduate landscape architec-ture students and community members, a sample de-sign for the park was created. The design was presentedto Council and staff and the City was able to imaginewhat the park would be, would not be, and how theproposed design would enhance biodiversity on thesite. This visioning process opened a dialogue on theimage of biodiversity as one that does not solely rely on

specially designated natural sites but instead that canexist in remnant and post-industrial spaces within theCity.

Developing public spaces on landfills comes with associ-ated risks and challenges that must be acknowledgedand accounted for. In the case of the Pollination Park,development was met with a specific set of obstacles toovercome, such as regulations concerning the use of aclosed landfill, reviewing the methane collection sys-tem, limited public access in certain areas, and main-taining soil conditions. Other obstacles included non-native grasses, organizing fundraising activities, andseed sourcing.

Adjacent to the Eastview Landfill, and future PollinationPark , are lands with no prior history of industrial activitythat will be the future location of the Eastview Commu-nity Park . This park will primarily serve as a neighbour-hood park and will be a mixed-use area for residents.

Eastview Community Park, approved in 2002, will utilizethe non-landfill portion of the site. Located northeast tothe Pollination Park, this community park will includefeatures like, an irrigated and lighted sports fields

comprising of four soccer pitches and two footballfields, outdoor ice rink, and water park. The Park willdevelop in phases from 2009-2013, costing approxi-mately $3.3 million.

Both Pollination Park and the Eastview Community Parkpresent opportunities for the City of Guelph to utilizeabandoned spaces, realize the potential ecological valueof restoration, with the ultimate goal of increasing biodi-versity and have the ability to create ecological and sociallinkages to the space. The educational and long-termbenefits of the parks will help reintegrate parts of the Cityby coupling notions of ecosystem awareness and urbanecology, and providing biodiversity rich spaces on under-utilized land.

Pollination Park symposium explaining the importance of thePark and role of community members.

Education and awareness campaigns are two large compo-nents to the success of Pollination Park.

Pollination Guelph, 2010


Opportunities to protect, maintain and enhance pollinatorhabitat within City parks, restoration areas and ecologicallinkages, land adjacent to storm water management facili-ties and open spaces will be encouraged

City of Guelph, Official Plan

Case Study 5 City of Guelph

Pollinator Species include:

Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, Ants, and Flies


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Promoting natural areas in an urban environment is im-portant for several reasons. Ecologically, they sustainthe living organisms in the area, as well as human, socialand economic systems, such as recreational and tourismactivities. They also establish sound infrastructure for erosion control, and provide landscapes for food pro-

duction. Creating a habitat for pollinators contributes toconserving vital ecosystem services, which human popu-lations heavily rely on. Pollinators are natural resources,which aid in the production of fruits and vegetables; onein every three bites of food is a direct product of a polli-nator. Protecting these species is not only essential toenhancing food and plant biodiversity, but maintaininghuman quality of life.

From Education to EngagementThe notion of turning a landfill into a community parkwas not well received. The City and Pollination Guelphhad difficulty capturing the publics imagination on thesustainability aspects of the park. In the end, the mediasignificantly contributed to the acceptance of the parkby publishing reports advocating for its benefits. Build-ing from the success of the medias involvement, Coun-cillors, residents and community groups are now usingthe media to monitor the progress of the park.

As a soft introduction to the benefits of the Park, andbiodiversity in general, the City and Pollination Guelphtook on garden maintenance practices on residentialproperties. Historically, local gardens tended towardspristine and tidy lots that removed nesting sites andduff (dead plant material that supports many differentkinds of insects at different stages of their life cycle).Many perceived a natural garden as an unkempt anduncontrolled space of neglect rather than intention. The

City wanted to turn this image around and showcasethe many benefits that come from naturalized gardens including increased biodiversity, habitat recovery andimproved land stewardship. By promoting sustainablegardening practices that enhanced species habitats, thecommunity is beginning to realize the benefits of pro-viding pockets of biodiversity-rich spaces.

In addition, those groups working on the PollinationPark are also working on establishing pollinator-friendlyplots around the City, including several at the GuelphCentre for Urban Organic Farming and the Arboretum atthe University of Guelph. Building relationships withother educational institutions has provided a uniqueopportunity to engage more people and to show thelinkages between different actions that are already hap-pening in the City.

Next Steps:Eastview Landfill is currently undergoing infrastructuralchanges to accommodate the new pollinator plants andspecies. Until the site can accommodate plants, commu-nity members are working on educational and aware-ness raising campaigns and implementing sample plotsites throughout Guelph.

To learn more about the Citys Pollination Park, pleasevisit www.pollinator.ca/guelph

Pollinator-friendly flower beds at Riverside Park, in partner-ship with the Citys Healthy Landscapes program. The areahad many non-native species, which were removed to makeway for more desirable species. The plantings had instantsuccess, and pollinator species were observed nesting .


Case Study 5 City of Guelph
http://www.pollinator.ca/guelphhttp://www.pollinator.ca/guelphhttp://www.pollinator.ca/guelph


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Protecting Sensitive Ecosystems and Habitats

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Kelowna, British Columbia Population: 120,812 Area: 211.69 km 2

ABSTRACT

The City of Kelowna, located in the Okanagan Valley, between the dry Great Basinand wet valleys to the east and west. There is limited movement and distribution ofhabitats and ecosystem types; and many of the valuable ecosystems have been lostor fragmented. The Okanagan has highly significant ecological and landscape diver-sity, which is described unlike any other region in Canada. To further understand andappropriately act to protect their portion of this significant landscape, the City hasundertaken three studies that will assist with future conservation measures.

The City of Kelowna is located in the Okanagan Valleywithin the British Columbia Interior, situated betweenthe Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Coast. The naturalenvironment in Kelowna is considered among the mostbeautiful and rare in Canada. The valley is highly diversewith species and plants that are vulnerable and endan-gered; given the geological landscape, many of thesespecies are within close proximity to one another. Thistight network of habitats and species requires strongprotection, firstly, by identifying where each is, and thencustomizing policies that protect identified sensitiveareas. Since 1800, it is estimated that there has been adramatic loss of many sensitive ecosystems: 92% of ri-parian ecosystems, 77% of broadleaf woodlands, 73% ofgrasslands, 49% of coniferous woodlands, and 47% ofwetlands have all been lost to human succession. Theloss of valuable landscapes is tied back to an increasingecological footprint, ever-increasing population, rapidurbanization, and agricultural developments. The loss ofwetlands especially poses a high risk to associated spe-cies, as studies have shown that about 80% of wildlife isknown to be directly-dependent on wetland and ripar-ian ecosystems, or uses them more commonly than any

other habitat locale.

In order to initiate appropriate action, the City ofKelowna issued three separate contracts to generateinformation on the conditions of these valuable ecosys-tems for Council and City staff to use for decision-making and to develop valuable tools to assist in theidentification and protection of important and sensitiveecological features. These studies provide geographicaccuracy to sensitive ecosystem locations, boundariesand biophysical attributes, while increasing awarenessaround these intrinsically important features.

Kelowna./Flickr Pompeii Am Gtterdmmerug

City of Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley

Riparian Zone is the area between land and water.This ecosystem has a large role in biodiversityconservation because it inhabits many differentspecies and has rich soil conditions.

?


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Overview of Quantitative Methods The City had three separate contracts to consultantsthat have strong scientific and ecosystem mappingbackgrounds in plant ecology and biology and an un-derstanding of this regions geography. The informa-tion generated by the consultants has been endorsedby Council and is being used for decision-making andthe development of tools to assist in the protectionand management of ecologically significant areas.

The Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI), conducted in2007, was commissioned in response to the need for scientific information on ecosystems and other detailedinformation needed to support future land manage-ment planning. The study was cooperatively funded by,the Real Estate Foundation of BC; the BC Ministry ofEnvironment; the City of Kelowna; and the RegionalDistrict of the Central Okanagan. The City of KelownasPolicy and Planning Division allocated $40,000 from itsbudget., and total project budget was $85,000.

The study area encompassed the Citys boundaries,covering approximately 21,500 hectares, and includedprivate and public land, regional parks and crown land.The sensitive ecosystems were categorized into differ-ent classes, where all share common characteristics,notably ecological sensitivities, rarity, and wildlife habi-tat values.

The inventory found that sensitive ecosystems withvarying conditions accounted for 28% of Kelownas landbase. The sensitive ecosystems contained many rareand endangered species listed as red and blue species,

with their habitats being ecologically fragile, but havinghigh biodiversity, providing specialized habitats for many of these species at risk. Most of the rare speciesidentified are restricted in their habitat distribution andquantity. The study also found that sensitive ecosys-tems provide many social values including air and water filtration, natural areas for aesthetic and recreationalactivities, natural resources, and increased propertyvalues for developed areas.

The knowledge gained from identifying the priorityecosystems places the City in a better position to sup-port sustainable land use and development decisionsthat help promote effective stewardship. The inventoryis used to inform a range of plans and processes for anumber of City departments. In addition to providinginput when producing or revising community and parksplans, the inventory will help update the Official Com-munity Plan.

Case Study 6 City of Kelowna

Badger(Taxidea taxus)Endangered

Prairie Rose(Rosa arkansana)

Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia)

Endangered

Choke Cherry(Prunus virginiana )

These are some of the species featured in the Sensitive Eco-systems Inventory, as many of these species are consideredto be endangered, threatened, or of special concern.

Painted Turtle(Chrysemys picta)Special concern

List of photo Credits from Top to Bottom

1. Painted Turtle on a log Flickr/ Zevotron

2. Badger strip tail Flickr /Andreas-photography

3. Prairie Rose Flickr /Kristin Marie Enns-Kavanagh

4. Burrowing Owl Portrait Flickr/MrClean1982

5. choke cherry Flickr/Terwilliger911


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The Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM )study was a multi-year initiative to track and inventoryall named creeks within City limits (except MissionCreek, which given its significance to fisheries and as thelargest tributary to Okanagan Lake was the subject ofmore comprehensive studies). The project was coopera-tively funded by the Okanagan Basin Water Board pro-viding $15,000 and the City of Kelownas Environmentand Drainage budgets of $30,000.

Over the course of the study, the scope continuouslygrew, starting with two large creeks, then progressingto a total of 28 creeks. The study included mapping as-sociated riparian habitats, watercourses and other im-portant fisheries, all of which provided a basis for accu-rately mapping baseline data for integration into localmapping and planning initiatives. The objective wassimilar to the SEI study as the final product would resultin a valuable tool to increase the understanding of sensi-tive habitats which were not previously available. Thetools will provide a source for interactive GIS/mappingthat can be used by other municipalities, regional dis-tricts, stewardship groups and interested members ofthe public.

Further applications for SHIM and SEI results included:

Assisting with development applications requir-ing stormwater management and stormwater runoff considerations;

Updating the Official Community Plan, especiallywith respect to the determination of Natural En-vironment Development Permit Areas;

Determining minimum setback distances;Allowing environmental staff to effectively moni-tor disturbances and changes in habitat;

Identifying and mapping potential point sourcesof pollution;

Guiding decisions and priorities with respect tohabitat restoration and enhancement projects;

Identifying sensitive habitats for fish and wildlifealong watercourses; and

Highlighting areas of potential channel instabilityor water quality issues requiring further inquiry.

The Wetland Inventory, Classification, Evaluation andMapping (WIM) study was conducted in 2009, and theprimary objective was to identify, inventory and map allwetlands and their habitat features. The study was co-operatively funded by the Okanagan Basin Water Board,Ducks Unlimited, and the City of Kelownas Environmentand Drainage budget of $25,000, and total projectbudget was $50,000.

The inventory study suggests that urban development isthe primary factor leading to the degradation of ecologi-cal functions within Kelowna's wetlands. Similar to theSEI and SHIM, the Wetland Inventory results were usedto inform staff and Council of ecological changes anddisturbances. Planning practices, both long-term andcurrent, benefit from inventory and GIS mapping, asthey provide a baseline of quantitative data to measureimpacts of future actions.

The WIM study:

Provides a complete understanding of baselinedata including the number and condition of re-maining wetlands;

Assists in methods to monitor changes in habitatsas a result of a disturbance;

Guides management decisions and set prioritiesfor habitat restoration and enhancement;

Identifies sensitive habitats for fish and wildlife;and

Describes the spatial extent of wetland andfloodplain properties.

Wetland ecosystems occur on sites where the water table is

at, near, or above the soil surface for a long period of time.Drought recovery, flood control and food production areexamples of some wetland services.

The following activities can lead to mismanagement of wet-lands: encroachment, in-filling, draining, habitat fragmenta-tion, contamination, agricultural activities, and hydraulic al-terations.


Musk rat going, going Flickr/malreuxjones


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Community Engagement ChallengesThe primary objective of the various mapping and inven-tory projects was to produce quantitative technical re-ports with science-based methodologies, that could beused to inform future conservation actions. Communityinvolvement and education were not primary compo-nent of the work, however, they were a secondary goalof each of the studies. Open houses and website up-dates were the main form of community outreach un-dertaken by City staff and the consultants hired. Thestudies generated media attention because of the scale(city-wide) and detail of each study.

The public open-houses were hosted by the variousgroups involved (City, funders, and consultants) to ex-plain the purpose of each study. Some groups and resi-dents were sceptical of this work as new policies couldresult in changes to land-use decision-making and couldconstrain development in or near sensitive ecosystems.This concern unfortunately led to the City and its con-

tractors not being permitted to enter all private proper-ties, which led to gaps in the quality of information withair photos required to identify and interpret the fea-tures.

A future goal for the City is to relay all data to the com-munity early, and, where possible, make informationavailable to stakeholders to bring them on side for fu-ture activities. Whereas these studies were designed tobe informative, rather than consultative in nature, fu-ture work could include more opportunities to involvethe public. Staff is working towards compiling the infor-mation on other media and information outlets andwebsites that would benefit from a complete study ofsensitive ecosystems and habitats.

New Opportunities Many opportunities presented themselves onceKelowna acted as a mapping and inventory pioneer anddemonstrated that the initiatives were valuable for localgovernments and land-use decision makers. These suc-cesses have led to other municipalities conducting their own SHIM, SEI and WIM studies. The value of the stud-ies provides a benefit to municipal decision-making asdecisions are made with a better understanding of thestatus and location of sensitive ecosystems. This knowl-edge will help to mitigate further encroachment or bur-den on those lands.

Some notable opportunities from each study include:

All information can be used to facilitate the up-date of the Citys Official Community Plan, andany other land use planning purposes. The stud-ies also produced baseline inventory informationthat assist in the development of performancestandards to determine when protection and

restoration efforts have been successful; The City learned about local concerns, and in thefuture, will work to address those concerns be-fore engaging on specific activities; Staff will continue to ensure that the public isinvolved from start to finish in future projects;and

Using comprehensive ecosystem information tobuild internal capacity and training about its ap-plication and value. At present, only a portion ofCity staff are known to use the tools with anyregularity. In the future, all relevant staff willhopefully possess a base knowledge of how touse the information and implement it into pro-jects where sensitive ecosystems exist.

There are ample opportunities to include outside usersand disperse the information to a wider audience - quali-fied professionals, stakeholder groups, non-profits, andeven individuals with an interest in ecological conserva-

tion. To achieve this, the City has identified outlets thatcould help make this possible; the British Columbia Com-munity Mapping Network and the Okanagan Conserva-tion Planning Partnership are examples of collabora-tions focusing specifically on sensitive habitat and map-ping studies.

Municipal RequirementsBeyond the external consultants working on the threestudies, approximately three City staff were involved.These staff included a project manager, environmentalsupport, and logistical support. Though the main map-ping and inventory studies were contracted, staff werealso involved in some of the field work and data collec-tion components. Staff support for technical programsis thought to be a key to the success of this type of ini-tiative, as it helps to build internal capacity and in-creases staff knowledge of the natural environment.By equipping staff with the appropriate knowledge andresources, the City of Kelowna is ensuring that appropri-ate recommendations relating to sensitive ecosystemscan be made in the future.

For more information on Kelowna, please visit:www.kelowna.ca

mailto:http://www.kelowna.camailto:http://www.kelowna.camailto:http://www.kelowna.ca


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Biodiversity as a Key Function

of the Municipality

MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Montral, Qubec Population: 1,620,693 Area: 501 km 2

ABSTRACT

Policy implementation, research and education, and community engagement arethree pillars in Montrals efforts to protect local biodiversity. The City is involved inmany local and international networks, as they work to share knowledge, lessonslearned, and innovative approaches to advocating for the protection of urban biodi-versity.

City of Montral (Ville de Montral), an island locatedalong the St. Lawrence River, is diverse in woodland,field, marsh, wetlands, forest, and grassland ecosys-tems. These ecosystems house a great diversity of spe-cies and rare communities of plants. Within the city lim-its, striking natural landscapes (such as Mount Royal),make up 7,156 hectares of green spaces.

As host to the CBD Secretariat, the City of Montral hashad the opportunity to work with various stakeholdersto expand biodiversity research and education. The fo-cus of municipal operations on the protection of natural

areas has played a key role in moving the City forward inbiodiversity protection efforts, and over many years, theCity has developed various tools, programs and policiesthat increase urban biodiversity.

Municipal Action and Policy Implementation Montral is the first city in Qubec to have an officialpolicy for the protection of its natural environments.Adopted in 2004, the Policy to Protect and EnhanceNatural Habitats identifies ten eco-territories which en-compass key natural environments of superior ecologi-cal value within the Montral metropolitan area. ThePolicy brings together conservation projects based onan ecological network model in order to create pro-tected natural environments that will be ecologicallymanaged and registered in the Rpertoire Officiel desMilieux Naturels Protgs (Official Directory of Pro-

tected Natural Environments). Since 2004, more than500 hectares have been acquired and protected, addingto the Citys goal of protecting 6% of its land (soon to beachieved, and surpassed).

Mount Royal (Mont Royal) is a mountain located north of downtown Montral. The Mount Royal Protection and Enhancement Plan,aims to protect the parks summits, slopes, rock walls, plains and valleys, as well as guide design development projects that ensurelong-term sustainability.

City of Montral, 2010


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Planning for Proactive Protection: Montrals Ap-proach to BiodiversityThe City of Montral is active in policy implementationthat addresses different ecosystem functions and eco-nomic structures; this pushes the City to take on a bal-anced approach to ecosystem protection. Mergingsound development practices with conservation, theCity works closely with a large group of stakeholders

and active community participants in overcoming envi-ronmental pressures. The following is a comprehensivelist of the Citys policies and strategies that directly ad-dress the management of natural ecosystems acrossthe region:

Local Action and International InvolvementMontral is one of five cities on the steering committeeof the Global Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity.This involvement aims to support cities in sustainablymanaging their biodiversity resources, assist in imple-menting initiatives both locally and globally, and pro-mote dialogue on biodiversity among various groupsand cities.

On the international scale, the City of Montral is activeon several local and international networks, to bothpreserve local biodiversity, and help maintain the circu-lation of information on biodiversity management be-tween cities around the world. The City participated inthe development and testing of the City BiodiversityIndex. This new tool will facilitate Montral's upcomingdevelopment of a Biodiversity Conservation Action Planbased on standards proposed by the LAB Initiative.Lastly, the City of Montral plans to participate in theURBIS Partnership (see below) to strengthen its knowl-edge and develop an ecosystem approach to urbanbiodiversity that is suited to its urban environment.

Municipal Tree Policy (2005)

Ensures a long and healthy life to more than amillion public trees located throughout the City.This is achieved by gathering tree inventories,arboreal plans, strict rules to protect tree health,

supporting research, and creating opportunitiesfor public tree planting.

The Greening Strategy

The Strategy reduces the urban heat island effectand maintains infrastructure for sound manage-ment of overland runoff. A greening index, theCanopy Index, introduced to illustrate the influ-ence of urban forests and tree populations,shows that tree canopy covers 20% of Montral.

The Master Plan

Reaffirms the Citys commitment to protectingnatural environments, including 22 City parks (10of which have a high biodiversity) and more than1,000 local community parks.

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development (2007-2009)

Through the work of the City and its partners, thePlan aims to improve protection of biodiversity,natural environments and green spaces, by sus-tainably developing a City suited for all residents.

Policy to Protect and Enhance Natural Habitats(2004)

This Policy works to preserve and expand theCitys biodiversity, while enhancing quality of lifeand economic prosperity. The objective is to in-crease the contact residents have with their natu-ral surroundings.

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The URBIS Partnership is a global network of scien-tists, planners, governments, educators and policymakers, working together to create more resilientand equitable urban regions.

Local governments that participate in this partnershipshare sustainability management practices, research,and policy recommendations.

Case Study 7 City of Montral

Example of flora found throughout theCity of Montral.

Urban Nature. Flickr/Rachid Lamzah


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Montreals Nature Museums: Bringing People Closerto Nature The various Nature Museums are one of the Citys in-vestments in providing biodiversity education and re-search opportunities. Made up of four institutions theBotanical Garden, the Biodme , the Insectarium, andthe Planetarium together they make up the largestnatural science museum complex in Canada. The Na-

ture Museums provide visitors with the opportunity toexplore the importance of biodiversity and humansplace within nature. The Planetarium is currently under-going expansion and is set to re-open late 2012.

The Biodiversity Centre is the newest addition to theNature Museum complex; located in the heart of theBotanical Garden. The Biodiversity Centre is a joint pro-

ject between the Garden and the Universit de Mon-tral, and the Institut de Recherche en BiologieVgtale (Plant Biology Research Institute). The Centre,opening November 2010, will house 1.7 million insectspecimens, 900,000 plant specimens and 2,000 fungusspecies. The collections will be shared through the Ca-nadensys information network, an online database ofspecimen information held by Canadian university-based biological collections and research. The Biodiver-sity Centre will also provide workspace for more thanfifty researchers.

Montral's Nature Museums on an International ScaleAt the invitation of the CBD Secretariat, representa-tives from the Nature Museums joined the SteeringCommittee of the Consortium of Scientific Partners andInstitutions, to share their expertise to better contrib-ute to global knowledge on collections that are signifi-cant to biodiversity and to raise public awareness ofbiodiversity issues.

Specialists are highly involved in the academic commu-nity and frequently visit and host peers from around

the world. Fostering a community of academics, byutilizing the Citys educational and research institu-tions, has led to specialists receiving a high degree ofexpertise and the opportunity to lecture and hostworkshops around the globe.

Taking Action Through Research Research is a large component of the services providedby the Nature Museums and at the same time benefitsthe Citys actions in preserving biodiversity. Research-ers have a strong interest in biodiversity and sustain-able development and this interest has given some thechance to create strong partnerships with top expertsand institutions from around the world.

Research at the Nature Museums is also participatory.Youth and adults from the community actively contrib-ute to advancing knowledge and protecting biodiver-sity, through programs such as, acoustic bat inventorystudies in Qubec, Monarch Watch, and observing im-

pacts of climate change on berry production in the Ca-nadian Arctic; all of which promote active learning andfoster responsible behaviour.

There is much to learn about biodiversity, and the Cityhas created ways to foster localized research thatprompts community action. Montral has helped cre-ate many opportunities for, not only researchers withspecial interests in biodiversity, but community mem-bers who want to participate in the exploration of thisissue.

For more information, visit www.ville.montreal.qc.ca

Montral Nature Museum, Facts and Figures

1.7 million visitors annually, including 650,000youth and children

40% of visitors are tourists

15,000 pieces of specialized information

22 million website hits$586 million in assets

22,000 plant species in the Museums BotanicalGarden

160,000 insect specimens in the Insectarium

1,000 animal and plant species in the Biodme

Case Study 7 City of Montral

Montrals Biodme, an iconic structure within the Nature Mu-seum complex.

The Biosphere. Dreamstime.com/ Moustyk Biodome de Montral.Flickr/harry_palmer
mailto:www.ville.montreal.qc.camailto:www.ville.montreal.qc.camailto:www.ville.montreal.qc.ca


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MUNICIPAL PROFILE Name: City of Toronto, Ontario Population: 2,503,281 Area: 630 km 2

ABSTRACT

The City has implemented many important biodiversity actions with the help of en-gaged and knowledgeable community groups, stakeholders and academics. Threeinitiatives - the Biodiversity Series, Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines and theGreen Roof Bylaw - are notable examples of how fostering multi-stakeholder rela-tionships can build great momentum and implement internationally acknowledgedachievements.

Located on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, theCity of Toronto is the sixth largest urban area in NorthAmerica, and Canadas most populated city. The City isconstantly growing and evolving, with a population pro-jected to reach over 3 million by 2031. Known as a cul-tural, entertainment and financial capital, Toronto is avibrant urban centre renowned for its cosmopolitan andinternational demographic. This diverse and ethnic cityhas long been home to both community and City drivenenvironmental initiatives.

In Toronto, environmental protection has strong rootsamong Councillors and community members as resi-dents treasure the natural landscapes within the city.Community driven environmental initiatives have beenfunded and successfully integrated into City operations,through financial assistance programs and tools such asLive Green Toronto. Live Green provides resources toneighbourhoods and community groups to encourage

local environmental greenhouse gas reduction initia-tives. Increasingly, biodiversity protection is an emerg-ing topic among local stakeholders and communitymembers, as the City of Toronto is reaching out to morelocal residents and community groups.

The City has implemented three important biodiversityactions with the help of engaged and knowledgeablecommunity groups, stakeholders, and academics. TheBiodiversity Series, Bird-Friendly Development Guide-lines, and Green Roof Policy, are notable examples ofhow fostering multi-stakeholder relationships can buildgreat momentum for biodiversity protection andachieve internationally acknowledged achievements.While at the same time, these initiatives fundamentallybenefit the local level as they strive to create a resilient,diverse, and flourishing city.

Community Driven Urban

Biodiversity Protection

Overhead view of the City of Toronto skyline`Panorama of Toronto.`Flickr/Fragments of Eternity


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Biodiversity Series, an Intimate View of Species Foundin TorontoThe City of Toronto City Planning - Environment Sectionpartnered with local experts to produce the BiodiversitySeries, a collection of publications on the variety of spe-cies found within the city, aiming to cultivate a sense ofenvironmental stewardship in residents by providinglearning opportunities on biodiversity. Each book within

the Serie

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