Biodiversity Protection

Thanks for the question. The Biodiversity Protection Policy assessment reporting included engagement with the public on identification of Biodiversity assets in the community and priority issues for areas to be protected and restored. Extensive engagement is being done with local First Nations to ensure that biodiversity values held by members of those Communities is acknowledged in the Biodiversity Protection Policy. Reporting on North Cowichan’s draft biodiversity assessment was reviewed by both Council and the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC). The policy report, which will be started once engagement with First Nations is complete, will also be reviewed by both Council and the EAC. Members of the public will be able to review the draft policy report presented to both Council and the EAC before a final report is presented to Council.

Thanks for the questions about the Biodiversity Protection Policy and its relation to Tree Protection Bylaws. The Biodiversity Protection Policy is not intended to provide specific bylaws for Council’s consideration. The purpose of the policy will be to provide Council with an assessment of North Cowichan’s Biodiversity Status and recommendations on policies and actions to preserve and restore those assets while honoring community priorities and values held by local First Nations.

With regards to the potential development of a Tree Protection Bylaw, North Cowichan Community Planning is currently reviewing such bylaws in other municipalities and preparing to report on this to Council as part of the implementation of actions in the 2022 OCP update (section 6.3.2). Such reporting will include information from the Biodiversity Protection Policy.

Thanks for your interest in North Cowichan's biodiversity. 

North Cowichan recently renewed its Parks and Trail Master Plan. As a result of the new plan, increasing focus will be directed to the designation and creation of park spaces that are more naturalized. One of the goals of the Biodiversity Protection policy will be the assessment of green spaces and green corridors and their interface with existing parks. This analysis will be helpful in identifying management actions and policies, e.g., selection of areas to protect or enhance, and the types of vegetation to promote in that protection or enhancement work. As a starting point for helping residents and developers access the benefits of native plants, North Cowichan Environment provides advice on preferred native species to plant in different environments, see:

https://www.northcowichan.ca/EN/main/departments/environmental-services/native-plants/Native_Drought_Tolerant_Gardening.html

For more information on the management of Municipal Parks or to contact their staff, please consult their web page:

https://www.northcowichan.ca/EN/main/departments/parks-trails-1.html  

The first phase of the Biodiversity protection policy will be an assessment of North Cowichan’s biodiversity features, like Askew Creek, to determine where we can effectively devote resources to for preservation or restoration. The OCP update outlined several policies and actions to preserve and restoring riparian areas:

• tree canopy retention
• increase wildlife/ecological protection
• protect conservation areas and ecologically important habitat and
• expand riparian area consideration to include watershed not just immediate area

These actions will be reflected in the policy development phase of the Biodiversity Protection Policy. After the delivery of a final Biodiversity Policy report, the selection of habitats for protection and restoration will be dependent on consulting with the community and Council, with consideration of strengthening our blue-green corridors and strengthening our natural assets. Habitat and biodiversity protection has been emphasized as an important goal by Council and the Biodiversity protection Policy will help identify biodiversity management goals for North Cowichan and the work required to achieve those goals.

Thank you for your comment. I'd like to begin by acknowledging that North Cowichan staff do what they can within their power to protect and conserve the beautiful, biodiverse ecosystems throughout the valley. Unfortunately, the Cobble Hill Quarry Nature Park is outside of North Cowichan's jurisdiction, meaning we have no control over the development activities permitted there. This park would be within the Cowichan Valley Regional District's jurisdiction, and you can reach their environment team at environment@cvrd.bc.ca.

Thanks for your questions, comments, and web link to conservation work being done elsewhere.

Much of the discussion in the article linked above deals with forest management practices. It is important to note that the long-term management policy of our municipal Forest Reserve is currently under a significant review. The Municipal Forest Reserve review is a separate process from the Biodiversity Protection Policy, which involves an analysis of economic, social and ecological costs and benefits and how these can be balanced in the future. For more information on the forest review, and to contribute to that discussion, please visit https://www.connectnorthcowichan.ca/MFR. That being said, Environment Staff, and our consultants developing the Biodiversity Protection Policy, are collaborating with Forestry Staff, and consultants leading the Municipal Forest Reserve Review, to ensure that the goals, actions, and recommendations of both processes will be mutually supportive.

In the first phase of the Biodiversity Protection Policy we will work with a team of environmental experts at Diamond Head Consultants to develop an inventory and assessment of key biodiversity features, habitats, ecosystems and the natural assets within the municipality to give our community an understanding of our biodiversity status. This public engagement is an important component of the assessment phase and will give staff and our consultants better understanding of knowledge held by members of the community and their biodiversity priorities. We are also seeking to talk to First Nations to draw upon their knowledge of biodiversity in our community.

The second phase of the Biodiversity Protection Policy will focus on policy development specifically. Based on information from the assessment phase staff and our consultants will report on;

• biodiversity and conservation targets and goals,
• relevant actions for the municipality and staff,
• education, monitoring, and management programs, and
• biodiversity policy opportunities.

Thanks for contacting us. The Municipal Forest Reserve is currently undergoing an extensive review of management policies going forward. The four major options include;

• Status quo
• Reduced Harvesting
• Active Conservation, and
• Passive Conservation

The Biodiversity Protection Policy will support North Cowichan Council strategic plan goal of being a leader in environmental policies and practices to support the future health of our community. Alongside the updated Official Community Plan, the Biodiversity Protection Policy will enable North Cowichan to policies and management plans that help preserve and restore ecological features, habitats, species and natural assets.

The Biodiversity Protection Policy has two goals;

1. An assessment report of the key biodiversity features within the municipality. This assessment will give the community an understanding of our biodiversity status to aid in developing meaningful policies and actions to preserve and enhance that biodiversity.
2. A policy report that will identify biodiversity, conservation, and restoration goals and the policies and actions necessary to meet those goals based on information from the assessment phase. The policies and actions will acknowledge existing capacity within North Cowichan’s staff, partnerships with neighbouring jurisdictions, and local stewardship groups.

Thanks for your question. Environment Staff are assessing our pond and wetland features to plan out budgeting requirements and maintenance schedules for features including the pond at Heron's Place. The biodiversity protection policy will be useful in helping the municipality prioritize which of these features are most in need of attention. Public input such as yours helps Staff identify natural assets that are especially valued by our community and those towards which we need to devote management resources.

Thanks for your questions and comments. The story map is the main channel through which we will be obtaining public input on significant biodiversity assets in North Cowichan. Our project consultant, Diamond Head, has found that in other communities the StoryMap provides a way to communicate with as wide an audience as possible. It should be noted that Environment Staff and Diamond Head will report to Council with draft reports for both the assessment and policy development phases of this project. Feedback on these can be provided by the public to either Council or Environment Staff. If you would like to contact an environment staff member please use the email and/or phone number provided above under "Who's Listening".

Due to our large and geographically diverse jurisdiction, North Cowichan prioritizes funding, resources, and effort on seven noxious weed species;

• Blueweed (Echium vulgare),
• Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata),
• Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum),
• Gorse (Ulex Europaeus),
• Knotweeds (Fallopia spp. and Polygonum spp.),
• Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), and
• Wild Chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris).

Factors we consider for weed prioritization include to ensure a coordinated and efficient invasive plant management program for our tax payers include;

• the current density of the given plants infestation on our land base and the hazards,
• the risks they present to biodiversity, human health, the economy, and infrastructure,
• the treatments available for a given species, and
• species our adjacent land managers are prioritizing for treatment.

We anticipate that the Biodiversity Protection Policy will highlight the significant ecological assets requiring enhanced protection measures to help us prioritize area specific treatments for invasive species like Scotch Broom and Tansey Ragwort.