In a bid to promote regional ecological health on the Sunshine Coast, members of the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society made the rounds at local government meetings last week.
Cynthia Bendickson, biodiversity project co-ordinator for the Lagoon Society, made presentations to Gibsons and Sechelt councils. Bendickson outlined aspects of the Lagoon Society's biodiversity strategy and why it's needed on the Coast.
"The plan assesses what biodiversity you currently have, determines what could potentially threaten it in the future, and describes how it should be protected and enhanced," Bendickson said.
She said that due to the Sunshine Coast being the third fastest growing region in B.C. and not having a higher level regional land use plan, there are many potential threats to biodiversity on the Coast including natural resource development and urbanization.
Bendickson said the strategy would cover all areas within the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), encompassing habitats from the alpine to the marine.
"A steering group composed of local government, academics, First Nations and local conservationists will give strategic direction to the project, but the Lagoon Society will lead on the project. We have also received funding from five different grant schemes," Bendickson said.
As for implementation, Bendickson said the Lagoon Society is hoping to identify biodiversity project priorities in the region.
"We are also looking at developing some biodiversity parks, so parks for people and wildlife," she said. "The Lagoon Society's currently working on a project up in Madeira Park, but we're hoping to extend that down the Coast into the Sechelt area and Gibsons as well. We're actually looking at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society site for a possible biodiversity park in the Sechelt area. Those are some things that we're hoping will come out of the strategy or that could come out of the strategy."
Sechelt councillors expressed great enthusiasm in the project.
"I think it's fantastic. It's great to see you're getting the funding you need to carry on," said Coun. Keith Thirkell. "The word biodiversity is a lot like sustainability. What does it really mean?" he asked.
Bendickson responded by saying it means a lot of things.
"In general I like to use the term wildlife, but it encompasses a lot more than wildlife," she said. "It encompasses things like ecosystem services, so what service the natural areas provide for us, things like nutrient cycling, clean water, clean air, but also the various different species that we have in the region and also the various habitats as well."
After being well received at both councils, Lagoon Society chair Michael Jackson, made his presentation at the Sept. 22 SCRD board meeting.
SCRD board chair Garry Nohr said directors were excited about getting involved in the project.
"The board has decided to support them and we want a report back on what it would cost for us to be participating with them," said Nohr.
Bendickson said the next steps include gathering data and species records, for which she is asking for help with from the public.
"If anyone has any species records they think might be useful, please contact us," she said.
For more information, please visit www.lagoonsociety.com.
- With files from Christine Wood
