Protecting the urban forest is a greater priority with every passing year. Researchers say that the human livability of cities may be at stake, citing basic needs like fresh oxygen to fight smog and shade to keep streets cooler.
Equally important is the goal of livability for everyone else: natural habitat for birds, animals, plants, mosses, insects, and other living things.
Urban forests face more threats than ever from development, disease, and misguided policies. From Vancouver’s Stanley Park to Toronto’s Ontario Place, irreplaceable groves are wiped out with a stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen.
Saanich councillor Nathalie Chambers is dedicated to preservation. Her Homes for Birds initiative comes in response to new BC housing rules. The Province passed Bill 44 in late 2023 in an attempt to address the housing crisis by rezoning single-family lots to four or more units in municipalities with over 5000 residents. It eliminates public hearings for most developments and overrides local zoning laws, including those that protect trees and green spaces.
The bill, which was rushed into law with minimal public consultation, comes at a time when many municipalities already lack adequate environmental policies and plans. But the pushback is growing, and not just on Vancouver Island, as Chambers observed in October at the Canadian Urban Forest Conference in Winnipeg.
With the theme of “Trees for All” and an emphasis on equity, ecology, and social considerations, the conference promoted strategic urban forest planning and public engagement for livable communities.
Human efforts to conserve and restore habitat are paying off
Days after the conference, Saltspring Island environmentalist Briony Penn launched a petition calling on Parliament to establish a new Salish Sea Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Greater Victoria. The federal government established three sanctuaries in the Capital Region as part of the Migratory Bird Convention Act. Petition 5182, sponsored by MP Elizabeth May, is open for signatures until December 27. Sign the petition here.
The latest State of Canada’s Birds report highlights the urgency of this work, finding that over one-third of bird species have declined since 1974, mostly due to habitat loss. But, the report notes, human efforts to conserve and restore habitat are paying off, with some bird populations – including eagles, waterfowl, and wetlands birds – rebounding in encouraging numbers.
On South Vancouver Island, the endangered coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem is a biodiversity hot spot. The region is a haven for birds: those that nest here, those stopping over on their long migratory journeys, and those that spend the winter in this mild climate. The significance of habitat in this region cannot be overstated; it is a lifeline for more than 400 bird species, from songbirds to shorebirds.
City planners, city dwellers, bird-lovers, and local representatives are among those putting together grassroots initiatives to restore crucial habitat, ensure the survival of fragile ecosystems, and offer hope to birds – and humans – who depend upon the urban canopy.
For more information on the Homes for Birds Initiative on Vancouver Island, email info@nathaliechambers.ca and visit the Homes for Birds Facebook page.
