Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping in Maple Ridge [ESA]
As a Realtor in Maple Ridge for the last 36 years, I would like to thank the District of Maple Ridge for their forward vision in the protection of the natural resources of the community. The establishment of the Environmentally Sensitive Area [ESA] mapping is in line with similar steps taken by other BC communities and the Provincial Government. Most importantly, the ESA Mapping shows support for several principles of the Official Community Plan.
The Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping and it’s acceptance as baseline information is consistent with Principles 23, 24 and 27 of the Official Community Plan [note Chapter 5] and provides the basis upon which the District of Maple Ridge can move forward and develope the Environmental Management Strategy [EMS]
Principle 23: The community values the protection of environmentally sensitive areas including water ( for its intrinsic value, habitat and aquifer recharge), areas of natural beauty, forests etc.
Principle 24: The community recognizes the environmental contribution made by lands within the ALR and
Principle 27: Overall environmental protection demands a comprehensive, smart growth” approach.
Also in Chapter 5.2 Environmental Management Model.
This section suggests that for proper environmental management it is necessary to firstly identify and then document the boundaries of ecosystems, the watersheds and the environmentally sensitive areas. To Quote the definition of an environmentally sensitive area [from page 3 Chapter 5 of the OCP] Environmentally Sensitive areas are areas where the landscape, wildlife , ecological function or historic value is of importance or is endangered.
Many Districts and cities in BC have actively developed Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping such as:
* The City of Vernon [Feb 2007]
* District of Highlands [North of Victoria] 2005
* Kamloops [2005]
* District of Saanich
* Township of Langley [1993]
As for the Wet Land Protection in the ESA’s, these should be considered as one of the DMR’s natural capital assets, they absorb storm water, clean it and then allow a natural recharge of the ground water to the surrounding area… at no cost to the tax payer and with little or no maintenance.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/climate/pdfs/climateaction_plan.pdf
Other Initiatives, that suggest the District is on the right track are:
1) The BC Provincial Action Plan in which a net zero deforestation policy and Trees for Tomorrow [a BC provincial program that will see millions of trees planted in backyards, schoolyards, hospital grounds, civic parks, campuses, parking lots and other public spaces around B.C. to foster the many
benefits] to maintain the Urban Forests and realize the full value of the carbon storage potential [Carbon Sequestration]
2) British Columbia established a biodiversity strategy forum in 2004.
Biodiversity BC, a partnership of government agencies and conservation organizations has
just published, “Taking Nature’s Pulse: the status of biodiversity in BC”. The status report will
be followed by public consultation and a five-year action plan.
http://www.biodiversitybc.org/EN/main/21.html
3) UNESCO with its Man and the Biosphere program has developed a global system of 482 biosphere reserves in 102 countries [two are in British Columbia]
The establishment of contemporary baselines for ESA’s is important in that as continued degradation of these natural and unique areas occurs we will soon accept the degraded ESA’s of today and tomorrow as the new baseline [this is called shifting baselines].
The more we know about properties in development areas, the easier it will be to establish the most efficient, responsible and economic benefits for all citizens of Maple Ridge.
Ken Hemminger
