GEOG1180 The Geography of Canada

Introduction

Vancouver is characterized by intensive urbanization but it is still home to exceptional ecological features in its residential neighborhoods, parts, shorelines. Vancouver’s urban environment is extraordinarily productive and diverse biologically because of its coastal site, mountains, and landscape. The city is home to riparian lands, estuaries, forests, parks among others. Because of its numerous green parks, the city is referred to as the “Green City” with almost 90% of its population residing within a distance of 5 minutes of a green area. Vancouver city is home to numerous green spaces. Stanley Park is the first and largest green park in Vancouver. It stretches to the base of the peninsula and thus home to multiple seawalls, trails, and green space. Trout Lake Park is another green space in Vancouver city next to Commercial Drive which surrounds Trout Lake and ideal for hanging out, and dog walks. Other green spaces include Dude Chilling Park which is home to routine yoga during summer, the Hinge Park and Beer Island, Robson Square Rooftop Gardens among others (Metro Vancouver2008).

There are several plants and animal species distributed across the diverse habitats of Vancouver city.  There are over 500 specifies of birds, over 140 species of mammals, several types of fish, amphibians, and reptiles distributed in different green spaces in the city. Few bald eagles can be seen soaring high on extensive conifers and they majorly feed on gulls, ducks, and crows. There are over ten species of bats ranging from big and little brown bats to Yuma Myotis bats which reside in buildings. Vancouver is also home to various habitats and ecosystems which also support human life. Habitat Island is found at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic village constructed in 2010 and is home to fish and other wildlife. The habitat was constructed on previously degraded land with a high concentration of pollutants and without any significant use (City of Vancouver, n.d.)

Green Space Biodiversity Assessment

The green space identified for assessment is Stanley Park which is the first, greatest, and thriving park in Vancouver. It is a splendid green oasis found at the center of Vancouver city. The park occupies a 400-hectare west coast rainforest and is home to a large water body and magnificent trees. The park has numerous wildlife consisting of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Stanley Park is also home to extensive invasive plant species. Examples include the English holly, Himalayan blackberry, Yellow Lamium, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris, and Japanese knotweed among others (Zamon, 2013).

Some of the key animal species in the Stanley Green Park include Bats, beavers, birds, coyotes, and raccoons. There are up to ten species of bats in the park with some living in buildings on hidden parts of trees. All these bats feed on insects that would otherwise be harmful to the visitors at the park. Beavers of different species have been spotted in the park and they are effective in plugging up water flow out of Beaver Lake into Beaver Creek. Birds in the park create spectacular scenery during migration and thus are a tourist attraction site. Similarly, coyotes and raccoons are a form of tourist attraction and add beauty to the park

Stanley Park faces multiple pressures and threats to its biodiversity. Variability of climate has caused the park to experience an increase in sea level, ground temperature, and overall greenhouse gas emissions. This affects the air quality in the city. The park is also affected by pollution, the inflow of unnatural water, invasive plants, and animals thus causing the disappearance of Beaver Lake. There is a reduction in the aquatic ecosystems in terms of size and quality. The human actions have caused Beaver lake to reduce in size in addition to the invasive water lilies. The water quality is also on the decline due to the combined effects of human activities and climate change (City of Vancouver, 2013).

Based on the assessment, it can be concluded that Stanley Park is stable of the average stressors that exist. For instance, social issues such as human usage of the trails, roads have affected hydrology and habitat loss, the air quality is declining, and the lake is continuously being polluted. Environmental indicators such as climate and atmosphere, aquatic ecosystems, and terrestrial ecosystems can be rated to be performing fairly. This is an indication that if corrective measures and not implemented urgently, then the park is on the decline and no longer in a stable condition.

Biodiversity Management Review And Recommendations

A biodiversity management plan of the Stanley Park is in place with the primary objective of sustaining the forest. This is because most of the animal and plant species including the lake are highly dependent on the forest. The forest management plan has been grouped into modules with each module having a specific goal, objectives, and policy. For example, the modules include tree inspection and safety management, fire management, forest health factors, log and debris dispersal, climate change among others. The management of the park is responsible for the above roles. For instance, the conservation projects manager is responsible for heading all the conservation plans; the education manager is responsible for creating awareness, designing programs, organizing workshops among others.

The current management approach is effective because it has categorized the plans based on the specific activities to be carried out. The sub-division of work is important in executing the work within the available time and makes it easier to allocate tasks and demand accountability. Additionally, the sub-division is essential when monitoring any progress and when writing reports. Stanley Park is the largest in Vancouver and occupies about 400 hectares, thus its management can be challenging. Despite the existing plans for the restoration and management of the park, it is still not thriving (The City of Vancouver, 2014).

Recommendation For Improvement Of Conservation Efforts

To restore the initial water quality and size of Beaver Lake, the management should explore various options. It should carry out a consultancy to undertake an evaluation of the environment of the Lake in addition to collecting any extra information that is relevant to determining the actual deplorable state of the lake. The consultancy should also come up with alternatives for the process of public visioning for the future of the lake and ensure extensive viability (Condon, 2010).

The management of the park should also initiate the implementation of the approved strategies for the restoration of the affected areas of the park. In order to reduce the human influence of human beings on the deterioration of the park, the management of the park in cooperation with the department of tourism should construct a boardwalk and watching podium with signage to allow the public to access the different sceneries and at the same time reduce damage to the habitat (The City of Vancouver, 2015).

Final Reflections

The environmental stewardship actions that I can personally undertake to help preserve the biodiversity in my local community include creating awareness on the importance of natural habitat, volunteering in habitat restoration activities. I can also initiate the conservation of riparian lands by planting riparian vegetation, constructing fences around the streamside to prevent human interference and reduce pollution. As a student, I can also conduct evidence-based research on how to sustain biodiversity and prevent its threats.

References

City of Vancouver. (2013). Neighborhood greenways: Improving connections in your

community. http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/neighbourhood-greenways.aspx 

City of Vancouver. (n.d.). Parks, Recreation and Culture.

https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/wildlife-.aspx 

Condon, P. (2010). Locate commercial services, frequent transit, and schools within a five-

minute walk. In Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities: Design Strategies for a Post-Carbon World. Washington, D.C.

Metro Vancouver. (2008). Strategic Directions for Biodiversity Conservation in Metro

Vancouver. http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/regional-planning/PlanningPublications/BiodiversityActionProfiles2007.pdf 

The City of Vancouver. (2014). Greenest City: 2020 Action Plan, 2014-2015 Implementation

Update. http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/greenest-city-action-plan-implementation-update-2014-2015.pdf 

The City of Vancouver. (2015). Greenways: Making Vancouver a more walkable, bikeable city.

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/greenways-for-walking-and-cycling.aspx 

Zamon. R (2013). Walkable Cities Canada: Walk Score Grades Canada’s Cities. The Huffington

Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/23/walkable-cities-canada_n_2535699.html 

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