HomeMy WebLinkAboutEducation Boards - Designing with Nature
precipitation
evapo-
transpiration
40-50%
water table
Groundwater
10-40%
Nature Often Provides Multiple Social, Economic, and
Environmental Benefits To The Community
DESIGNING WITH NATURE – Towards Sustainable Communities
• During winter months, evaporation
continues to be active while the
transpiration component is minimal.
• Storm events are moderated by
infiltration, evaporation, and
transpiration.
• Water is available in substrata to
sustain stream base flows during
summer months.
• As winter progresses, the interflow
component of stream flow increases.
• During the summer and fall, streams
are maintained primarily by glacial
melt water and/or groundwater flow.
Natural Rainwater Management
Risk Management
Rainwater and Storm
Water Management
Community Greenways
Carbon sequestration
Energy and Water
Conservation
Eco Tourism and
Recreation
Health and Connectivity to
Natural Places
Higher Resale Values
How Can Nature
Help Our
Communities?
Environmental Management Strategy Framework
Communications
•Neighbourhood consultation/outreach
•Youth Services
•Stewardship Opportunities & Local Resources at Work
Ecological Health
•Priority Habitat Management Plans
•Watershed Management Plans
•Park Acquisition Management Program
•Community Greenway Corridors
•Recreation/Eco Tourism
•Invasive Plant Management
•Monitoring & Evaluating Natural Assets
•Groundwater Management Plans
Sustainable
Neighbourhoods
•Smart Growth on Ground – Town Centre
•Stream Protection and Management
•Food Security
•Soils Management
•Slope Management
•Access/Trails
•Storm and Rainwater Management
•Enhancements/Restoration
•Tree management and protection
•Erosion Site Source Controls
•Integrated Hazard Management
Title
Elements of an Ecological Network
• Regional Biodiversity Core Areas
• Biodiversity Core Areas
• Stepping Stones and linkages
(natural & semi-natural)
A Functioning Ecological Network
Components of a functioning
Ecological network…
• A wide vegetation corridor
along major watercourses
• Several large natural areas
known as core areas
• Connectivity for movement
of species among the core
habitat areas, either through
wide, continuous corridors or
a series of 'stepping stones'
• A diverse mixture of natural
areas throughout the
developed parts of the city
that can serve as wildlife
habitat or connect other,
larger natural areas Greenway Corridors & Hubs
Tools for Consideration
Integrated Ecological Design
Ecological Network Management Priorities
Valuation of Natural Assets and Services
David Suzuki Foundation and Pacific Parklands Foundation
Why do we undervalue nature?
Nature’s benefits are worth trillions, but….
•Are not measured or monitored
•Treated as externalities
Maple Ridge Sustainable Development Strategy
Ecological Planning Approach
• Ecological resiliency for hazards
• Less stormwater infrastructure
• Recreation/parks/eco-tourism
• Micro-climate management
• Groundwater management
• Soils conservation
• Energy conservation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Increased value of property
Environmental Planning using
ecological design principles can
provide various benefits/services:
Smart Growth on the Ground
for the Town Centre
•To promote open space and
green infrastructure
•To reduce urban sprawl
Urban Containment Boundary
Environmental Review Process
Enhancement Potential
•Stewardship enhancement
•Invasive plant management
•Habitat enhancement and restoration
•Re-forestation program
Enhancement and Restoration Opportunities
Environmental
Assessment
•Protected Features
•Drainage
•Risk Management
•Enhancement
Opportunities
•Trail Networks
•Natural Heritage
Features
•Impact Mitigation
•ALR Lands
•Hillside Management
Natural Hazard Abatement
Environmental Protection
Case Study: Nelson Peaks
ID Potential Hazards:
A.Slopes
B.Floodplains
Studies Required &
Action Taken:
•Geotechnical
Studies
•Flood
mitigation
study
•Tree hazard
mitigation
study
Partnerships for Protection
Watershed Level Planning and Management
Watershed Planning Strategy
Bio-Regional Conservation Strategy
Appropriate Scales
Environmental mapping provides
multi -level perspectives for
different users
and issues.
Municipal &
Watershed
Regional Scale
Neighbourhood & Site levels
Identify Watershed
Management Priorities
•Conservation areas
•Recreation areas
•Resource extraction areas
•Cultural Education areas
•Water & hillside management
areas
• Atmospheric Carbon (20 yrs)
Under 550 ppm = 1% GDP
Over 550 ppm (10-20 %GDP)
Stern Report – 06 UK
• Rise of sea levels worldwide
• Species extinction
Large Scale Clearing Impacts
Planning for Change
Population Growth
•Erosion control
•Drainage and
Groundwater
•Slope stability
•Visual Impacts
•Wind Fall Hazard
•Intend to absorb
50% of new dwelling
units in town centre
in response to public
support for infill
strategy
•Habitat Fragmentation
•Deforestation
•Contamination
•Difficult to predict impacts in advance
Ecosystem Impacts
Key Challenges
Climate Change / Air Quality
Fossil Fuel & Energy Supply
Waste / Resource Scarcity
Water Quantity/Quality Supply
Ecosystem Damage
Food Supply / Quality / Security
Economic Prosperity / Viability
Challenges & Goals of Sustainability
Sustainability Goals
Reduce Emissions
Renewable Energy / Efficiency
Reducing Waste / Recycling
Better Water Management
Ecological Design / Protection
Organic / Local Supply
Diverse / Local Systems
Climate Change
•Population around
70,000 for Maple
Ridge in 2006
reaching 118,000 by
2040
•The District of Maple Ridge
has a goal to reduce
community greenhouse gas
emissions by 33% below 2007
levels by 2020 and 80% by
2050
• Negative impacts on communities
and ecosystems:
Flooding
Forest fires
Droughts
• Significant economic impacts:
Unpredictable and extreme weather