Parksville city staff will work with BC Nature to review city-owned or managed protected natural areas for possible inclusion on a federal conservation registry.
The collaboration is part of the new Municipal Protected Area Project (MPAP) which aims to advance Canada’s commitment under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to protect at least 30 per cent of lands and water by 2030, according to a presentation by Andrew Banks and Kephra Beckett on behalf of BC Nature.
Beckett said BC Nature will engage with local governments at no cost and assess municipal lands for the registry, undertake the registry process, provide information to staff on land protection and identify opportunities for new lands to be conserved. She added only minimal city staff time is expected to be required.
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Parksville council voted, during its Nov. 6 meeting, to have city staff, which already is working with the Nature Trust of BC and Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research (MABRR), to identify any duplication or efficiencies in conservation efforts and report back to council.
— NEWS Staff