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North Cowichan developing new biodiversity-protection policy

Municipality is looking to public for input
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North Cowichan’s senior environment specialist Dr. Dave Preikshot is looking for input from the public as the municipality develops a new biodiversity-protection policy. (Citizen file photo)

North Cowichan is developing a biodiversity protection policy and is looking for input to help identify areas of significant ecological importance within the municipality.

The biodiversity protection policy will identify, quantify, and assess significant ecological assets, and the information will help to develop policies, goals, and monitoring programs to protect and restore these assets.

The first phase of policy development is to assess existing natural features and biodiversity by asking residents to share places and items of environmental importance on a StoryMap.

This, along with analysis of field data and mapping, will help build a snapshot of the current state of North Cowichan’s biodiversity.

Public input is key to better understand the current state of natural areas, and to learn about the areas of significant value to the community.

“We recognize many residents have a deep knowledge of their neighbourhoods and community,” said Dave Preikshot, North Cowichan’s senior environmental specialist and project lead.

“We look forward to hearing the ‘wheres’ and ‘whys’ about the places you value for nature and biodiversity, and the places you think need attention from the municipality.”

Biodiversity describes the richness of life in a place, often expressed as numbers, varieties, and uniqueness of plants and animals.

Biodiversity is an important component of ecosystem health, and maintaining biodiversity helps an ecosystem to be resilient to change and to recover when stressed.

To provide input and to learn more about biodiversity in North Cowichan, and the development of the biodiversity-protection policy, visit www.ConnectNorthCowichan.ca/biodiversity.