On June 17, 2024, Saanich’s Mayor and Council endorsed an Environmental Policy Framework (EPF) and Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS), creating a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to the policies, programs, and projects that will maintain and enhance biodiversity in Saanich.
- The EPF is found here: Environmental Policy Framework.
- The BCS report is found here: Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The EPF outlines eight guiding principles and two goals to assist District staff in aligning environmental policies and programs to support a Sustainable and Resilient Saanich. The Resilient Saanich Technical Committee (RSTC), with support from Saanich staff, drafted the EPF. Please see the Resilient Saanich Technical Committee Terms of Reference for information about the process.
Diamond Head Consulting (DHC) was contracted to develop a State of Biodiversity Report that formed the foundation of the BCS and developed the Strategy itself. The drafts were reviewed and revised by the RSTC, Saanich staff, and community members. The BCS features seven theme areas and more than 130 actions that will be implemented incrementally over the next ten years, with a focus on the stewardship of private and public lands and park management and restoration in the first three years. The effectiveness of these actions will be monitored and reported back to Council.
Saanich Council accepted the draft report as information at a March 2023 Council meeting with the final endorsement occurring on June 17, 2024.
This is the first Biodiversity Conservation Strategy passed by a local government on Vancouver Island.
Why a proposed Biodiversity Conservation Strategy?
“Biodiversity encompasses all living species on Earth and their relationships to each other. This includes the differences in genes, species and ecosystems.” Government of Canada
Biodiversity enables the sustainability of life on earth. International and senior government commitments support Saanich in addressing biodiversity management within our jurisdiction. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy will address gaps and effectiveness in protecting biodiversity in Saanich. Information related to the development of this strategy is included in the Resilient Saanich factsheets below.
What is Biodiversity?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5vi5SNQBLQ
“Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems". 1992 International Convention on Biological Diversity
Environmental Stewardship
Find out more about how you can learn more and get involved in environmental stewardship in Saanich and this ecologically rich and sensitive region we live in.
Explore the new pilot private land stewardship initiative, Saanich Biodiversity Partners, in collaboration with Habitat Acquisition Trust.
Resilient Saanich Factsheets
- Factsheet #2: Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Examples - learn more about biodiversity conservation strategies from other local governments.
- Factsheet #3: Biodiversity Targets - find out about biodiversity conservation targets from international to local levels.
- Factsheet #4: Biodiversity Conservation Resources - a list of biodiversity conservation resources (supporting the work of the Resilient Saanich Technical Committee) now available as a resource for the public.
- Factsheet #5: Biodiversity Related Saanich Reports - Further to Factsheet #4, this factsheet summarizes past Saanich reports related to biodiversity goals, objectives, and criteria.
- Factsheet #6: Biodiversity & Protected Areas in Saanich - Looks at how Saanich biodiversity and protected areas potentially measures up to the most commonly used governmental target.