In celebration of World Nature Conservation Day, we are thrilled to highlight the efforts of the District of Saanich in championing environmental stewardship and conservation. Saanich is committed to preserving natural habitats, promoting biodiversity, and fostering sustainable practices within our community. These initiatives protect our local ecosystems and contribute to global conservation efforts, setting an example for communities worldwide.

While Saanich’s new Biodiversity Conservation Strategy looks ahead at future actions we can take, it’s also important to look back at what we’ve achieved in several areas. After all, the new strategy will build on the successes of the past.

When it comes to restoring ecosystems, we’ve conducted projects at more than 60 sites over the past couple of years including the restoration of Garry Oak ecosystems at 15 locations. We planted 3,035 trees on public land in 2023, completed an ecological inventory of Cedar Hill Park, and carried out a comprehensive vegetation and in-stream survey of the Colquitz River, among many other activities.

To enhance public stewardship on private lands, we’ve increased our attendance and public engagement at several community events, sharing information with residents and answering their questions. We’ve boosted our communications around public stewardship education, Natural Intelligence, protecting native species and invasive species control, and more — reaching more people with information about these important topics.

Saanich continues to pursue further opportunities to engage with the public. Our annual Tree Appreciation Day gets people out to plant native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs in the community. We offer many ongoing training opportunities for our volunteers who in turn share their knowledge with other members of the public. We work with local schools and youth groups to engage young people in educational opportunities to inspire the next generation of stewards.

Building our knowledge and understanding is another key priority. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy was shaped by working with the Resilient Saanich Technical Committee and a variety of experts including the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and local Indigenous community members. Species at risk surveys, bird counts, monitoring programs and improved technology are also contributing to that knowledge base.

A lot of work has been done and continues to be underway — and a great deal of it has been supported by our many skilled and dedicated volunteers, who are so generous with their time and talents.

Of course, there is always more we can — and want — to do. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy has many actions that will guide our work over the next decade. We have prioritized a range of actions we can tackle in the short term and await the next budget cycle where we can present our requests to Council for further funding to support this vital work.

We invite you to learn more about Saanich’s innovative conservation projects and discover how you can get involved, at Saanich.ca/NaturalAreas. Whether through volunteering, participating in community programs or adopting eco-friendly practices, your contribution can make a significant difference. Together, we can continue to nurture and protect our precious natural resources for future generations. Join us in celebrating World Nature Conservation Day by taking action today!