We were invited to join a workshop to help move the dial on biodiversity in local communities, and reached out to City of Victoria Councillor Marg Gardiner to consider bringing a motion to council agenda Supporting Biodiversity in Local Communities (UBCM Resolution). It was seconded by Councillor Chris Coleman. The resolutions were passed at June 22nd, 2023 Committee of the Whole Meeting. On Vancouver Island the following municipalities have passed unanimously––Saanich, Metchosin, Esquimalt, Qualicum Beach – and now Victoria.
BACKGROUNDER FOR UBCM RESOLUTION
JUN 22 2023
CITY OF VICTORIA
Protecting and restoring biological diversity is consistent with Canada’s commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and BC’s commitments in the Together for Wildlife Strategy, as well as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoplesand BC’sDeclaration onthe Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Acting now to protect and restore biodiversity contributes toward more resilient and healthy local communities – advancing community health and healthy waterways, watersheds, airsheds, and plant and animal species. These actions also make financial sense, containing emergency management and infrastructure costs in the context of climate change. Creating a Local Natural Areas Protection Fund provides a mechanism for the Province to partner with local governments, allocating funds to municipalities, regional districts and First Nations to support land acquisition for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Document
https://pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=90765