Natural Systems Policy Theme
Natural Systems is one of three key themes that will shape the Regional Sustainability Strategy (RSS). Three CRD policy papers under this theme provide a framework for its goals and policies:
Policy Goals
- Protect, restore and enhance natural ecosystems
- Ensure that the materials and discharges of infrastructure do not materially harm natural ecosystems
- Use resources in ways that reduce energy needs and emissions, and replenish or lead to beneficial reuse
Our Region: Where Are We Now
The CRD, together with municipalities and stakeholders, has made significant progress toward the sustainability of natural systems and management of infrastructure that affects natural systems. Here are some of the strategies and plans we have created or have underway:
- Regional Parks Master Plan
- Regional Parklands Acquisition Strategy
- Liquid Waste Management Plan
- Integrated Watershed Management Plan in the Core Area
- Water Management Strategy
- Solid Waste Management Plan
Our Future: Where could we go?
Though the CRD has seen shifts toward sustainability, there is still more to do. Some changes could be moderate, others more significant. For example, we could:
- Set targets for minimum urban forest canopy cover (moderate)
- Develop regional management plans for sensitive ecosystems and urban forests (significant)
- Expand public awareness of sensitive and significant ecosystems (moderate)
- Integrate Solid and Liquid Waste Management Plans (moderate)
- Put further restrictions on removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (moderate)
- Discourage non-farm uses on farmland (significant)
- Establish long term residual waste management, using leading edge recovery programs and technologies (significant)
Significant policy shifts lean toward region-wide agreements for protecting and managing natural systems and higher targets and stronger regulations for infrastructure.
How do the themes link together?
Social Resilience and the Built Environment are the other RSS key themes. Linking policies across the three themes will achieve a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. For example:
- Protecting agricultural lands supports our Food Security objectives to increase production capacity
- Setting urban forest canopy targets supports Social Wellbeing principles of creating a healthy built environment
- Retaining forest and farm lands reinforces Economic Sustainability policies to support renewable resource dependent economies
- Climate change policies aim to embed climate change consideration in all decision making