The project goal is to protect and restore a healthy diversity of native wildlife species and habitats throughout the Township of Langley, in perpetuity. This will be accomplished through the development and implementation of a comprehensive and practical long-term strategy for conserving and restoring wildlife habitats in the Township of Langley. In an area such as Langley, which is developing and expanding rapidly, habitat conservation is very important for maintaining not only biodiversity, but other aesthetic values such as park space and greenways.
Objectives
The principal action is the establishment of a series of habitat objectives based on a combination of minimum habitat requirements of selected focal species, the quantity and quality of available habitats in Langley, and input from scientists, planners, developers, farmers and the community. These objectives would define the minimum requirements for each kind of habitat in Langley (e.g. wetland, forest, old field) to sustain a healthy diversity of desirable wildlife species throughout the municipality. The objectives will also define and prioritize the optimum proportions of “core”, or large-patch, habitats and the extent of corridor linkages required to connect them.
The implementation of the strategy would be shared between municipal staff in Engineering, Planning and Parks departments, developers, the community and volunteer groups. These groups would be responsible for developing innovative development policies and procedures, planning priorities, and habitat restoration and stewardship.
Partners
The project is led by Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), a non-profit, watershed-focused organization that aims to protect and rehabilitate the natural environment through education, cooperation and action. Township staff from the Planning, Engineering and Parks departments are directly involved in the Wildlife Habitat Strategy as members of the Steering Committee. The Langley Wildlife Habitat Strategy is a pilot project for the Regional Biodiversity Strategy (a partnership of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, GVRD, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection and the Canadian Wildlife Service), and a model for communities throughout the province and across the country. The project is currently funded through Wildlife Habitat Canada, Eco-Action 2000, Real Estate Foundation of BC and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.
Partners and Steering Committee members for the strategy are:
Langley Environmental Partners Society
Township of Langley – Planning Department, Engineering Department, Parks Department
Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service
Ministry of Environment
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Greater Vancouver Regional District Parks
Central Valley Naturalists
Langley Field Naturalists
Wildlife Habitat Canada