Letter to the editor: Re: ‘Lannan-sparked habitat protection motion fails’ - March 18, 2010

The Comox Valley is losing its precious natural areas. According to the provincial government’s Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI), fourty-two percent (approximately 2,700 ha) of the Comox Valley’s inventoried Sensitive Ecosystems (ecosystems considered to be rare and threatened) were either lost, fragmented or reduced between 1991 and 2002. During this same period of time, ninety-seven percent (approximately 9,300 ha) of highly valuable human modified ecosystems (second growth forests and seasonally flooded agricultural fields) were fragmented and reduced.

Sensitive Ecosystems are identified according to standardized methods developed by the province. These same methods were used to determine that Lannan Forest was a Sensitive Ecosystem containing Coniferous Older Forest (stands greater than 100 years old) and Swamp Wetland. The purpose of the SEI was to be an information base that would support sound land management decisions and promote land stewardship. With protection, Sensitive Ecosystems support biodiversity and provide free services to us; our families and our communities. They are our natural fish farms, our flood protection, our water purifiers, our climate regulators, and our oxygen tanks.

In February, Courtenay councilor Ronna-Rae Leonard proposed a motion that would help prevent the rapid loss of Comox Valley’s Sensitive Ecosystems. The motion stated that “any annexation requests include an environmental assessment by a qualified professional based on [conditions before land clearing] and that the applicant must provide evidence that no sensitive habitat and riparian areas have been disturbed, or if land has been disturbed, that the identified sensitive habitat or riparian areas have been restored prior to consideration of the annexation.” This is exactly the kind of action that is required in order to prevent further loss of Sensitive Ecosystems and the services they provide.

Any challenges associated with implementing this motion can be met, with the political will to do so. Our community has a wealth of qualified environmental professionals who are trained in determining the conditions of land and water ecosystems prior to land clearing. These skilled individuals are able to read clues in the soil, groundwater, remnant vegetation, and adjacent ecosystems, in order to establish the pre-existing characteristics of a site. Tools such as SEI maps, historic air photos and citizen science (e.g. volunteer streamkeeper information) may be utilized. Also available in our community are environmental professionals who are trained in the science and practice of habitat restoration.

Representatives of 10 local watershed stewardship and environmental organizations working to implement the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy commend councilor Leonard for bringing this motion forward, and call on the councils of all four local governments, to implement land use policies that protect sensitive ecosystems. To find out more about the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy visit www.cvconservationstrategy.org.

Comox Valley Conservation Strategy Steering Committee