Maple Ridge advances a community biodiversity study

Maple Ridge city hall is moving ahead with a study to better understand, monitor and support biodiversity across the community. Council recently received an update that included a summary of early public engagement and a preliminary framework. The proposed approach links biodiversity to the city’s long-term health, safety, resilience and prosperity. It considers how land, water, wildlife and people are connected, and how the city can help protect and restore natural systems over time as the community grows, rather than examining environmental features in isolation.

The city’s Thriving Maple Ridge online survey and interactive map were open from June 8 to Aug. 4 and received 112 responses. An open house took place June 15, and the city’s Climate and Environment Advisory Committee took part in an engagement exercise on July 15. Water was the strongest theme. Residents identified streams, wetlands, groundwater, salmon, watershed health, water quality and water availability as priorities. Participants described the natural environment as a living system, with close connections among streams, forests, wildlife, food systems and neighbourhood character. Many shared personal experiences, including gathering food and medicines, teaching children near creeks, observing seasonal changes, tending gardens and boulevards, and collecting rainwater.

The city is continuing engagement with Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations, community organizations and the public. Their perspectives will help refine the framework and priority actions. The framework will include a community-informed vision focused on healthy lands and waters, stewardship, reciprocity, intergenerational well-being and people’s relationships with nature. It will also set out decision-making principles, including responsibility, respect for Indigenous interests, transparency, evidence-informed action, long-term thinking and accountability.

Other elements will be stewardship direction that prioritizes protecting ecological integrity, avoiding harm, restoring degraded areas and contributing positively to natural systems; goals, objectives and indicators to monitor biodiversity conditions and identify city actions that can support improvement over time; and monitoring and response tools to track trends, pressures and concerns.

The study is expected to be completed in early 2027. Next steps include identifying areas where important ecological and community values overlap with growing pressures and impacts, and creating maps that show community well-being and its relationships with biodiversity. The study will also recommend approaches to monitoring, stewardship, policy and governance, and explore ideas such as a guardianship program.