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Photo courtesy City of Richmond
Ecological awareness – let’s all be part of the solution
Published 11:07 PDT, Fri April 28, 2023
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As another Earth Week ends in Richmond, residents have found ways to better our relationship with the natural environment of our island city. Like my family, I hope you joined in some of the many planet-friendly programs available at city facilities and parks. In addition to Earth Week, the City runs a Partners for Beautification Program where you can adopt an area in your neighbourhood to help preserve natural spaces and enhance their biodiversity. Since 2005, I’ve adopted an area in West Cambie, close to where I grew up. More recently I provide stewardship to trails we frequent in the Hamilton neighbourhood.
Richmond strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability. Council recently adopted six focus areas as part of our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, one of which addresses our collective environmental impact. The City regularly organizes public events like tree-planting within our parks, and the inaugural resident tree sale event at the city Works Yard where I picked up a native Vine Maple tree. Richmond has excellent Parks staff who work to give our growing habitats the best chance, but we all need to help keep litter and invasive species in check.
May is Invasive Species Month – a time for all areas of BC to target and eradicate species like Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, Brazilian Elodea, American Bullfrog, European Chafer Beetle, and Norway Rats. All can harm and outcompete species native to this region. As people and goods move around the globe, we introduce plants, animals, and fungus to foreign places. This requires our staff to screen the soil we use in parks, and for residents to know what can and can’t be ethically planted. When in doubt, contact 604-276-4316 or invasiveplants@richmond.ca and refer to Richmond’s Invasive Species Management Plan on our website. We also have staff available to handle questions on our Pesticide Info Line at 604-276-4398, to ensure we do not use a banned product that does more harm to the environment and ourselves.
On May 13, I encourage you to attend the Public Works Open House at 5555 Lynas Lane where there will be activities and opportunities to connect with staff and learn about the many programs and services we provide. The last Open House was in 2019 and a lot has changed since then. The Richmond Recycle Depot now takes more items to divert from our household garbage, and Council recently adopted the Richmond Circular City Strategy to accelerate our progress with over 80 actions – including 1.4.2 “Develop tools to promote behavioural change in households and businesses in relation to natural ecosystems.” Find out more at
604-204-8643 or circulareconomy@richmond.ca
We’re all in this together, so let’s transform ourselves to be better eco-residents in every way.
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