Quebec City Implements Initial "Biodiversity Action Plan"
City of Quebec plans to intensify the protection of its natural environments with its first-ever "Biodiversity Strategy." This move is seen as a major step towards obtaining the UNESCO Biosphere Region status.
Mayor Bruno Marchand unveiled the strategy on Monday, stressing that by 2040, Quebec City aims to become a model of harmony between humans and nature. Urban development will be aligned with a respectful vision of ecosystems, with conservation of natural environments being given equal importance as housing and infrastructure.
In practice, the city targets the protection of 40% of its territory in natural environments within 15 years, which will entail adding 3,000 hectares of preserved environments - about 30 times the area of the Plains of Abraham. One-third of the biodiversity protection mission will be accomplished "within the urbanization perimeter."
Quebec believes that with this environmental objective and the proposed plan, it has taken a significant step towards achieving the UNESCO Biosphere Region status, an international recognition highlighting its balance between community development and biodiversity preservation.
Mayor Marchand considers this municipal strategy a response to a commitment to biodiversity made at COP15 in Montreal, where the first global agreement for life protection was signed in 2022. The document presented by Quebec City notes that 45.8% of its territory is still covered by natural environments (wetlands, water bodies, and forests). Although this discovery is encouraging, it is important to note that this proportion was 52% nine years ago in 2016. This suggests that efforts to halt the loss of natural environments need to be intensified.
The municipal strategy focuses on increasing the rate of protection of various natural environments and creating ecological corridors between significant biodiversity nuclei. It also aims to engage the population more in protection efforts. In urbanized environments, maintaining lawns, landscapes, vegetalized infrastructure, urban agriculture, and urban forestry are among the municipal practices that can contribute to this conservation effort.
Protecting biodiversity is an essential aspect of adapting to climate change's effects, notably in handling the increase in urban temperatures and precipitation episodes, as emphasized by Quebec.
While Quebec City doesn't have a specific, UNESCO Biosphere Region-oriented biodiversity strategy explicitly outlined, relevant initiatives and strides are being made at the provincial, federal, and academic levels, contributing to broader biodiversity and sustainability goals. For instance, efforts like the McGill Biodiversity Atlas for Montreal could be adapted for Quebec City, offering models for community and academic collaboration in mapping and managing biodiversity. Bioblitz events, community-driven events to document local biodiversity, and partnerships with local organizations also play crucial roles in raising awareness and gathering data, supporting larger conservation objectives.
In summary, although Quebec City's explicit strategy for the UNESCO Biosphere Region bid isn't detailed in existing official documents, there is visible progress through various initiatives that support biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and sustainable development - all vital components for a successful UNESCO Biosphere Region application.Key elements such as bioblitzes, biodiversity mapping, and species recovery strategies provide a foundation for Quebec City to solidify its claim for UNESCO recognition.
- The City of Quebec's new Biodiversity Strategy aligns with the focus on environmental-science, as it aims to protect 40% of its territory by 2035, emphasizing the importance of scientific knowledge in addressing climate change.
- The city's strategy is not only an environmental concern but also involves policy-and-legislation, as it strives to be a model of harmony between humans and nature, demonstrating the role of politics in promoting sustainability.
- The strategy's implementation, including bioblitzes, biodiversity mapping, and species recovery strategies, can be considered part of the general-news discussion on climate change, underscoring the significance of such initiatives in mitigating the effects of climate change and preserving biodiversity.
