The Ecology and Land Use Planning Program aims to improve Vancouver's ecological knowledge, tools, and practices to support more informed land use decisions and improved ecological health over time.
How our team supports ecological planning
The Ecology and Land Use Planning team focuses on:
- Identifying places in the city where we can restore, expand, or connect spaces for nature
- Developing planning tools and policies to protect natural areas and improve ecosystem health over time
- Engaging partners to build ecological knowledge
- Supporting reconciliation, including advancing actions under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
This work supports the Official Development Plan (ODP) Big Idea: Climate Protection and Restored Ecosystems PDF file (80 MB). It also helps guide other city-wide strategies, area plans, policies, guidelines, and projects.
Benefits of the ecological network
An ecological network approach focuses resources on protecting and restoring the most critical areas in the city.
It supports ecosystem services such as:
- Cleaning water
- Storing carbon
- Regulating temperature
It will also increase resilience to climate change and improve access to nature and for the health and well-being of residents.
While biodiversity cannot be restored to levels that existed before colonization, a network approach can maximize the ecological value of Vancouver’s remaining natural areas.
Frequently asked questions
Review the Ecology Frequently Asked Questions PDF file (140 KB)