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BIEAP >
Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet
> Environmental Management Plan
The
purpose of the Consolidated Environment
Management Plan is to provide an environmental policy framework
to achieve:
-
Improved water quality
- A
reduction of the effects of historical contaminated lands and
sediments
- Improved
productive fish and wildlife habitat, and
-
Human and economic development activities that enhance the environmental
quality of Burrard Inlet.
The
Plan recommends actions to improve and enhance the Burrard Inlet
ecosystem over time. These actions focus on facilitation, research,
and information sharing. In approving this Plan, BIEAP's partners
are formally recognizing links in their environmental management
activities and committing to the coordination of future policy development.
To
implement the Consolidated Plan, a Plan Implementation Committee
will guide detailed annual work programs and budgets, and monitor
Plan goals, objectives and actions.
The
Plan includes commitments for ongoing program funding and identifies
agreed-upon strategies for future education and communication programs.
The BIEAP Plan Implementation Committee will coordinate an approach
for monitoring and reporting on Burrard Inlet. The Committee will
undertake annual public reporting on progress, including accomplishments
through the BIEAP partnership.
The
Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet will
be reviewed at the end of the first five years to determine whether
the goals and actions contained within the Plan have been achieved,
whether they remain relevant or whether new challenges and opportunities
require the attention of the BIEAP partners. To
review the presentation given at the final public forum, click
here.
WORKING
TOGETHER TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY
Our
Shared vision for Burrard Inlet is "a thriving port and urban community
coexisting with a healthy environment".
Who
Prepared the Plan?
The
Consolidated Environmental Management Plan was completed in 2001
under the direction of a committee of representatives from municipalities
in the BIEAP area, the Greater Vancouver Regional District, Port Metro Vancouver, and the federal and provincial governments.
The Tsleil Waututh First Nation provided comments on the Plan. Community
and environmental groups participated with the public-at-large through
a three phase consultation process consisting of public meetings,
workshops and other direct consultations.
Highlights
of the Plan:
An Ecosystem Approach - the Consolidated Environmental Management
Plan is strongly based on an ecosystem approach that focuses on
the connectivity of geographical areas and the interaction of species
and their habitat. This includes the humans, and the environmental
impacts of human settlement.
False
Creek - A risk-based sediment management plan for False Creek
will be developed. The BIEAP partners will also identify habitat
that could be enhanced along the shoreline of False Creek.
Guidelines
for Shoreline Development - Guidelines will be developed to
ensure that the most important habitat areas along the shores of
Port Moody and Indian Arm are protected from the negative impacts
of development. The guidelines will be prepared through a process
involving the public, Port Metro Vancouver, municipalities, industry
and others.
Habitat
Protection and Compensation Banks - In collaboration with the
Greater Vancouver Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, the BIEAP
partners will identify areas of ecological significance in Burrard
Inlet. Port Metro Vancouver has initiated a program to identify
and secure habitat that should be protected or enhanced in the Inlet.
BIEAP will assist the Port, local municipalities, First Nations
and stewardship groups with similar activities.
Community
Environmental Stewardship - Community Groups and projects play
a tremendous role in the ecological health of Burrard Inlet. Streamkeepers
groups look after local water bodies and streams. Community fish
hatcheries, such as the ones operated by the Port Moody Ecological
Society, are instrumental in rehabilitating and stocking streams
in suburban areas.
How
to be involved in the continuing implementation of this plan
- Public input and consultation are important to the Burrard Inlet
Environmental Action Program (BIEAP) and its partners. For information
about how to become involved or to obtain a copy of the full plan
document, please contact us at:
Burrard
Inlet Environmental Action Program
501-5945 Kathleen Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5H 4J7
Phone:
604.775.5756
Fax: 604.775.5198
Email: mail@bieapfremp.org
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