Stewardship Centre for BC » Naturescape British Columbia. Contributors: Rod Silver and Sara Muir. Our list of Landscape Design Programs can help you look through the best available options. Some of the common courses in Landscape Design Programs include Landscape Elements. Naturescape British Columbia began as one of several pilot projects of “The Stewardship Pledge. Location: , British Columbia. Land Use: Settlement. Habitat Type: Highlights. Naturescape British Columbia is an educational and ecologically based program that encourages private property owners, both urban and rural, to voluntarily care for wildlife habitat at home. Program registrants become . Naturescape has built on the ongoing work of many long- time habitat gardeners in the province and across North America. Created in 1. 99. Naturescape British Columbia was developed to encourage habitat creation in urban and rural areas of the province. To date, approximately 4,0. Naturescape program and four municipalities have incorporated Naturescape principles into their land management practices. Introduction. British Columbians witness the destruction, degradation, and fragmentation of ecosystems each day in our communities. This destruction of habitat occurs each time long- established trees are removed from a neighborhood, when rural lots are subdivided, when housing developments are constructed – all of these changes reduce the amount of natural wildlife habitat available for native plants and animals. The University of British Columbia. With graduate students from all over the world. Okanagan Programs; Ready to Apply? Master of Landscape Architecture is an accredited professional program fostering graduates with the environmental knowledge to design and. Environmental Design; Architecture; Landscape Architecture. Landscape Design Schools; Residential Planning Schools. Interior Design Schools Interior Decorating Classes and Degrees in British Columbia Directory Listings. The University of British Columbia. The University of British Columbia. Undergraduate Programs and Admissions. Apply to UBC; Home; Programs; Applying to UBC. UBC Environmental Design Other programs you. The University of British Columbia. Environmental Design, or Landscape Architecture may apply for. Programs Accredited by the Canadian Society of. The following programs are accredited by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Accreditation Council: UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (MLA) Cynthia. The University of British Columbia. Themes in Architecture and Design. Related Links: UBC School of Architecture. Other programs you may be interested in: Environmental Design, Integrated Engineering. However, reductions can be made in the damage caused by urbanization. Remaining segments of habitat can be preserved, damaged habitats can be restored, and lost habitat can be recreated over time. Individual citizens can participate in this process right in their own backyards by utilizing and ecologically sustainable landscape practice known as naturescaping. Naturescaping, or natural landscaping, can be described as landscaping to create ecologically sound, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing urban landscapes through the use of plant species native to the region. Naturescaping promotes creating landscapes that restore, preserve and enhance wildlife habitat in urban and rural areas. Naturescaping emphasizes creating landscapes with purpose . Conventional landscape trends involve the extensive use of lawns and exotic horticultural specimens. Such landscapes are prevalent throughout North America, and give very little thought to the specific local conditions, regional climates, soils and other constraints. Conventional landscapes rely heavily on exotic plant and tree species, need ongoing intensive horticultural management, including the application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and can require extensive supplemental watering. Naturescaping addresses many of the ecological issues surrounding traditional landscape practices and has the following benefits: 1. Reduces water consumption. On average 4. 0% of municipal water supplies are dedicated to lawns and gardens. Creating landscapes of native plants reduces total water consumption because native plants are more water- thrifty and adapted to regional weather cycles. Prudent use of water is one of Canada. Improves water quality. Reducing or eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers from landscape maintenance eliminates non- point source pollution from these sources. Such action helps keep waterways free of pesticides and fertilizers. Creates habitat and improves biodiversity in urban areas. Loss of biodiversity and habitat is a very serious issue in urban areas. Landscape practices that provide habitat helps to mitigate the effects of development. Naturalized landscapes can act in conjunction with existing parks and public green spaces to connect habitat throughout the landscape. Eliminates the spread of invasive species. Many invasive plant species, such as Scotch broom, gorse, and purple knapweed, are exotic horticultural escapes. These plants have spread out of gardens and into the natural world often out- competing many native species of plants. Creates landscapes that have regional context. Contemporary landscapes are very similar wherever you go. A natural landscape creates regional context and reflects the particular environment in which it is found. For example, a landscape in Victoria could utilize plants found in Garry Oak meadows; a landscape in Kelowna could utilize grassland/xerophytic plants. Supports the establishment and growth of local nursery trades that propagate native plants and landscape specialists who deal with the creation of natural landscapes. Landscapes that use native plants support native plant nurseries and landscape specialists, and thereby contribute to increased growth for industries that are an important part of the green economy. Reduces landscape maintenance costs. Natural landscapes are cost effective. Conventionally maintained landscapes are very expensive and time consuming to maintain. Naturalized landscapes are not maintenance free, but the bulk of costs are restricted to the first three years while the landscape is being established. Once a naturalized landscape is established, the bulk of the maintenance becomes annual or semi annual. Comprehensive studies by the Environment Protection Agency (USA) and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission have determined that over a 5- 1. Naturescape principles can be applied by: 1. Using native plants. Many nurseries now grow native plants and many species are available. Using a diversity of plant species. Planting a diversity of plant species creates a visually diverse landscape and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Providing habitat includes the provision of food, shelter and water for wildlife species. Plant vegetation that provides food and shelter, and consider ways to offer a source of water. Phasing out the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Working with your neighbours and community to educate them about the important benefits of this change to the urban landscape. Naturescaping has important ecological and economic benefits. Naturescaping principles can be applied to urban and rural landscapes, and public lands. Creating landscapes that employ ecologically sound practices reduces pollution, reduces the use of valuable water resources, creates habitat for native flora and fauna, and returns nature and natural beauty to urban and rural areas. Objectives. The overall goal of the Naturescape program is to encourage private property owners in urban and rural communities to be voluntary stewards and create and maintain natural biodiversity and wildlife habitat on their property. To achieve this goal, Naturescape has placed its focus on three main objectives: 1. Community Ownership Objective: To ensure the program is promoted and supported by its participants, Naturescape will facilitate a growing network of people, exchanging information, experiences and knowledge through various media and outreach activities. Educational Objective: To promote appropriate techniques for wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation, Naturescape will provide practical and scientifically based educational resource materials on caring for wildlife habitat on private residential property. Financial Objective: To create a program that is financially sustaining, Naturescape will strive to achieve financial independence through development of on- going financial and in- kind support from individuals, clubs and organizations, retailers, corporate sponsors, non- government agencies, and various levels of government. Naturescape British Columbia works to provide education on the benefits of naturescaping and provides landowners with educational materials that describe how to create natural landscapes. Naturescape British Columbia also serves to give validity and recognition to non- traditional landscape methods that reflect regional diversity and reduce impacts on the environment. Challenges. Membership and interest in the Naturescape program has grown rapidly. Naturescape has had an eager audience from its start. Yet, this extensive participation in Naturescape has created a demand for central office support and increased staff time, and greater funding. In addition, most of the membership growth to date has focused on the Georgia Basin. This regionalization of growth is not unanticipated as 5. Vancouver Island and Gulf islands. If membership registration and renewal is to expand across the province, further program promotion and product development must be carried out. There are many ideas for promotion and products, yet limited staffing and funding are constraints in carrying out these new initiatives. Though there have been reports of increases in insects, birds, amphibians and other wildlife in Naturescape participants. This is not uncommon in voluntary initiatives where results are linked to personal interests, economic considerations, existing ecological conditions on properties and availability of local support. While the reports on increases in fauna observed by Naturescape participants are promising, the participants. It is naturally very challenging for Naturescape participants to estimate changes in fauna, yet it is possible for them to report on purposeful changes they have made to vegetation and habitat. And, though the extent of Naturescape. As the program evolves, inventory, mapping and monitoring of Naturescape gardens will assist in providing cumulative habitat data, and will lead to more quantitative conclusions about Naturescape’s flora and fauna enhancement. Process. Naturescape British Columbia began as one of several pilot projects of . The original proposal for Naturescape was a response to some of Wildlife Habitat Canada. The array of supporters included the Regional Director of the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Executive Vice President of the Nature Trust of British Columbia, the Provincial Manager of Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Director of the BC Wildlife Federation, the Chair of the BC Federation of Naturalists, and several directors of BC government agencies. Following a successful proposal to WHC agreement in principle to fund a program to promote private land stewardship was announced at the conclusion of the Stewardship 9. Conference in March 1.
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