Indicators:

• The number of medium and large population centres that have developed biodiversity conservation strategies

• The number of medium and large population centres that have biodiversity objectives in municipal planning documents

About the Target

Canada is an increasingly urbanized nation. By 2020, more than 80% of Canadians were living in urban areas.[i] At the same time, Canada’s cities are expanding in size–the total area of land in Canada’s large urban areas almost doubled between 1971 and 2001, and the conversion of cropland and forest to built-up areas continues.

While cities represent a relatively small portion of Canada’s total area, they are often located in places rich in biodiversity, such as coastal areas, river valleys, and lake shores. As such, the impact on habitat loss or degradation in these areas can be significant.

Maintaining and restoring ecosystems in urban areas can offset some of these losses and provide other important benefits. Urban green spaces can provide cleaner air, buffer increasingly extreme climate events, and provide opportunities for environmental education and recreation. Enhancing urban biodiversity can also provide habitat for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and for other birds and species that help to control pest insects.

Municipal governments are uniquely positioned to play a significant role in developing and implementing biodiversity solutions. This target aims to encourage these efforts across the country, in partnership with local organizations, provincial governments, and federal departments and agencies.

Canada Target 4 is linked with the following global Aichi target under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020:

• Aichi Target 2 - By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.

[i] Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0135-01  Population estimates, July 1, by census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, 2016 boundaries.

2020 Final Assessment

As previously reported by ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability survey on Canadian Municipal Action on Biodiversity, there have been encouraging signs of dedicated biodiversity strategies (51%) and biodiversity objectives in planning (91%).[i]  In another survey, out of 32 participating cities surveyed in 2021, 28% have a citywide biodiversity strategy and 50% have biodiversity objectives embedded within other environmental plans.[ii]

In a survey commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada with support from the Invasive Alien Species National Committee (see Contributing Actions Target 11) in 2021, out of 108 responding municipalities with a population over 10,000, about 28% had a biodiversity strategy or developing one, and about 35% had biodiversity objectives embedded within other environmental plans.[iii]

The varied results from these different studies are difficult to interpret. However, it can be said that the target is partially met given that a significant proportion of Canada’s municipalities are systematically integrating biodiversity considerations into local planning. There are also numerous examples of specific actions to improve biodiversity in urban areas (see Contributing Actions).

While the status of integrating biodiversity concerns into planning is encouraging, progress remains unclear.[iv] There is still much potential in this area, and programs to encourage the integration of biodiversity considerations into municipal planning and activities should be strengthened.

[i] ICLEI Canada (2017) Survey on Canadian Municipal Action on Biodiversity

[ii] Park People (2021) The Canadian City Parks Report: Centering Equity & Resilience

[iii] Invasive Species Centre. Estimated Expenditures on Invasive Species in Canadian Municipalities: 2021 Survey.

[iv] Statistics Canada has measured an overall drop in urban greenness an indicator of urban ecosystem condition. Statistics Canada (2021) Urban greenness, 2001, 2011 and 2019. Catalogue no. 16-002-X

Contributing Actions

Federal, provincial and territorial governments are committed to redoubling efforts to conserve Canada’s biodiversity as outlined in the Pan-Canadian approach to transforming species at risk conservation in Canada. A key sector identified under the pan-Canadian approach is urban development.

Examples of local government sites across Canada that can contribute to Canada’s conservation targets can be found in Conservation Close to Home: The role of local governments in the Canadian conserved areas network (2021).

Through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and Natural Infrastructure Fund, Infrastructure Canada is helping municipalities build better storm water drainage systems and supporting projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to protect the natural environment.

Toronto’s 2019 biodiversity strategy includes twenty three actions and aims to support healthier, more robust biodiversity and increased awareness of nature in Toronto.

In 2018, the City of Oakville developed a Strategy for Biodiversity enabling integration of existing plans, policies and programs related to the natural heritage system, urban forests, parkland and open spaces and issues management.

The Meadoway is transforming a hydro corridor in Scarborough into a vibrant 16-kilometre stretch of urban greenspace and meadowlands that will become one of Canada’s largest linear urban parks. The Meadoway will connect 7 river and ravine systems, 15 parks, 16 kilometres of trail, 13 neighbourhoods, over 200 hectares of meadow, and more than 1,000 diverse species of flora and fauna.

Vancouver’s biodiversity strategy aims to increase the amount and quality of Vancouver’s natural areas to support biodiversity and increase access to nature. One target in the strategy was surpassed as the city restored or enhanced 34 hectares of natural areas between 2010 and 2020.

Saskatoon’s new Green Strategy provides a vision for the city’s natural and enhanced green infrastructure, including actions to protect, restore and manage significant natural areas, and improve biodiversity and ecosystem health throughout the green network.

Under its Ecological Transition and Resilience initiatives, Montreal is taking on actions to conserve and restore biodiversity such as creating new parks, green corridors and wetlands, restoring shorelines, and increasing the size of protected areas.

Bee City Canada’s mission is to inspire cities, towns, First Nations, and other organizations to take action to protect pollinators by offering programs which recognize communities and organizations that are taking steps or are committed to future initiatives to help pollinators. Participating communities support collaboration and establish and maintain healthy pollinator habitat within the municipality or First Nation’s boundaries. The program raises awareness of the importance of biodiversity for the health of our food system. Pollinator habitat creates beauty, encourages the propagation of native plants, and provides food for wildlife and humans too. A Bee City improves its municipal environment and the physical and mental health of the residents by connecting people with nature and encouraging healthy, clean food consumption. There are 58 Bee Cities in Canada as of 2021.