Bylaws for Biodiversity: Municipal Reform for Thriving Habitats

Municipal staff and elected officials across Canada are invited to a national conversation on property standards bylaw reform in support of habitat gardens.

Habitat gardens are part of the solution to biodiversity loss and climate change. They provide food and shelter for urban wildlife including pollinators and birds, they slow-down and filter stormwater, reduce the urban heat island effect, sequester carbon, and allow for regular nature interaction.

Despite this, many towns and cities have outdated bylaws that deter residents from establishing these life-supporting landscapes and punish those that do so regardless.

This event will provide an opportunity for municipal representatives to share bylaw reform experiences, concerns and ideas. It will include brief presentations from experts and invited guests and a facilitated conversation among all participants.

Panelists include:
Prof. Nina-Marie E. Lister, Ecological Design Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University
Lorraine Johnson, Author and Environmental Advocate
Others TBD

This event is intended for municipal elected officials and staff involved in policy development and enforcement and the enhancement of ecological services, such as planners, bylaw officers, landscape architects and public works managers.