The Canadian Wildlife Federation created a letter with the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF), the Ecological Design Lab located at Toronto Metropolitan University and renowned author and environmental advocate Lorraine Johnson to address the need for municipal bylaws that support habitat gardens.
The letter highlights the importance of habitat gardens which support native wildlife, biodiversity and contribute ecological services such as improved air and water quality, stormwater management and reduced soil erosion.
The open letter serves as a call to action for municipalities to revise outdated bylaws that currently restrict ecological and sustainable practices, to initiate bylaw enforcement training and to lead by example by applying ecological gardening practices to public spaces and commit to outreach programs crucial for shifting public perspectives and behaviours.
This downloadable letter is available here for those wishing to encourage locally elected officials to adopt wildlife-friendly gardening practices on municipal property and have by-laws that support habitat gardens for residents, businesses, community groups and schools.
Resources
Helpful resources for municipalities and advocacy groups are available for download under Bylaws for Biodiversity, including a research report on municipal codes and a Toolkit for Local Governments developed by the Ecological Design Lab at the Toronto Metropolitan University.
CWF has a myriad resources to help you create a wildlife-friendly garden that can suit any budget, property size or lifestyle. Visit our Gardening for Wildlife section to learn about Canadian wildlife and native plants, watch webinar replays, sign up for our gardening course, or download material such as our 20-page colour Wildlife-friendly Gardening Guide with a handy checklist at the back.
Partners
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA)
The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) is the professional, non-profit organization committed to promoting the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture in Canada. This year, while celebrating its 90th anniversary, the society represents over 3,200 members, including landscape architects, associates/interns, and students.
The CSLA is dedicated to elevating public awareness of landscape architecture and advocating on behalf of national issues pertinent to the profession including urban design and renewal, parks and green space planning, the development of sustainable and equitable communities, and adapting to climate change. The landscape architecture profession embraces designing with nature by employing innovative solutions to tackle intricate design challenges. This blend ensures a balanced consideration of societal needs with the preservation of the natural environment. Learn more about the CSLA >
DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION
Founded in 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) is a national, bilingual non-profit organization headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Toronto and Montreal. We are guided by the fundamental truth that we are interconnected with nature, and with each other. What we do to the planet and its living creatures, we do to ourselves.
Through research, education, policy analysis and community engagement, we work to protect and restore the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada. We regularly collaborate with non-profit and community organizations, all levels of government, businesses and individuals. Learn more about DSF >
ECOLOGICAL DESIGN LAB
Located at Toronto Metropolitan University, the Ecological Design Lab connects people to nature in cities. We “think, make, and do” collaborative design-research and practice, developing nature-based solutions (NbS) for biodiversity recovery and climate resilience. Learn more about the Ecological Design Lab >
LORRAINE JOHNSON
Lorraine is the author of numerous books on gardening with native plants and creating habitat gardens, including A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee (co-written with Sheila Colla), 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens, and Tending the Earth: A Gardener’s Manifesto. Lorraine’s work focuses on enhancing biodiversity; advocating for the reform of grass and weeds bylaws; supporting urban food production; and on land stewardship as relationship-building in the context of reconciliation. Learn more about Lorraine’s work >
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