History
Green Links was initiated in response to “landscape-scale processes involving habitat loss and the breaking apart of habitat” in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland (Farhig, 2003). Land conversion for urban development has been a key driver of habitat loss and fragmentation in this area. Habitat fragmentation resulting from urban development poses a significant threat to biodiversity by adversely affecting key ecological processes and species dispersal, which in turn decreases ecological resilience (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Naujokaitis-Lewis & Schaefer, 2005; Secretariat on the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2006).
Initiated by project director Dr. Valentin Schaefer and a team of graduates of the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology, Green Links commenced operations in 1996, with the primary objective of increasing “the ecological value and biodiversity of urban wildlife habitats and green spaces in the Lower Mainland” (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a). The role of Green Links was to improve the physical connectedness of habitats in these municipalities through the establishment of improved habitat corridors between natural and environmentally sensitive areas (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Rudd, Vala & Schaefer, 2002). Coquitlam’s Green Link was established through the improvement of a BC Hydro utility right-of-way, as well as back yards and school grounds (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Schaefer, 2003). A planning and assessment phase took place on this site between April and November of 1996, involving site mapping, species inventories, and biophysical assessments, and analysis of the corridor’s ecological value and integrity. Following a period of public outreach, a 10-year implementation and evaluation phase commenced within the Coquitlam Demonstration Site, as well as within the Surrey and Delta demonstration sites (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a). During this time, an array of activities took place, including the planting of native species, invasive species removal, the initiation of plant propagation and salvage programs, community engagement activities, and documentation of the project’s progress by various means (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Schaefer & Sulek, 1997b). Across all three municipalities, 86,290 plants were planted with the involvement of 8,020 participants from May of 1996 to December of 2005, the year of the project’s completion (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015).
Initiated by project director Dr. Valentin Schaefer and a team of graduates of the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology, Green Links commenced operations in 1996, with the primary objective of increasing “the ecological value and biodiversity of urban wildlife habitats and green spaces in the Lower Mainland” (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a). The role of Green Links was to improve the physical connectedness of habitats in these municipalities through the establishment of improved habitat corridors between natural and environmentally sensitive areas (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Rudd, Vala & Schaefer, 2002). Coquitlam’s Green Link was established through the improvement of a BC Hydro utility right-of-way, as well as back yards and school grounds (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Schaefer, 2003). A planning and assessment phase took place on this site between April and November of 1996, involving site mapping, species inventories, and biophysical assessments, and analysis of the corridor’s ecological value and integrity. Following a period of public outreach, a 10-year implementation and evaluation phase commenced within the Coquitlam Demonstration Site, as well as within the Surrey and Delta demonstration sites (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a). During this time, an array of activities took place, including the planting of native species, invasive species removal, the initiation of plant propagation and salvage programs, community engagement activities, and documentation of the project’s progress by various means (Schaefer & Sulek, 1997a; Schaefer & Sulek, 1997b). Across all three municipalities, 86,290 plants were planted with the involvement of 8,020 participants from May of 1996 to December of 2005, the year of the project’s completion (Schaefer, V., personal communication, February 23, 2015).