Willoughby Habitat Status Report (PDF; 1.22 MB)

Wildlife Habitat Canada's Urban Habitat Status Report 2001 identified two of the major obstacles to adequately conserving wildlife habitats. They were the lack of reporting on the quantity and quality of urban habitats, and the absence of defined and achievable habitat objectives against which conservationists and government agencies can measure their progress. The purpose of this project was to address and overcome these obstacles within the Township of Langley, a primarily agricultural and urban community on the outskirts of Greater Vancouver, BC.

Langley Environmental Partners Society, a community-based non-profit organization, works closely with the municipal government, senior government agencies, resource experts, local naturalist and stewardship groups, and community members to evaluate the status of wildlife habitats in Langley.

Using this information, the project partners worked together to formulate specific and quantifiable habitat objectives for a variety of different species groups. Based on this work, a strategy was devised and implemented to achieve these objectives through a combination of municipal policies, conservation tools, and private land stewardship initiatives. The partners are also developing a practical and consistent monitoring program that will assist non-governmental organizations in tracking the project's progress over the long-term. As well, the Invasive Species Program and the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Team have already been established under the terms of the Habitat Strategy.

The Municipal Wildlife Habitat Conservation Strategy has already been identified as a blueprint for success. Organizations such as the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection and the Greater Vancouver Regional Biodiversity Strategy group are encouraging others to incorporate this type of work into other initiatives by organizations in the region, the province, and the country.