Saving Victoria's Farm Land and Ecosystem

Strategy Meeting:
PROTECTING ECOSYSTEMS AND FARM LAND IN THE CRD

Thursday, February 15th @ 7pm
Juan de Fuca Public Library
1759 Island Highway
Colwood


Ideas to consider:

-->explore how First Nations and non-First Nations can work together around these issues

-->lobby to protect the Florence Lake and Langford Lake watersheds

-->support local farmers by establishing an all-weather Public Market
(in Western Communities, Saanich Peninsula, and/or Downtown)

-->start a website to keep informed of what's happening in all 13 municipalities

-->explore other media to raise public awareness and challenge corporate media bias

-->monitor "creeping urbanization" of infrastructure in Central Saanich, Highlands and other rural areas

-->Share "Best Practices" of how municipalities like Metchosin have protected farm land

-->monitor and attend council meetings in all 13 municipalities

-->integrate awareness of ecosystems and food security into the school system

-->investigate a boycott of companies to halt environmentally harmful practices


-->gather information such as the carrying capacity of the CRD, "true cost accounting" of food supply, and local ecosystem mapping

-->lobby all levels of government to strengthen legislation and regulations protecting ecosystems and farm land

-->determine how to accomodate population growth in already-developed areas (i.e. densification, smart growth)

-->change land-use procedures to allow for First Nations and public participation BEFORE developments are approved
-->encourage the use of Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) lands for food production

-->explore implications of Malahat Corridor expansion, Regional Growth Strategy, and Port Renfrew-Cowichan development


A more detailed report will be prepared prior to the Feb 15 meeting.
For more information, call 388-3847. Sponsored by the Social Environmental Alliance and Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt Society.

The Juan de Fuca Library is located next to the BC Transit Western Exchange, on Bus routes 25, 39, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 61.


"Strength in numbers"

"Working together to protect ecosystems and farm land in the CRD."