Vertical Forest (Milan)

This is so exciting!  Green skyscrapers are becoming a reality:

Bosco Verticale (in Milan, Italy) is a vertical forest design that will be open later this year.  It will include 900 trees, oaks and amelanchiers, 500 shrubs, and 11,000 ground plants—the equivalent of 2.5-acres of forest. If each residential unit had been constructed as individual stand-alone units, more than 50,000 square meters of land and 10,000 square meters of woodland would have been required.

Each balcony houses a mini-forest complete with a rainwater watering system and construction costs of Bosco Verticale are only 5% more than those required for the usual skyscraper, which will promote replication in other cities.  It will be the first of its kind - providing vital ecological and energy benefits within the confines of an urban area.

All information/images are from Great Ecology.

P.S.  Check out my latest "urban wild" nature blog: Wild. Here. (2016 update)

protecting the bobolink

Taken from a newspaper article (dated March 2012) from the Kawartha Lakes Region regarding the new species at risk legislation that is coming into effect.

"Anne Bell of the conservation organization Ontario Nature said it’s important to realize there are many different stakeholders at the round table, not just agriculture and conservation groups. She said the primary aim of the round table discussions is to find a solution that works for agriculture.

“The great thing about the Endangered Species Act is that it has a fair bit of flexibility,” she said.

“The focus for us (Ontario Nature) is research and best practices, such as are there ways to manage hay fields...but, the key to the round table is that whatever the solution, it has to work - for the farmers and the birds.”

(D & C Editor has heard that in the U.S. some farmers are compensated monetarily for the early crops that they cannot harvest in order to let Bobolinks nest safely and raise fledglings until they can leave the nest.)

Farmers vs Boblinks or Farmers AND Bobolinks?

Legislation will come into full force in 2014.

Image from Flickr Creative Commons: Amy McAndrews


Can We Have Urban Bobolink Habitat?

Manor Park (Ottawa) Wildlife Sightings 

The Quest to Find an Urban Bobolink

Periwinkle in Montfort Woods (Ottawa)

Copied from: Fletcher Wildlife Garden Newsletter, May 2012
Author: C. Hanrahan
Image from: S.E. Amesse 2010 ©

"Walking through Montfort Woods earlier in the month was an interesting experience. I've not
been back to this spot since about 1996, before it was exchanged for Moffatt Farm in a land
swap with the National Capital Commission (which now manages and patrols the woods).
At this time of year, you can see the remnants of what was once a magnificent forest, which
would have covered an extensive area. There are still small patches of some interesting native
plants, such as Cutleaf and Broadleaf Toothwort (Cardamine laciniata and C. diphylla), both
White and Red Trilliums (Trillium grandiflora and T. erectum), very small stands of Hepatica, a
few tiny stands of Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), which should be abundant
there, big swathes of Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), and so on.

BUT, the sad thing is that the really huge swathes are Periwinkle (Vinca sp.) and Deadnettle
(Lamium sp.). Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is not abundant, but it will be. I found one
Barberry (Berberis sp.), and Norway Maples (Acer platanoides) are beginning to intrude.
The area where the Periwinkle, Deadnettle and also Day Lilies were found is adjacent to what
used to be CFB Rockcliffe, and it looks very much like garden waste was dumped over the fence
with the resulting invasion! If anyone needed to be reminded why these plants should be kept
out of natural areas, this provides a good lesson. Sad. In the photo, that huge swathe of green
is all Periwinkle. I actually like Deadnettle and Periwinkle as fast spreaders in a garden setting,
BUT. . .not out here."

WILD in the City (Ottawa Magazine)

Dear Ottawa Magazine Editors:

I was very surprised by the heavy-handed, one-sided Ottawa Magazine's "Wild in the City" article published in April (2013), although I should have noted before I started reading that it was placed in the "Political" section.  Ron Corbett angled the article as do many journalists in present-day media seeing wildlife as a nuisance and describing the negative and/or confused attitudes of locals and by describing ways of "getting rid of the problem".  In his article he describes menacing coyotes including one that hung out in a Kanata backyard for days, clueless Glebites trying to save trees by poorly identifying migratory birds, crows roosting in Alta Vista "that would scare Alfred Hitchcock" and beavers frustrating City of Ottawa staff by daming up storm water pipes, etc.

He interviews many people including councillors and Ministry of Natural Resources employees but sadly there is only one short paragraph detailing humane options for coexistance that MANY cities are employing and/or considering: naturalizing perimeters with tall grass and addling eggs to discourage the over population of geese (in cities like Kelowna and Peachland, B.C.), installing water flow devices and "beaver deceivers" that allow beavers and people to coexist (installed in Cornwall and Mission City B.C.) and humane education solutions for urban coyote conflicts such as the "Co-exist with Coyotes" program promoted by Stanley Park Ecology Society to name a few.

This could have been a great opportunity to educate local Ottawa residents on all the options we have in terms of humane solutions to live with and be able to appreciate the wildlife that flourishes and can be enjoyed throughout the city.  It has taken over ten years for Ottawa to regain what was lost when the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre had to close its doors to rehabilitating injured wildlife.  (Kudos to the Centre for continuing in the Education realm however!)  This is not the time to promote antiquated attitudes and outdated methods.  This is the time to reinforce new ideas and humane options in terms of coexistance and better understanding of wildlife and their ways. 

I would ask that the Ottawa Magazine explore these alternatives and provide a non-biased article or better yet an article helping to educate Ottawa citizens and demonstrate better alternatives that other Canadian cities are choosing and the opportunities that we could enjoy here.

Signed KF

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 2)

Rockcliffe Lands (future name to be determined) is a very unique urban property situated along some major green corridors and hopefully CLC and the developers can see this opportunity and will want to take advantage of it.  At one point during the mid-2000's redevelopment, the thought was to make this the MOST sustainable development in the country.  Fast forward to 2013, many developments are LEED Gold or Platinum - sustainability is much more reachable and not such a NEW story.

So how about biodiversity? How about the first Canadian neighborhood that is not only sustainable but that is also truly biophilic.  Why not consider how to design this neighborhood to not only blend into its surroundings and benefit from its environment but to also PROVIDE for the flora and fauna and let it flourish beside it?  This could truly be an amazing opportunity to determine the best innovative, forward-thinking ways of redeveloping a site that would have MINIMAL impact on the native flora and fauna and perhaps even help it to become more resilient.

Think about it!  This could be great!

As mentioned in the previous post the consultant has done a great initial review of the environment and landscape and how to work with what is there.  They would just have to expand on this, determining the best foot forward to create the FIRST BIOPHILIC REDEVELOPMENT in CANADA!  Some of the things that they could consider:

HERITAGE - OLD GROWTH TREES

It was wonderful that the old growth (160 + years) Bur Oak was highlighted in their initial public consultations.  This is a great opportunity, not only to protect this piece of history but to also benefit from its genetic legacy.  Efforts needs to be made to protect and save this tree and other Bur Oaks found on the property - this includes care during construction (protecting each tree to the drip line) and proper grounds keeping and maintenance after.  Some seedlings from this specimen could also be planted to continue the genetic line.  At one point during the initial discussions (in the mid 2000's) there was even consideration of a  tree nursery.  A local native tree nursery would ensure that local hardy trees (for Ottawa's climate) would be planted on the site.  This also begs the question are there any other heritage trees that could be protected on the site that are 50 plus years or over? As mentioned in the previous post Landmark Trees of Ontario commented on their Facebook page that there are multiple large Bitternut Hickories, Sugar Maples, Basswood, Rock Elm and Slippery Elm spread throughout the site. It would be great if as many of these trees could be protected as possible along with the Bur Oaks. And perhaps this could be a new site to plant some direct descendants of the Ottawa Champlain Oaks?

TREE/FOREST HEALTH

Some assessment of the composition of trees in groupings (as noted) that will be saved should be done to consider the issue of the emerald ash borer and how lost trees will be replaced.  The City/N.C.C. should assess the health of Montfort Woods and the other NE corner woods that backs onto N.C.C. lands and determine how to strengthen the health of these wood lots.  The health of trees would also benefit from being linked through green corridors to other wood lots.  These would act as buffers so that genetic diversity could be encouraged.  The tree groupings that have already been noted on the initial ClC maps could help with linking these two forests.  You can see that CLC has sketched essentially this in their display below.   Just imagine a line of street trees (local and native) linking all the green sites!  A native tree nursery (that is commenced in 2014) would again help provide a source of local trees for this site. 

What a benefit and great local feature to have a green link from the Montfort woods to the proposed central park and then to the N.C.C. forest (which is part of the Rockcliffe Parkway)!


CONSIDER THE LARGER LANDSCAPE

One thing that this proposal is missing is the consideration of the larger landscape.  In all ecological restoration projects you have to consider what is around the site since over the long term this will influence your restoration.  Perhaps it was done but not shared at the public consultation meetings?  What is the species composition of the forests found outside the development area?  This development needs to consider the Montfort Woods and the old quarry in Fairhaven Way as it is a heavily treed neighborhood.  What about the NRC government campus to the east?  Will there be some forested area there to buffer between the two, such as there is right now for Rothwell Heights?  CLC could enter into discussions with them to partner to create some buffer, add some natives, help with the genetic diversity. 

The NE corner woods link to some open lands along the parkway where there are bird houses and have been bobolink sightings.  And the NW corner along the Aviation Parkway where it meets the Rockcliffe parkway is an urban biodiverse hot spot (according to OBBC) for birds.  This area is a very green corridor (deer have been found in Manor Park this winter) and it includes Manor Park creek and marsh which links to Macoun Marsh in the Beechwood Cemetery.  All of this needs to be considered as redevelopment occurs. Also if the storm water ponds offsite to the north of the development are built this will increase movement of fauna both to and away from the water feature and safe wildlife passages along both parkways should be considered for this area.

It would be great to see the N.C.C. up their game here along the Aviation Parkway and consider how the parkway acts as a divide between the green space on both sides and determine ways to help encourage genetic diversity on both sides and strengthen the integrity of this lovely green corridor. 


NEXT UP: OTTAWA's NEWEST 10 HECTARE WOODS AND NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDSCAPING!  Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 3): September 2013


All details about this Redevelopment Project can be found here: http://www.clcrockcliffe.ca/

If you still want to send your thoughts and comments to Canada Lands Company it is not too late. You can find their contact information on the Canada Lands Corporation Rockcliffe Lands website (syau@clc.ca,info@clc.ca). I did not find an email address for the Ottawa office however.


*****************

Posts on Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment:

First blog post: September 2011

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 1): November 2012

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 3): September 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 4): October 2013

Rockcliffe Lands Redevelopment (Part 5): November 2013