The BiodiverCity Advisory Committee advises the City about urban biological diversity in the natural world in all its forms. The aim is to advance a Plan based on The Durban Commitment: Local Governments for Biodiversity. The City must work toward better protection of natural area biodiversity and has introduced targeted grazing, naturalization, and the elimination and prevention of invasive plant species. While the City has developed certain policies and procedures, the Advisory Committee continues reviewing City initiatives impacting biodiversity and measures their progress against the City’s strategic plan.
The Advisory Committee reports to the Community Development Committee and to City Council when it provides an annual progress report. The Committee has 15 members appointed by Council, ten from the public with specialized knowledge and relevant experience, including one youth (18 to 30) and five staff from specific departments who meet regularly in person (or join online). Meetings are open to the public. However, despite many accomplishments, the mandate to engage Council as citizen scientists who make recommendations has proven to be difficult.
The Committee struggled in past years to gain their attention and staff time is limited. Now even the status of the Committee is in doubt. With the end of the Calgary ten-year Biodiversity Strategic Plan (2015-2025), City Council voted to dissolve the Committee next year on what will be its 10th anniversary. (“2024 Annual Update from Boards, Commissions, and Committees”) An option to collaborate with the Anti-racism Committee, regarding access to natural areas, was put on hold to explore the merger of the BiodiverCity Advisory Committee with the Climate Advisory Committee. Nevertheless, the members are preparing a full and final report for 2025. Past reports are available at https://www.calgary.ca/committees/biodiversity-advisory.html.
