UNBC Seeks Opinions on Sustainable Landscaping

March 28, 2007

Researchers at UNBC are conducting a survey in Prince George this weekthat is gauging opinions from local residents on how best to recuperatefrom the mountain pine beetle. More than 5,000 surveys have been sentto local residents as part of the Northern Sustainable LandscapingInitiative (NSLI), which has been led by UNBC and the City of PrinceGeorge.

“To date, about 50,000 dead pine trees have been removed from municipalor school district lands and this doesn’t include the thousands oftrees cut down from private property or Crown lands within citylimits,” says Annie Booth, an Ecosystem Science and Managementprofessor at UNBC and leader of the NSLI project. “The city definitelylooks different than it did five years ago, but we have the opportunitynow to think of new approaches to landscaping that are beautiful andmore sustainable.”

The NSLI project includes examining landscaping options that canwithstand road salt and cold winter temperatures, don’t need extensivewatering or pesticides, address climate change concerns, and still meetaesthetic objectives. The ultimate objective is to develop asustainable landscaping master plan for Prince George that othernorthern communities could also use.

To that end, the survey is seeking info on current sustainablelandscape practices, personal usage of commercial pesticides, personalenvironmental awareness, and landscaping preferences for public landsaround the city. The surveys must be returned by April 30, 2007. Apre-paid reply envelope is provided. All those who fill out and returnthe survey will be entered into a draw to win two lilac bushes or $100in Mohawk gasoline coupons.

The NSLI was established in 2005 and is supported by twelve agencies,which have provided funding or support-in-kind. The project was thefirst in Canada to receive a Green Municipal Fund Matching Grant fromthe Federation of Canadian Municipalities. To date, 30 acres ofproperty around the City have been or will be re-planted with a mix ofnative plants and northern-adapted plants in a variety of combinationsor are serving test site for weed control initiatives. The sites arelocated at Fort George Park, Carrie Jane Grey Park, University Way, thePrince George Regional Correctional Centre, parts of Highway 97,Moore’s Meadow, the Prince George airport, the BC Ministry of Forestsbuilding, and UNBC. The research will continue until the fall of 2008.

Contact:
Annie Booth, Ecosystem Science and Management professor, UNBC – 250.960.6649
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622