The Douglas College Newsletter ™ New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus

 

Val Schaefer: Where the

wild things are

To Val Schaefer, cities are
more than just concrete
jungles. They provide
habitats for hundreds of
wild creatures and the
“wilderness” can be as
close as your balcony,

rooftop garden, or
backyard.

The value of these
habitats is explored in
Schaefer’s new book,
Urban Biodiversity:
Exploring Natural Habitat
and its Value in Cities,
published by Captus
Press of Concord, Ont.
Schaefer, Institute of
Urban Ecology Executive
Director and Biology and
Environmental Science
instructor, co-authored
the book with Hillary
Rudd and Jamie Vala.

Psychology

“People used to think of
urban landscapes as not
very valuable, especially
in BC, because we have
the (Queen) Charlottes,
we have the Carmanah
(Valley), so the focus is on
old growth forests,” said
Schaefer. “So we found
ourselves looking at the
value of nature in the city
and how you tell what's
important in the city and
what isn’t.”

Schaefer and his
colleagues demonstrate
the enormous
opportunities for
increasing biodiversity in
urban areas. They estimate
the amount of potential
habitat literally sitting in
the yards of single family
residences in the Greater

Vancouver Regional

District is an area equal
to the size of 15 Stanley
Parks, or 6,000 square
hectares.

“That’s 15 Stanley Parks
and you dont have to buy
it, you don’t have to raise
taxes to get it, it’s just
there,” said Schaefer. “All
you have to do is treat

it as wildlife habitat and
plant it better.”

The 329-page textbook
took two-and-a-half years
to put together, but is
based on years of work
and experience. Schaefer
says it should appeal to

a broad audience, from
those interested in urban
ecology to landscape
architects.

Schaefer, who is also

Director of the Centre for

meeting of minds

It was a first-time meeting of the minds when the Psychology Department hosted a

reception for the new Douglas College/UCFV BA program on October 6 at the New
Westminster Campus. This Fall marks the launch of the joint program, which is a

partnership between Douglas College and the University College of the Fraser Valley.

Students in the program can take all four years of a BA in psychology at Douglas and

receive a BA from UCFV.

 

 

 

College President Susan Witter (centre row, third from left) spoke to the gathering
of students and faculty at the reception, hosted by Humanities and Social Sciences
Dean Graham Rodwell (back row, second from left) and Psychology Chair Kathy
Denton (centre row, fourth from left).

November 2004

Environmental Studies
and Urban Ecology,
said he wanted to give
people tools to actually do
something positive.

“T teach at Douglas
College because I’m

very interested in

making a difference in
the community, and

a community college
offered that,” he said.
Schaefer will launch

his book on November
24 at an event to be

held at the Fraser River
Discovery Centre. Urban
Biodiversity: Exploring
Natural Habitat and its
Value in Cities, is available
at the Douglas College

Bookstore.

IN

Douglas College

    
 

Institute of Urban Ecology Executive Director Val
Schaefer has a new book out: Urban Biodiversity:
Exploring Natural Habitat and its Value in Cities,
published by Captus Press of Concord, Ontario. Schaefer
co-authored the book with Hillary Rudd and Jamie Vala.

 

 

Institute of Urban Ecology
celebrates 10“ anniversary

The Institute of Urban
Ecology (IUE) reaped a
rich harvest in September
at its 10th anniversary
celebrations.

Foundation Board chair,
Bill Gartside, and College
President Susan Witter
were presented with a
cheque for $75,000 by the
Real Estate Foundation
of BC (REFBC) ata
September 28 reception

marking the Institute ‘s

milestone. It’s the first half

of a commitment totaling
$150,000 over two

years and will be used to
continue the [UE’s work
of enhancing biodiversity
in urban areas.

The Douglas College

Foundation has until
March 31, 2005 to match
the $75,000 donation.
The foundation is already
two-thirds of the way
there, thanks to new
donations of $25,000
each from Jack Cewe Ltd.
and Lafarge Construction
Materials.

The REFBC has
previously given the [UE
endowment funding of
$250,000. In 1999, Jack
Cewe Ltd. and Lafarge
Construction Materials
committed to a donation
of $25,000 each as a

part of the College Pit
Operators Partnership.

Their new donations show

a strong commitment

to the habit restoration
projects that are carried
out by the IUE.

Schaefer calls the
anniversary the [UE’s
“20/10 celebration” of the
20 years of environmental
projects performed at
Douglas College on a
model that eventually
became the Institute of
Urban Ecology 10 years
ago.

Over the years, the IUE
has involved over 7,000
volunteers in plantings
and watershed cleanups
and presented educational
events to almost 20,000
students and community

members.

 

 

Quote of the Month

“The trouble with normal is it is always getting worse.”

Bruce Cockburn,

Canadian Songwriter