Associated with the page Commitment, initiatives and subsidies
What is a biodiversity zone?
It’s a place where interventions adapted to the characteristics and uses of the space will be carried out to create environments conducive to the presence and protection of a variety of plant and wildlife species (biodiversity).
Why create biodiversity zones?
Affected in particular by the impacts of climate change and the destruction of their habitat, species such as monarch butterflies, native bees and swallows have a precarious status, meaning that their populations have declined rapidly and significantly.
What are the objectives of biodiversity zones?
By creating these zones, and in particular by opting for maintenance methods and landscaping that encourage biodiversity, the town contributes to :
- Create a more balanced ecosystem resistant to disturbances (drought, pests, etc.);
- Encourage a greater diversity of plants and landscapes adapted to the surrounding conditions;
- Provide habitat and food for a variety of wildlife species;
- Attract pollinating insects (butterflies, bees, etc.) and birds;
- Countering the impacts of climate change;
- Preserve the region’s biodiversity;
- Raising public awareness.
Considering the different types of intervention that could be carried out in the zones (differentiated management with reduced mowing frequency, planting of perennials and grasses, etc.), tall and diversified vegetation is therefore to be expected, as well as a landscape reflecting the importance Brossard places on preserving biodiversity and the environment.
How are biodiversity zones managed?
In order to standardize the management of biodiversity zones throughout the territory, the following measures are systematically applied when developing them:
- Installation of awareness and identification signs to inform citizens of the presence of these zones and the reasons for their creation;
- Installation of wooden stakes to demarcate the area;
- Maintain a minimum two-metre clearance between the zone and neighbouring infrastructures (path, residence, bicycle path, street furniture, property line, flower bed, etc.).
What maintenance is planned for these areas?
- Mowing is carried out once a year, in autumn or spring, at a height of five inches above the ground, to preserve the natural character of the area and maintain wildlife habitats.
- No mowing is carried out during the first year of development to allow seedlings to establish without disturbance.
How can we assess and improve these zones?
Biodiversity zones are continually assessed to determine the best practices to adopt as they evolve. This approach aims to promote social acceptability, ensure the sustainability of projects and encourage the establishment of new zones in the region.
What kind of facilities are available?
In order to create a lively greening environment adapted to the surrounding environment, different types of landscaping have been developed:
Type A: Natural wasteland
- Environment left to evolve naturally without specific intervention.
Type B: Landscaping
- Located near parks and recreational areas (playgrounds, outdoor pavilions, rest areas, etc.).
- Promotes floral diversity.
- Height at maturity between 60 and 90 cm.
- Floral mix and short grasses.
Type C: Meadow
- Located close to trails, bike paths and large green spaces.
- Promotes plant diversity typical of meadows.
- Height at maturity between 125 and 180 cm (maximum 300 cm).
- Mixture of flowers, grasses and legumes, with ryegrass added as a cover crop.
Type D: Embankment
- Located close to riverbanks to promote ecological integration with the water environment.
- Height at maturity between 125 and 180 cm (maximum 300 cm).
- Mixture of flowers, grasses and legumes, with ryegrass added as a cover crop.
Biodiversity zones in the Brossard area
As part of the redevelopment project, several grassed areas were transformed to encourage greater biodiversity in the area. To achieve this, appropriate interventions were carried out to create a variety of biodiversity zones.
In fact, lawns composed of grasses and ecological ground covers (microtrefoils, thyme, etc.) will be less vulnerable to disturbances (drought, grubs, etc.) than traditional lawns (composed solely of grasses), since they will be better able to adapt to this type of stress since they contain a variety of species with distinct characteristics and therefore different strengths and vulnerabilities.
Service and maintenance
In collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada), the city is carrying out a pilot project in 2022 to promote the presence and protection of biodiversity on a stretch of land under the Hydro-Québec power lines on either side of the bike path. Additional sections will be added in phases until 2025 to incorporate new areas. Eventually, the entire corridor will offer A, B and C types of development.
To find out more about this project, please visit the following page: Biodiversity corridor
Considering the park’s geographical location – an area hemmed in on three sides by the presence of nearby housing – access for maintenance, in particular with conventional machinery, is limited. As a result, and in order to meet the city’s objectives in terms of preserving biodiversity, the design chosen for the park’s layout includes an area characteristic of flower meadows.
Note that due to the use of the area and its location, this zone has no wooden stakes and a maintained clearance space of at least two meters, typical of biodiversity zones present on the territory. However, this area is defined and maintained as a biodiversity zone.
Service and maintenance
To meet the city’s biodiversity preservation objectives, a new biodiversity zone will be set up in Valois Park as part of the park’s redevelopment (addition of water features and renovation of the children’s play area).
Service and maintenance
As part of the various construction projects planned for the region in 2023, new biodiversity zones will be created, notably in the Large Urban Park and in the Biodiversity Corridor project (phase 2).
An assessment is also underway for the integration of biodiversity zones in Poly-Aréna park by 2024-2025, as well as in other parks and green spaces on the territory in the coming years.
Preserving biodiversity in Brossard: A reminder of actions taken
To consolidate its commitment to the preservation of biodiversity (pollinating insects, plant diversity, birds, etc.) on its territory, the Town has implemented several actions in recent years, such as :
- Adoption of a bylaw governing the use of pesticides;
- Adoption of an Environmental Policy with Soil and Biodiversity as one of its priority environmental issues;
- Adoption of an environmental action plan to implement measures to promote biodiversity and pollinator conservation;
- Adoption of an Urban Agriculture Policy promoting the presence of edible gardens in urban areas;
- Monarch Friendly City certification from the David Suzuki Foundation;
- Installation of nesting boxes for Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds at the Chemin des Prairies retention basins, to provide them with shelter and help protect them;
- Creation of biodiversity zones in the Grand Parc urbain and Angers Park;
- Grant of a recurring budget for the planning and implementation of a project to create a biodiversity corridor under Hydro-Québec power lines;
- Creation of a variety of awareness-raising tools covering ecological lawn management to promote rich biodiversity and limit the use of pesticides.
As part of the funding program offered by the city to encourage the implementation of environmental and sustainable development initiatives on the territory, several biodiversity projects have been subsidized since its creation:
- Creation of a facility for the preservation and reproduction of pollinating insects;
- Creation of a vegetable garden and a community garden;
- Installation of nesting boxes to help preserve bees;
- Setting up a seed bank in schools to promote urban agriculture and the creation of a vegetable garden.