Edmonton is increasingly naturalizing green spaces. Here's what that means
![Naturalization Program The city hopes to bring greater awareness to the importance of Edmonton’s Naturalization Program.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2021/7/28/naturalization-program-1-5526799-1627507280089.png)
The city hopes to bring greater awareness to the importance of Edmonton’s Naturalization Program.
For more than 25 years, Edmonton has been working to revert parts of the city to a more natural state, according to the city.
The city naturalizes areas in an effort to protect the land, air, water, and biodiversity.
“United Nations declared this decade the decade of restoration. It is a call to action for every city and country around the world in preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of the environment,” said Nicole Fraser, the city’s general supervisor of parks and road services branch.
“Naturalization is one of the ways we are building a healthy climate and resilient city for future residents,” she added, speaking on a tour of a naturalized area of the Storm Water Management Facility at Grange Community on Wednesday.
The city wants input from Edmontonians on the naturalization program and is looking to educate the community on why their surroundings are slowly changing including longer grass, introduction of native species, and more insect and animal species.
“We definitely hear a mix of people’s opinions on what type of aesthetic they would prefer. Some people really prefer the manicured, mowed, no weeds at all, no long grass type of aesthetic. Other people prefer something more natural and naturalized,” said Fraser.
The city presented a list of economic and environmental benefits.
Economic benefits:
• Avoiding overloaded drainage systems and lower risk of flooding
• Reduced maintenance cost such as mowing
• A sustainable local food production
Environmental benefits:
• Native plants, birds, and wildlife are able to re-establish themselves
• Food for native pollinator species and plants
• Plants reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases
• Plants stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion
• Providing windbreaks for snow capture and dust reduction
The program is designed to improve quality of life through improving Edmonton’s aesthetic and encourage people to spend time outdoors.
Catherine Falk, landscape technician with the City of Edmonton, says the city will not naturalize high-use park areas such as soccer fields.
“It is definitely a balancing act and we want to listen to the community on their needs and how they use those area so that we can understand that,” said Falk.
Since 2014, a total of 280 hectares of maintained parkland has been naturalized, according to the city.
“Spending time in nature helps reduce stress and a lot of the stresses of the world. If you go out and spend 10 minutes in nature, you will feel rejuvenated,” said Falk.
In the beginning stages of naturalization, Edmontonians should expect to see long grasses, small trees, and shrubs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6858855.1713902549!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.