Nanaimo city council is asking the provincial and federal governments to help preserve the unique ecosystem in Harewood Plains.
The city has received a subdivision and development permit application for the land, which includes dedicating five per cent of the land as park space and a no-build, no disturbance covenant on a section of the land designated as an environmentally sensitive area.
Paul Chapman, executive director of the Nanaimo Area Land Trust, told council during its meeting on Monday that Harewood Plains is a critical ecosystem for Nanaimo’s official flower, the Hosackia Pinnata.
“How rare is Hosackia Pinnata? Like I said, 85 to 98 per cent of it exists on the Harewood Plains and the majority of that within the City of Nanaimo,” he said.
Before the motion passed unanimously, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog cautioned that the real question is if the provincial and federal governments will respond to council’s call to protect Harewood Plains.
