Vegetation Protection Areas

• Author: Brandon Hanson
• Pages: 194-197

194 Sustainable Development Code: Climate Change

VEGE TATION

PROTEC TIO N ARE AS

Brandon Hanson (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Vegetation protection areas or zones designate sections of the land to be

restored or kept as plant life. In vegetation protection areas local govern-

ments create zones that limit development and/or require the zone to only

have plant life and, in some circumstance s, native vegetation. Native plant

life is benecial not only for the environment but also for the community

because native species require less water and ma intenance, making the a reas

less expensive to mainta in.1 is ordinance should be drafted in a way t hat

focuses on particular areas that have the most benecial vegetation, which

are often wildlife habitat are as.2 A local government can create varying levels

of protection in a vegetation protection area, such as primary a nd secondary

areas. e primar y vegetation area is fully protected while the secondar y veg-

etation area establishes a variety of criteria to permit development.3 Having

varying levels of protection provides local governments with t he exibility to

implement policies that are more tailored to their needs concerning native

plants. Local governments ca n implement vegetation protection areas as part

of a comprehensive green plan or as a standalone ordinance. Often a protec-

tion zone is located near wetlands or preserves to limit development in areas

that are essential for wildlife habitats.

While this ordinance protects an area from being developed other ordi-

nances help regulate based on species.4 Protection areas are gea red to pro-

tect critical species that are found in singular or multiple areas, while other

ordinances in this C ode are aimed at protecting existing vegetation, native

species, and eradicating invasive species from the jurisdiction as a whole (See

Require Native Trees and Removal of Invasive Trees; see also Require Use

of Native Plants/Vegetation). In a vegetation protection zone the removal of

vegetation for development purposes can be prohibited completely or lim-