Greenspaces and natural corridors help improve our health and support the environment. The City of Winnipeg plays a key role in protecting and maintaining these spaces and the biodiversity they support.
Greenspaces in Winnipeg include public and private areas with natural or planted vegetation. Some examples are:
- Riverbanks
- Parks
- Golf courses
- Cemeteries
- Forests
- Yards
- Stormwater facilities such as retention ponds
- Trails
- School yards
- Boulevards
- Other natural areas such as prairie, meadows, or wetlands
Natural corridors are interconnected natural spaces that support the movement of people, plant and animal species and support increased biodiversity. Examples of natural corridors include rivers and creeks, utility corridors, and treed streets.
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals, and the environments in which they live. It also includes the natural processes that keep these living things and their habitats healthy.
The Greenspace Plan and the Biodiversity Policy will be the first of their kind for the city. They will help ensure these valuable spaces are protected as the city grows and densifies. They will address the following:
- Expanding greenspaces: Increasing and improving public greenspaces to boost biodiversity and give residents more access to nature.
- Creating and maintaining natural corridors: Connecting greenspaces with natural corridors to support wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
- Protecting ecologically significant land: Protecting and expanding Winnipeg’s natural areas and urban forests to improve air quality, reduce heat, and support diverse species.
- Climate resilience: Incorporating green infrastructure like forests and wetlands to enhance biodiversity and help protect against climate change.
- Community and stakeholder engagement: Involving local communities and stakeholders in planning. This will help to ensure inclusive and effective management of greenspaces.
Greenspace and Natural Corridor Plan Bylaw
The bylaw will include goals, policies, and actions that:
- Help protect, manage, restore, and improve parks, waterways, and natural areas all year
- Support efforts to adapt to and reduce climate change
- Add 1,000 more acres of greenspace and natural corridors
Biodiversity Policy
The policy will:
- Make biodiversity and greenspace protection, restoration, and growth a priority in City processes
- Help guide planning for green infrastructure
- Address how the City will meet the Montreal Pledge
Guiding policies and commitments
Policy direction
The Greenspace Plan and the Biodiversity Policy is guided by policies outlined in OurWinnipeg 2045, Complete Communities Direction Strategy 2.0 (CCDS 2.0), and the Winnipeg Parks Strategy, as well as key direction in Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan (WCAP).
Honouring Indigenous perspectives
The Greenspace Plan and the Biodiversity Policy will reflect the knowledge, interests and values of the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples. This work is guided by the City’s commitment to the Indigenous Accord, the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP acknowledges that “respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment”.
Montreal Pledge
On July 13, 2023, City of Winnipeg Council endorsed the signing of the Montreal Pledge. The Montreal Pledge is a global initiative calling on cities to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. It sets out 15 tangible actions to coordinate biodiversity conservation efforts locally and to inform collaborative and inclusive decision-making processes.
