Metro Vancouver, Pitt Meadows expand Codd Wetland conservancy by 63 hectares
Metro Vancouver and the City of Pitt Meadows have reached a long-term agreement to protect an additional 63 hectares of forested land at the Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area.
Announced July 8, the 25-year lease agreement will see Metro Vancouver manage the newly protected lands as regional parkland, further expanding one of the region’s most significant natural conservation areas. There is an option to extend the arrangement for another 25 years,
Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald said the agreement aligns with the city’s long-term environmental goals.
“Pitt Meadows is proud to be known as The Natural Place, and protecting our abundant greenspaces and natural beauty is an important part of our community’s vision,” MacDonald said. “By working together to conserve these lands, we are helping to maintain the quality of life that residents value while contributing to a healthier and more resilient region.”
The expansion is the latest step in an ongoing effort to grow the ecological conservancy. Since 2019, Metro Vancouver has added more than 110 hectares to the protected area, including 54 hectares on Thompson Mountain and another 59 hectares of wetlands and forest.
The newly leased property consists primarily of mature forest containing Douglas-fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, bigleaf maple and alder. Two streams flow through the site before emptying into Blaney Creek at the northern edge of Blaney Bog Regional Park Reserve in Maple Ridge.
According to Metro Vancouver, protecting the land will help preserve biodiversity, maintain natural carbon storage and support ecosystem functions that contribute to flood mitigation and climate resilience.
“For over 50 years, Metro Vancouver has played an important role in protecting the region’s natural areas, and this partnership with the City of Pitt Meadows means that we can continue our work to build a resilient network of regional parks and greenways in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge,” said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, who chairs of Metro’s board.
The lease also supports Pitt Meadows’ Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan and Climate Action Strategy, which identifies the protection of environmentally significant wetlands and forests as a key objective.
Anmore Mayor John McEwen, chair of Metro’s Regional Parks Committee, said preserving sensitive ecosystems is becoming increasingly important as development continues across the region.
“Parks and green spaces are key to the region’s livability, providing opportunities to be active and escape from urban life, while mitigating climate change and protecting important natural areas,” McEwen said. “Sensitive ecosystems are disappearing as the region grows, so this significant addition to Codd Wetland is a gift to current and future generations.”
Metro Vancouver first acquired Codd Wetland in 2004 with support from the Province of British Columbia, the City of Pitt Meadows, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, Ducks Unlimited and the Aquilini family.
The conservancy protects habitat for a wide range of birds, fish, mammals and amphibians, including species that have disappeared from many developed areas of the Lower Mainland.
Because of its ecological significance, Codd Wetland is not currently open to the public. However, Metro Vancouver said its long-term vision includes creating public access through trails across the newly protected lands, connecting eastward into the upland areas of Blaney Bog.
The agreement builds on a longstanding conservation partnership between Metro Vancouver and Pitt Meadows, which have previously collaborated on protecting lands within the Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area and the Pitt River Regional Greenway.
