British Columbia Institute of Technology
OP-9: Landscape Management

The built environment was excluded from the area of managed grounds - this includes all buildings, paved roads, pedestrian areas and parking lots.

BCIT takes a proactive approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within Landscape operations, ensuring that herbicides or pesticides are used only as a last resort. Our approach is as follows:

•  Planning – using best management practices, contracted scopes of work, landscape design, and management systems.

•  Identifying – educated staff and contractors work together to proactively monitor our campus landscapes for plant stress, signs of damage, and any indicators related to the presence of pests. Community outreach platforms (social media etc.) are used when dealing with threats such as the recent Japanese beetle,  Emerald ash borer, etc.

•  Control decisions – making timely decisions through the lens’ of sustainability, factoring in natural beneficial insect response, plant selection, plant health care, maintenance, and industry best practices.

•  Implementing strategies – defining approaches and strategies that align with desired outcomes. Herbicide use is not permitted at any of our campuses unless approved by BCIT and in line with our Invasive Plant Management Plan to deal with invasive noxious weeds as defined by both the Invasive Species Councils of BC and of Metro Vancouver.

•  Evaluating/monitoring – tracking and documenting effects and efficacy each step of the way including ongoing monitoring.

The following are segments from BCIT's current Landscaping Management Services Agreement, specifically Schedule A, Sections 5.16 and 5.17 (2023):

.16 Weed and Pest Control for Turf and Planted Areas

a) Contractor shall follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) procedures in controlling weeds and pests.

• Weeds are to be mechanically removed. Any herbicide/pesticide use and the application schedule must be pre-approved by the Liaison and follow the BC Ministry of Environment’s Pest Control guidelines (e.g. 30m from Riparian Zone).

• Contractor’s staff who will be applying the herbicide/pesticide must have a valid and current Pesticide Applicator’s certificate. A copy of the certificate must be provided to the Liaison prior to the application of any herbicide/pesticide.

.17 Maintenance: Weed Control Around Buildings, Sidewalks and Parking Lots

a) Removal of weeds from the exterior of building surfaces, edges of and within sidewalks and paved areas, and parking lots to be performed FOUR (4) times per year (i.e. March/June/August/October) using mechanical methods that remove root as well as vegetative top. Removal techniques to follow IPM protocols. The work includes:

i. Removal of all debris resulting from the removal of weeds. Sweep or blow all sidewalks, stairs, etc. throughout the campus after weeds have been removed.

ii. Removal of weeds using herbicide applications from the exterior of building surfaces may be required, as directed by the Liaison.

One of BCIT’s seven goals within its Sustainability Policy is to become ecologically restored. Toward this, there is intent to increase the overall tree canopy and other plants to provide shade, biodiversity, and reduced heat island effects.  Planting beds with shrubs, ground cover and vines are maintained with elements of pest control and water conservation. 

Guichon Creek, running through the main Burnaby campus, has been partly daylighted and naturalized and the development plan is to do the same for the rest of the creek. The creek is maintained regularly to protect and provide important ecosystem benefits such as storm water mitigation, improvement of air quality, and riparian area enhancement. There is also a plan to manage the campus forest by removing invasive species and planting species to be part of a mature forest under projected climate change conditions. Xeriscaping will be used across campus with drought tolerant plants.

New guidelines state preference for native plantings and embedding natural spaces and gardens that incorporate Indigenous ethnobotanical plants as well as fruit trees and edible gardens. 

BCIT’s approach to plant stewardship is supported by several strategies and initiatives:

• ·  Campus Design Guidelines (2024) that lay out high-level principles for sustainability, development plans, a commitment to using the Envision Framework for all infrastructure projects, and specific guidelines for all aspects of natural and built design.
• ·  Tree Planting Strategy: standards to ensure an increase in tree canopy, with wider diversity of species that will be viable and drought-resistant in the future. Includes a heat map, targets, and list of plants tailored to climate change.
• ·  Invasive Plant Management Plan: guiding document for managing invasive plants at all campuses, including maintenance planning and activities, inventory management and tracking, riparian and forest land management best practices, and treatment plans. 
• ·  Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program: ensures that herbicides or pesticides are used only as a last resort.
• ·  BeeCIT Pollinator Program. This BCIT Facilities Services operational program employs educational workshops, honey bee hives and education, landscape tours, sustainable planting, edible foraging gardens, and maintenance best practices that support pollinators and wildlife while educating and engaging the BCIT community.
• ·  Stormwater Management Strategy: criteria for the performance of surface stormwater corridors and features with regards to water sources, quantities, retention capacities, and other requirements to that planting plans are match to anticipated conditions. Green infrastructure best management practices have also been identified.
• ·  Foraging Map: of BCIT’s network of edible gardens that encourage pollinators, support biodiversity, and providing foraging opportunities for those on campus.

One of BCIT’s seven goals within its Sustainability Policy is to become water balanced. This is supported by the new Campus Design Guidelines (2024) that pulls together specific strategies related to water, including:

Water management:

• Commitment to managing campus potable Water Use Intensity (WUI) to enable BCIT to meet the regional water management expectations and contribute to community climate change resiliency.
• Campus water is to be metered at each building and in the landscape to measure baseline water use intensity. All new facilities are to use high efficiency fixtures where possible.
• Xeriscaping is encouraged to reduce irrigation water use. If irrigation is required, the use of rainwater harvesting and grey water detention is encouraged. All potable water used for irrigation is to be metered.

Storm water management:

• Storm Water Management Strategy strives for a water balanced target to provide resiliency to campus infrastructure while improving natural hydrological systems, riparian ecosystems, and biodiversity.
• Infiltration infrastructure should be integrated into the landscaping design in a natural manner with preference for native plantings and passive systems.
• Preference to direct stormwater runoff into naturalized vegetated bioswales and rain garden systems prior to discharging into the storm sewer system and ultimately Guichon Creek. 
• Climate change impact on precipitation intensity and volumes should be incorporated into all stormwater management design.
• Stormwater Design Strategy identifies criteria for rate control, volume retention, water quality, and conveyance for all future development and land use. 

·        Rainwater Harvesting program: This program has expanded and includes two more rain catchment tank locations (an additional 7,000 gallons) and a new total of 90 waterwise planters and 90 tree watering bags. 

BCIT’s current landscaping standards focus on the implementation of best practices for sustainable maintenance, including replacing invasive species with native species when possible. We also recycle and compost all green waste generated through landscaping activities.

The Tree Planting Strategy and other guidelines aim to reduce the heat island effect which would also reduce the need for energy-intensive cooling systems.

 The Campus Design Guidelines stipulate that landscape plans for development projects should use plant lists to incorporate species appropriate for specific areas of the campus and that meet climate change, operations, and maintenance objectives.

See sections above on approaches to plant stewardship, water management, and landscape materials management.

In 2024, BCIT finalized its Campus Design Guidelines (https://www.bcit.ca/files/facilities/campusdev/pdf/240722_bcit_campus_design_guidelines.pdf) to support future development that fosters a sense of place among the community while enhancing inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, wayfinding, and sustainability. These guidelines pull together existing and new strategies to advance sustainability in all aspects of natural and built design. 

BCIT’s Grounds and Landscaping webpage (https://www.bcit.ca/facilities/facilities-services/grounds-landscaping/) includes links to the following documentation:

• Burnaby Campus Tree Planting Strategy
• Stormwater Design/Management Strategy
• Invasive Plant Management Plan
• Foraging/Edible gardens map