University of British Columbia
OP-10: Landscape Management

As per UBC Policy No.12 Pest Control (http://universitycounsel.ubc.ca/files/2010/08/policy12.pdf), pests will be controlled whenever possible through integrated pest management, a combination or cultural and biological techniques, and selective chemical methods only if necessary.

The IPM plan follows a four tiered approach of:
1) Setting thresholds to identify the point at which action must be taken;
2) Monitoring and identifying pests to select the most appropriate control decision and the least noxious method necessary;
3) Prevention to actively manage the problem to prevent pests from becoming a problem (e.g.: active cleaning of catch basins to decrease the risk of West Nile Virus and also working in conjunction with the MOE to activate a plan if necessary); and finally
4) Control if deemed necessary by weighting the effectiveness and risk of the method chosen with the method carrying less risk and most effectiveness chosen first.

UBC Municipal Landscape Services has followed the lead of the City of Vancouver, and has attempted to suspend the use of all chemical pesticides for "cosmetic" use. This means that no herbicides, insecticides of fungicides are currently used by our landscape maintenance group on the majority of campus landscapes unless there are extenuating circumstances (i.e. public health issue (e.g. West Nile Virus), invasive plants that threaten native woodland or agriculture, or when the preservation of rare, or heritage landscape elements is critical). Herbicides are used to a limited degree inside the perimeter of two electrical power sub-stations, and a small operations plant nursery. UBC Rose Garden receives applications of fungicide on a semi-regular basis. Unfortunately, the current collection of rose species preserved in this garden would not endure without a regular, preventative treatment of fungicide.

UBC’s Integrated Pest Management Procedures are posted online at: http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/sites/riskmanagement.ubc.ca/files/Integrated-Pest-Management-2015.pdf. More information is available online at: http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/integrated-pest-management.

With chemical pest and weed control now restricted on campus, UBC Municipal Landscape Services is exploring alternative measures such as a non-toxic vinegar-based herbicides and mechanical controls such as propane torches, alternative planting approaches, organic mulches, and an increased emphasis on manual weed removal. Based on landscape crew ordering patterns this spring, projected overall use of herbicide will be further reduced in 2015.

A UBC SEEDS study was conducted in both laboratory and field testing settings to test the effectiveness of organic herbicides on the most common campus weeds morning glory, horsetail and Canadian thistle. This collaborative project has revealed synergistic properties between organic herbicides, specific weed species susceptibilities and the application methodologies and will continue to reveal where further improvements with regard to product type and application can be utilized. More information about the study is available online at: http://planning.ubc.ca/news-events/newsletter/2013-07-29/battling-weeds. The principles articulated in the above study are currently being applied to target susceptible weed species on a discretionary/as-needed basis.

UBC's landscaping practices prioritize a combination of native and adapted plants which are best suited to a long wet season and short dry season.

The Vancouver Campus Plan specifies using more native and edible plants as well as low maintenance and pesticide-free practices which will reduce water and chemical use and increase the biodiversity on campus. Interpretive education programs will facilitate teaching and learning about these landscaping practices.

UBC is obliged to adhere to provincial and federal regulations that pertain to invasive species and take the appropriate measures as needed to prevent, monitor, manage and control the introduction and spread of invasive species.

All leaves and garden waste from grounds keeping are gathered and composted at the South Campus Facility and are reused exclusively on campus as compost.

As mentioned above, compost generated at the UBC In-Vessel composter is used on planting beds on campus as well as un-composted leaves, proprietary organic mulches and composts. Wood chips from arboricultural operations are also used around trees and in planting beds.

UBC currently uses Resysta which is a wood substitute that is specified on all new development projects primarily for landscape seating. It is made of fibre reinforced hybrid material is produced of approx. 60% rice husk, approx. 22% common salt and approx. 18% mineral oil.

There are few natural creeks on campus. Those that still exist are located in the UBC Botanical Gardens are protected. The stormwater drainage for the campus is handled using an Integrated Stormwater Management approach that is mindful that the water that leaves the campus eventually is transmitted to the ocean through creeks owned by others, that are adjacent to the campus. Using LEED requirements and applying municipal best practices that include infiltration and detention techniques, extreme events (in terms of rate, quantity and quality) are moderated with cisterns and berming within defined areas to control release of stormwater to minimize erosion within the creeks and minimize damage to the riparian habitats. The Integrated Stormwater Management Plan for the campus also proposes the construction of large, sustainable stormwater management facilities that will handle outlying events and further protect the creeks from the 1 in 100 year events. The remaining natural creeks on the campus are located within the UBC Botanical Gardens are protected from development.

During periods that require snow and ice removal, the main arteries on campus are pre-salted and/ or cleared first to allow for access to the campus. Generally, the intent is to be proactive and use liquid brine in advance of snow or ice conditions, and thus reduce ice build-up and the need for excessive use of rock-salt. Our response is prioritized on the basis of safety and volume of snow and ice, and assessed daily. Weather updates are checked continuously to determine the risk and necessity to salt and assign crews to clearing operations. General landscaping vehicles are fitted with snow ploughs and salters to ensure no extra specialized vehicles are needed on campus that may increase GHG emissions. UBC uses a combination of brine, rocksalt and various deicers, which are soluble, environmentally safe, odorless, non-corrosive and fast reacting. Some deicing products have a dye to indicate the areas that have been salted to reduce duplication and unnecessary re-salting. UBC Municipal Operations is trying a new traction agent this year to supplement our other deicing materials. This product is made of volcanic mineral and is claimed to be safe and beneficial for the environment.

As per UBC's Land Use Plan (amended and approved by the Ministry on August 27 2012), and under the Regional Context Statement section ‘Protecting the Green Zone’, it is specified that the Land Use Plan:
- acknowledges and reinforces the Pacific Spirit Regional Park Management Plan (Section 4.1.1)
- encourages the preservation of additional ecological resources through its Greenway policy (Section 4.1.2.1) Tree Guideline Areas (Section 4.1.2.2), Tree Management Plan (Section 4.1.2.3), and its Green Edges policy (Section 4.1.2.4).
- calls on UBC and the GVRD to jointly address slope stability and erosion issues (Section 4.3.3b).

As per Section 4.1.2.4 Green Edges, "Green edges are designated in various areas to provide a sense of a community in a forest setting, a natural edge to roadways, wildlife habitat, and to contribute to protecting the integrity of Pacific Spirit Regional Park".
http://planning.ubc.ca/vancouver/planning/policies-plans/land-use-governance-documents/land-use-plan

The total legal boundary of the UBC Vancouver campus encloses 993 acres. UBC’s Land Use Plan divides the University into Academic areas (744 acres) and Neighbourhood land use areas (249 acres). Academic lands and undeveloped neighborhood lands managed by the University (793 acres) are included in this credit. The majority of Academic lands are serviced by Building Operations landscape crews - including building footprints, roads, paths, athletics and Student Housing. Lands leased to and managed by third-party tenants and privately-owned residences in Neighborhood lands are excluded from this credit.