ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Rights-of-Way Management in Support of Biological Conservation
AUTHOR(S):	Valentin Schaefer - valschaefer@shaw.ca Douglas College Centre for Environmental Studies and Urban Ecology New Westminster, BC, Canada
Rights-of-way provide greenway linkages between fragments of natural areas. Within an urban context, rights-of-way provide connectivity between parks and other protected areas, creating larger breeding populations, better gene flow, larger food webs and greater opportunities for plants and animals to help each other reproduce. Managing rights-of-way to increase biodiversity produces a more effective natural network. The Green Links Project, started in 1995, focuses on strengthening ecological connectivity within Greater Vancouver. This urban area is on the Fraser River Estuary and delta, a major stopover point along the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds. The Fraser River itself is home to the world’s largest salmon run. Biological conversation here is of international importance. BC Hydro and BC Gas have worked in partnership on the Green Links Project to take a regional approach to biological conservation through plantings of native vegetation and putting up bird and bat boxes with student and community participation in utility corridors, backyards, and balconies. Issues and problems that had to be addressed included ownership of lands, trees under power lines, and city maintenance crews cutting new plantings. Keywords: Greenway, biodiversity, urban, connectivity, fragmentation Ref#: 6-1