What is the difference between humans and Himalayan blackberries? Himalayan blackberries provide food and wildlife habitat, but both behave as invasive species. So, what is the definition of an invasive species?

B次元官网网址淎n invasive species is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial concerning other species, invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and economic damage,B次元官网网址� according to Wikipedia.

This quote sums up what is happening to what once was B次元官网网址淲ise, Wild, SookeB次元官网网址� and so many places in what once was B次元官网网址淪uper Natural BC.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 heartbreaking and sickening to experience the total disregard for wildlife and habitat that used to make Sooke uniquely special. Why canB次元官网网址檛 we as humans expand our definition of community to include other live beings who live here, too B次元官网网址� a genuine housing for all policy?

I was told by a Sooke District governing official in a speakeasy at The Stick about five or six years ago that the previous council was allowing developers to buy out of the bylaw that stated they must retain a certain amount of the land being developed as green space.

Honestly, I see no evidence of this being different from the current council. And please donB次元官网网址檛 give these developments cute nature names that deny the total displacement and possible death of the animals, migratory birds, indigenous plants, trees, and other species that existed there before the takeover of habitat.

B次元官网网址paper articles tell us that our extended drought is due to an overly warm Pacific Ocean between here and Japan. (ItB次元官网网址檚 being called a double El Nino effect, that sounds better than global warming).

Science knows now that intact coastal forests create inland rain. ItB次元官网网址檚 tough not to be upset all the time about whatB次元官网网址檚 going on here. But major kudos to Sooke District councillors who had the intestinal fortitude and political will to vote for the official community plan. At least thatB次元官网网址檚 a start to creating some environmental policy and protection for Sooke, whereas delays allow for the current unchecked Langfordian policy of taking it all.

IB次元官网网址檝e lived in Sooke for seven years, and I donB次元官网网址檛 know how many times IB次元官网网址檝e given the requested input to some Sooke planning public input events with no perceivable change. No wonder people give up trying. But when greed and selfishness are the bottom lines for those who donB次元官网网址檛 consider anything or anyone else, they donB次元官网网址檛 give up.

Of course, weB次元官网网址檙e a divided community. Some of us care about wildlife and habitat protection.

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Barbara Green

Sooke

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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