The Urban Conservation portfolio of Calgary Parks and Open Spaces is seeking to develop a 10-year habitat management plan for Douglasdale Park natural habitat area located along the Bow River in SW Calgary.

The project will produce a 10-year HMP document (including maps and annual workplans) that will inform city staff on how the park should be effectively managed, identifying both operational and capital investment, that ensures positive ecological outcomes for the habitat.

The desire to protect natural areas in Calgary dates back to 1914, when the Mawson Plan identified riverbank protection as a priority for Calgarians. The need to protect and conserve natural resources and the many benefits they provide was then more clearly articulated in 1978 with the creation of the Calgary River Valleys Plan. The plan identified the significance and importance of protecting and managing the riverine environment and surrounding park spaces from future development. Since that time, various municipal policies, plans and frameworks have been developed, which further provide a strong foundation and support for ongoing conservation and restoration of Calgary’s urban natural areas, including more recently, the Natural Area Management Plan and Our BiodiverCity.