Delta council will be writing to the provincial government in support of having Roberts Bank added to the local Ramsar designated wetlands.
Earlier this fall, a large area, including Burns Bog, Sturgeon Bank, South Arms Marshes, Boundary Bay, Serpentine Fen and the former 586-hectare "Alaksen" Ramsar site, was given the Ramsar designation.
The international recognition, created from the Convention on Wetlands held in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty meant to embody the commitment of member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of Importance.
Delta, in cooperation with Metro Vancouver and senior governments, made the application for the bog to receive Ramsar status two years ago.
At the time, Roberts Bank was left out of the Ramsar application because the province was still in the process of designating the Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area, said Mike Brotherston, Delta's manager of climate action and environment.
"Provincial staff did not want to delay the submission of the Ramsar application so the decision was made to wait for the Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area to be formally designated and make application to amend the boundaries of the Fraser River delta Ramsar site once the designation was complete," he stated in a written report to council.
The current Ramsar designation covers more than 20,000 hectares. Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area would add another 8,700 hectares.
The wildlife management area does not include all of Roberts Bank. Water lots owned by Port Metro Vancouver and Tsawwassen First Nation are excluded.
"The intention by the province is to nominate the wildlife management area ... it excludes the water lots between the causeway that is Tsawwassen First Nations and the water lots that are the port's," Brotherston said. "When council first provided support for the Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area (WMA) letters were sent to the port asking for them to also include their water lots or areas not actively associated with port activities in the WMA and they responded that they were not considering that at this time."
Coun. Sylvia Bishop said it seemed odd and disappointing the whole Roberts Bank area not be included.
Following the announcement of the Ramsar designation, Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington voiced her concern that Roberts Bank had been left out.
"It is as if half the Fraser delta doesn't exist. Roberts Bank is already being targeted by federally managed Port Metro Vancouver, which makes the decision not to include it in the Ramsar designation all the more questionable."
