British Columbia’s Pure Sunfarms, a subsidiary of Village Farms International announced it has completed the first phase of its wildlife enhancement project through the Beneficial Management Practices program.
The initiative will transform 1.5 acres of Pure Sunfarms’ Delta property to create a natural habitat supporting native bird and aquatic species. The 2023/24 year marks the first year the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food allowed cannabis producers to participate without ‘Farm Class’ land and make use of the cost-sharing incentive program for environmental restoration work.
“At Pure Sunfarms, we care deeply for the land on which we operate, and we want to minimize our impact so future generations can enjoy it as well. This focus on sustainability drives every part of our cultivation business,” said Orville Bovenschen, President of Pure Sunfarms. “I want to thank the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture for including cannabis producers in their initiatives. It marks a huge step forward in recognizing our business as an important contributor to agriculture in British Columbia.”
As part of the enhancement project, Pure Sunfarms has introduced over 800 plants, trees and shrubs across its property including the Red Alder, indigenous to British Columbia, as well as classic coastal species like the Douglas Fir and Black Hawthorn. Plants and native shrubs feature the Pacific Willow and the Nootka Rose plant from Vancouver Island. The environmental enhancement project will provide an important habitat for local wildlife, including the population of Delta’s designated Important Bird Area, which include resident and migratory birds such as waterfowls, raptors, cranes and other wading birds.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, under the Beneficial Management Practices Program. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
