Event Title
From the ground up: greening brownfields in our community
Description
Vancouver currently has an estimated 4000 brownfields, and this number increases dramatically when the context is stretched to include Canada on a whole. Our research team proposes that phytoremediation, the in-situ remediation of contaminants from brownfields, be adopted as a strategy for revitalizing brownfield sites within the City of Vancouver. With urban renewal and revitalization on the increase, these lands require reclamation rather than drawing from existing greenspaces that are currently in use for food production. Left undeveloped, brownfields have little positive economic value and remain an eyesore within the community. Contamination may be real or perceived but the potential for harm to human health is real. This proposal expands on research conducted that studied the potential for utilising native plants in phytoremediation projects. A literature review was conducted and the PHYTOREM © and BC Plant Species databases were cross-referenced. Notwithstanding the lack of this application on a smaller urban scale it is the opinion of the research team, that field studies be entertained at the expense of the polluter and that potential sites exist within the Cedar Cottage/Kensington neighbourhood in Vancouver.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Brownfields--British Columbia--Vancouver; Phytoremediation--British Columbia--Vancouver
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Session
Poster Session
Genre/Form
posters
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
Vancouver (B.C.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
phytoremediation, native plants, urban brownfields
From the ground up: greening brownfields in our community
Vancouver currently has an estimated 4000 brownfields, and this number increases dramatically when the context is stretched to include Canada on a whole. Our research team proposes that phytoremediation, the in-situ remediation of contaminants from brownfields, be adopted as a strategy for revitalizing brownfield sites within the City of Vancouver. With urban renewal and revitalization on the increase, these lands require reclamation rather than drawing from existing greenspaces that are currently in use for food production. Left undeveloped, brownfields have little positive economic value and remain an eyesore within the community. Contamination may be real or perceived but the potential for harm to human health is real. This proposal expands on research conducted that studied the potential for utilising native plants in phytoremediation projects. A literature review was conducted and the PHYTOREM © and BC Plant Species databases were cross-referenced. Notwithstanding the lack of this application on a smaller urban scale it is the opinion of the research team, that field studies be entertained at the expense of the polluter and that potential sites exist within the Cedar Cottage/Kensington neighbourhood in Vancouver.