Biodiversity Action Plan

A black-eyed susan, a bee and a cardinal on a green and white background.

Nature plays a fundamental role in supporting all elements of a sustainable, resilient city: fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, healthy food to eat and materials for shelter. By planning for biodiversity, cities are bringing nature back by reintegrating natural systems and services into the urban landscape.

As one of the goals outlined in the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, we are developing a Biodiversity Action Plan for Kingston with the support of ICLEI Canada. The plan will be a valuable guide that identifies and prioritizes opportunities to improve community biodiversity, sustainability and resilience.

We'll bring together City staff, community partners and local organizations who are directly affected by biodiversity challenges to take part in a Biodiversity Working Group that will guide the creation of the strategy.

Throughout the process of drafting the Biodiversity Action Plan, we will:

  • Assess the conditions, threats and conservation challenges of local natural areas
  • Review existing municipal policies and strategies related to biodiversity
  • Determine the region’s biodiversity assets and challenges
  • Develop actions and policies to guide next steps and performance metrics to measure our progress

We're using ICLEI Canada’s BiodiverCITIES Handbook to guide our biodiversity planning process. Through the creation of this plan, we will complete Milestones 1, 2 and 3.

Have your say

Climate change affects all of us — your input matters as we build a more resilient Kingston together. Share your input in the biodiversity mapping tool by June 30.

Stay informed

Project updates will be shared on this page and with project followers. Use the Stay Informed feature on this page to subscribe to receive updates in your inbox.

A black-eyed susan, a bee and a cardinal on a green and white background.

Nature plays a fundamental role in supporting all elements of a sustainable, resilient city: fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, healthy food to eat and materials for shelter. By planning for biodiversity, cities are bringing nature back by reintegrating natural systems and services into the urban landscape.

As one of the goals outlined in the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, we are developing a Biodiversity Action Plan for Kingston with the support of ICLEI Canada. The plan will be a valuable guide that identifies and prioritizes opportunities to improve community biodiversity, sustainability and resilience.

We'll bring together City staff, community partners and local organizations who are directly affected by biodiversity challenges to take part in a Biodiversity Working Group that will guide the creation of the strategy.

Throughout the process of drafting the Biodiversity Action Plan, we will:

  • Assess the conditions, threats and conservation challenges of local natural areas
  • Review existing municipal policies and strategies related to biodiversity
  • Determine the region’s biodiversity assets and challenges
  • Develop actions and policies to guide next steps and performance metrics to measure our progress

We're using ICLEI Canada’s BiodiverCITIES Handbook to guide our biodiversity planning process. Through the creation of this plan, we will complete Milestones 1, 2 and 3.

Have your say

Climate change affects all of us — your input matters as we build a more resilient Kingston together. Share your input in the biodiversity mapping tool by June 30.

Stay informed

Project updates will be shared on this page and with project followers. Use the Stay Informed feature on this page to subscribe to receive updates in your inbox.

  • Kingston Climate Summit biodiversity workshop

    At the 2026 Kingston Climate Summit, held on June 3 and 4, approximately 50 participants took part in a biodiversity workshop led by Little Forests Kingston and the City of Kingston. Each group took on the identity of a more-than-human species, such as Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth, Red Fox and Swamp White Oaks.

    Participants used scenario-based thinking to prepare a short brief for their more-than-human kin that will be used to inform the Biodiversity Action Plan. Each group discussed numerous considerations, including where they are

    At the 2026 Kingston Climate Summit, held on June 3 and 4, approximately 50 participants took part in a biodiversity workshop led by Little Forests Kingston and the City of Kingston. Each group took on the identity of a more-than-human species, such as Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth, Red Fox and Swamp White Oaks.

    Participants used scenario-based thinking to prepare a short brief for their more-than-human kin that will be used to inform the Biodiversity Action Plan. Each group discussed numerous considerations, including where they are located, what sustains this species, what they provide, what threatens them and what a successful biodiversity plan looks like for them.

    Illustration of a swamp white oak with descriptions of the species. A description of the swamp milkweed species.

    A description of soil and its value for biodiversity.

    A description of a red fox and what the species needs from a biodiversity plan.

    A word map for the common eastern bumblebee, including its habitat and contributions to biodiversity.

    An illustration of a wild cherry sphinx moth and its contribution to biodiversity.

    A description of the pileated woodpecker and its contribution to biodiversity.

    A description of the green darner dragonfly and its contributions to biodiversity.

Page last updated: 12 Jun 2026, 03:13 PM