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For
decades,
the
Seine
River
Corridor
within
the
urban
landscape
has
been
severely
impacted
by
development.
The
remaining
ribbon
of
habitat
is
squeezed
by
residential,
commercial
and
industrial
land
uses.
Despite
this
trend,
there
still
remains
many
significant
areas
with
vegetation.
These
areas
along
the
corridor
provide
habitat
for
many
species
of
flora
and
fauna.
An
important
factor
of
the
riparian
habitat
quality
of
a
'green'
area
is
to
maintain
the
largest
amount
of
native
plant
species
and
conversely
have
the
smallest
amount
of
non-native
plant
species.
Generally
speaking,
the
fewer
disturbances
to
these
sensitive
areas,
the
fewer
non-native
species
are
expected
to
be
present.
The
City
of
Winnipeg
has
graded
habitat
along
the
Seine
River.
The
habitat
quality
is
based
on
'A
to
D
Quality'
ranking,
with
'A'
being
the
most
sensitive
to
disturbance.
Improving
low-grade
habitat
areas
is
far
more
difficult
and
costly
than
protecting
the
existing
high-grade
areas.
For
over
a
decade,
Save
Our
Seine
has
conducted
annual
Greenings
at
various
locations
along
the
Seine
River.
These
areas
are
carefully
selected
based
on
their
need
for
additional
native
species.
The
reintroduction
of
these
plants
helps
to
recover
the
original,
natural
habitat
while
also
providing
other
benefits
such
as:
(1)
Dense
vegetation
provides
greater
cover
and
expands
the
areas
for
animals
to
comfortably
move
about
to
forage,
rest,
mate
etc.
(2)
Planting
trees
and
shrubs
along
the
banks
of
the
river
lessens
riverbank
instability
and
decreases
erosion.
This
benefits
habitat
for
aquatic
species
of
mammals,
reptiles,
amphibians,
birds
and
of
course
fish.
(3)
Planting
trees
closer
to
areas
disturbed
by
development
creates
a
Buffer
Zone
between
the
habitat
and
unnatural
area,
providing
a
natural
barrier
to
lessen
the
severity
of
'stresses'
from
the
adjacent
developed
areas.
Factors
such
as
artificial
lighting,
vehicle
noise
and
domestic
pets,
often
only
meters
away
from
the
riparian
habitat,
contribute
to
stresses.
The
Annual
Greening
Event
occurs
every
spring.
Possible
sites
are
inspected
in
advance
in
consultation
with
the
City
Naturalist,
and
appropriate
tree
species
and
sizes
are
selected
and
ordered.
Trailers,
wheelbarrows,
buckets,
pumps,
shovels,
refreshments,
hoses,
trees,
soil,
wood
chips
and
other
materials
and
equipment
are
waiting
early
in
the
morning
for
the
volunteers.
Locations
for
new
trees
are
carefully
selected
to
provide
maximum
benefit
to
the
habitat.
Plantings
may
require
adding
topsoil
to
the
hole,
a
weed
blanket
around
the
tree,
wood
chips
over
top
and
a
stake
to
mark
new
trees.
Several
heavy
buckets
of
water
are
required
to
give
every
tree
the
greatest
chance
of
survival.
Over
the
summer,
the
Urban
Green
Team
makes
sure
additional
watering
is
done
as
required.
Local
residents,
families,
students,
SOS
members
and
other
community
groups
like
Scouts
and
Sea
Cadets
meet
at
the
greening
location
and
plant
hundreds
of
trees
and
shrubs.
Instructions
and
a
short
demonstration
are
provided
and
moments
later,
citizens
of
all
ages
are
expertly
handling
the
young
saplings
and
carefully
placing
in
the
ground.
Greenings
are
always
an
extremely
rewarding
day,
and
provide
those
involved
with
the
pleasure
of
looking
back
on
the
day's
hard
work
and
imagining
a
future
forest
where
saplings
were
just
planted.
Greenings
improve
the
habitat
Quality
and
raise
awareness
about
the
Seine
River
Environment
through
active
community
stewardship.
RELATED
LINK:
SOS
Annual
Greening
at
former
city
dump
(02.06.01)
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