The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Sustainability is fundamental to the mission of AIPH: to build a balanced and prosperous future for all, sustaining the planet for this generation and the next.
Artwork by NIPPAYSAGE et Société du parc Jean-Drapeau
Monitoring, Maintenance, and Management
How has the initiative been designed and implemented so that long-term needs for management and maintenance are reduced and can be met?
The implementation of sustainable management practices will reduce the frequency of annual maintenance compared to traditional lawn areas due to a reduced mowing frequency, as well as their greater tolerance to drought and grubs. By 2030, 40% of lawns should be replaced by zones that support greater biodiversity, such as prairies. It is expected that the increased use of native perennials will reduce the need for horticultural maintenance as these plants are generally better adapted to the environmental conditions of the area.
The prioritization of ecological and sustainable methods outlined in the management plan for green and blue spaces will ensure that, over the long term, natural processes to take over with very little human intervention in these ecosystems. For example, the control of invasive plants, the ongoing monitoring of these efforts, and the use of bioengineering in the restoration of riverbanks will ensure a more natural evolution of the ecosystems in the park.
To prevent potential damage to landscape features and amenities, various guides are being developed for employees and stakeholders. These guides serve as tools to help in decision-making and environmental protection when intervening on a site within the park, thereby reducing maintenance requirements. These tools include a site utilisation guide for promotors and a trail and road use map that specifies which paths can handle certain vehicles and to ensure no one drives through the green spaces.
What protocols are in place to facilitate monitoring of results?
The completion of the Master Plan required a new performance-based management process that was specific and measurable enough to be able to monitor and report on.
In a progressive way, the park is currently:
Establishing priority initiatives and action plans to be deployed, based on targeted objectives;
Investing significantly to ensure profitable, sustainable, responsible development and efficient use of resources;
Adopting a results-based management approach that will allow the gradual implementation of a management dashboard.
The SPJD has moved from a means-based management approach to a results-based approach. This evolution allows the SPJD to meet the targets defined in the Master Plan and ensures accountability for their achievement. The SPJD is committed to maintaining accountability and transparency in its governance by communicating all relevant information to the public interest
The SPJD aims to achieve a high level of excellence in all its areas of activity. Performance management will allow for benchmarking, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on project progress. This reform will enable the organization to measure and be evaluated on the delivery and quality of its services.
How has the initiative been enhanced in response to monitoring of results?
Learning and sharing knowledge are facilitated through several efforts, both internally, within the park, and externally, in exchange with other municipal entities and partners. The Master Plan lays the groundwork for many educational opportunities and exchanges of knowledge. For example, bio-indicator surveys and monitoring in the forested area will be part of research-action projects in collaboration with universities and the Ecological Transition Campus as well as in partnership with indigenous traditional knowledge experts to inform both park operations staff and the project design team to guide the redevelopment and restoration plans. Communication strategies include adding informational signs to explain our ecological practices and way to enhance and protect biodiversity in urban parks. In addition, parks grounds staff are engaged in a process of learning and adopting new ecological management practices, including methods to reduce pesticide and herbicide use, planting strategies that augment biodiversity and operations that encourage naturalisation in the park.
