Burns Bog is the largest domed peat bog on the west coast of North America. It covers an area of about 40 square kilometers and occupies a quarter of Delta, British Columbia, about 25 km southeast of downtown Vancouver. It is named after the former owner, Patrick Burns of Burns Meat Packaging.

This unique ecosystem sustains a wide variety of flora and fauna, including 24 species of mammal and 150 bird species. Numerous zoning codes have been enacted to protect the bog from development and retain its original state in hopes of preservation for future generations. The bog is thought to be a major regulator of the region's climate, since there is no drainage and all the rain fall is ultimately evaporated. Highway 91 and flood control measures for nearby farms have cut off periodic flooding and drainage that previously fed into the bog.

According to Environment Canada and other groups, the bog ecosystem is under threat from the proposed South Fraser Perimeter Road.

The southern part of the bog contains a landfill for the city of Vancouver.

In March 2004, 2,042 ha (5,045 acres) of Burns Bog was purchased to be protected as the Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area. The four purchasing partners are the Province of British Columbia, the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the Corporation of Delta, and Canada. A legally binding conservation covenant placed on the property will ensure Burns Bog is protected and managed effectively as a natural ecosystem. On behalf of all partners, the Greater Vancouver Regional District will act as the lead managing agency.

For More Information:
Burns Bog - Wikipedia
Burns Bog Conservation Society

Source: Wikipedia (All text is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License)