PESTEL analysis for landscaping industry of Nanaimo - Essay Example

? PESTEL ANALYSIS FOR LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY OF NANAIMO PESTEL Analysis for Landscaping Industry of Nanaimo Government regulations on the use of pesticides The government of Nanaimo seeks to reduce the level of pollution in its environment. Singling out the use of pesticides as the biggest contributing factor to the high level of pollution, the government banned the use of pesticides on the home lawns in the city. According to Pesticides Free BC (2013, web), not only do the pesticides affect the soil and air, they also affect water. Side effects of the use of pesticides are far more reaching than the just affecting the human population. Since they last for long time in the soil, they lead to the destruction of aquatic life, as rainwater washes them away into the water bodies. They also dissolve into the soil, affecting the underground water sources. The contamination of the water and soil affects wildlife and insects. Since the ban, resear4ch indicates that there was 80% decrease in the three major pesticide pollutants, 2, 4-D, Dicamba and Mecoprop (MCPP). The agency also hopes to create a sustainable soil for agricultural purposes in the region. Over time, the government hopes to reduce the amount of contamination with the environment through such bans (pesticides free BC 2013, web). The law prohibits the use of and application of the pesticides for maintaining vegetation established for aesthetic or ornamental purposes. According to Bylaw Background (2013, web), ornamental vegetation include outdoor trees, shrubs, and lawns, and thus, the law too prevents the use of any form of pesticides on these types of vegetation (Bylaw Background, 2013, web). The landscaping industry has to use more pest-resistant plants for landscaping, and at the same time changes their plans on how to maintain people’s landscapes. Growing recommendation for the use of indigenous plants There is a growing appeal to the local people of Nanaimo to use indigenous plants. There are a number of reasons necessitating the use of native plants over the use of green lawns in the city of Nanaimo. With native plants being more draught free and disease resistant, they also require less fertilizers and lesser time (“GoNanaimo.com” 2013, web). Additionally, these plants offer food and shelter to the birds, bees and butterflies, this increasing natural environment. The growing concern for the use of the native trees for the nursery necessitates the teaching of the people on the methods of caring for the trees, especially due to the ban on the use of pesticides. Advice on the best way of caring for the native plants points out that the people should keep on watering the plants for a while in order to avoid drying or even attack by pests. There are however reasons why the government shows increased concern on the use of these native trees. According to www.nanaimo.ca (n.d., p. 5) foreign invasive plants contribute to the destruction of the parks in the city. Not only does this negatively affect the natural vegetation, it also contributes to the loss of the beauty of the region. The government also provides residents with information on the best ways of dealing with invasive plants in the region (“www.nanaimo.ca” n.d., p. 6). By systematically removing them in the place throughout the year reduces their prevalence and spread. To increase the vegetation cover of the indigenous plants, people plant the indigenous plants in the area previously infested with the invading plants, thus making it impossible for the invading trees to thrive (“www.nanaimo.ca” n.d., p. 6). Subsequently, the landscaping industry has to change its strategy, and this adopts the use of the indigenous plants in the region to avoid government fines. With people obeying government directives, companies that fail to adopt these trees are likely to lose business to those that opt to comply. Climate of Nanaimo Landscaping in Nanaimo is an all year round business. Various firms take part in the landscaping business, which increases business opportunities for local investors in the region. Climate is one of the contributing factors to this reality. With the region being at the right at the northern part of the world, it receives the sunrays at an extreme angle. The fact that the place does not receive direct sunrays is the main reason why the region does not suffer from high levels of temperature (Nanaimo Rhododendron Society 2013, web). Nanaimo experiences a maritime climate characterized by moderately warm temperatures in summer. In winter however, it experiences moderately cool temperatures, which falls to as low as 15.3 degrees. With the region experiencing occasional outbreaks of modified arctic air during winter, temperatures can fall as low as negative 10 degrees (Nanaimo Rhododendron Society 2013, web). Nanaimo receives moist of its rains in the months of October and March, which on average ranges between 12 and 15 cm (5 or 6 inches) per month. However, it is rare for the region to experience rainfall during summer periods, which falls between June and August (tripadvisor 2013, web). This climate makes it suitable for agricultural and lumbering activities. The climate makes a great tourist attraction region, being surrounded by close top twenty parks. With its proximity to the ocean, the regio9n experiences many microclimates year round (Nanaimo Rhododendron Society 2013, web). Sociocultural Environment: The population of Nanaimo has increased over the past few years, increasing from 70,000 in 1996 to over 78,000 in 2006 (City of Nanaimo, 2009). With this growth comes an increase in immigration to Nanaimo, influencing the overall cultural atmosphere. According to 2006 Census data, 21.8 percent of the population is 65 or older, and another 10,000 residents will be over the age of 65 by 2010 (City of Nanaimo, 2009). This means that the landscaping industry of Nanaimo hope3s to make more business in future, as a result of the increased population in the region. Overall, in 2009, retail expenditures in the Nanaimo region are estimated to be $2,281.6 billion. Per capital retail spending decreased from $17,500 to $17,000 while per capita income increased from $25,700 to $27,800 from 2008 to 2009 (City of Nanaimo, 2012a). The landscaping industry could benefit from this growth, as it means more business for them. With a per capita growth in a region, businesses hope in the growth due to increased investment and output, and all industries target such increases in order to expand their businesses. Vancouver Island University represents a significant factor to the socio-cultural environment of Nanaimo. Enrolment in Canadian Universities has grown tremendously over the last 30 years rising from 550,000 undergrad students in 1980 to 994,000 in 2010. The total number of grew from about 77,000 graduate students in 1980 to almost 190,000 in 2010 (The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, 2011). The landscaping industry should look forward to having more professionals working in the industry due to increased enrollment in the universities. Moreover, approximately 36% of Nanaimo’s labour market holds post-secondary qual­ifications, comprising of people aged at least 20 years and above (“Economic Development Office of the City of Nanaimo” 2010,). In term of income level of the residents, the median household income of the district in 2005 was $45937, which was below the provincial average of $52709 for the British Columbia (City of Nanaimo, 2009). With a low-income level for Nanaimo residents, the landscaping industry should consider designing new structures that fit the income for these families. Technological Environment The city of Nanaimo has grown technologically. Currently it is using online communication technology as a form of information exchange between community organizations and residents of the city. Organizations see the increased opportunities presented by the use of online communication between the residents of the region, hence the level of dedication in the funding of these projects (McQueen, 1996). The landscaping industry, especially firms in this region should take the opportunity of this growth in technology to improve the services that it offers to its customers, especially by providing them with easy and efficient online communication methods. According to Norton, et al. (2013) “As globalization and widespread popularity of new and innovative forms of communication expand, Canadians are making greater use of new information technologies at home and in the workplace.” This is an indication of the high level of technological uptake in the region. With an increase in the level of technological uptake by Nanaimo firms, industries improve in the quality of services and products provided to their customers. Additionally, they reduce the time and costs involved in the industry. Subsequently firms in the landscaping industry hope to benefit from such a development. Moreover, there is an increase in the uptake of technology from other industries into the focal industry in the region, as more industries and homes use technology such as the Internet (Norton, J., Ham-Rowbottom, K. & Schrier, D., 2013). From this analysis, the landscaping industry of Nanaimo faces a number of opportunities and threats. The government, having banned the use of pesticides in the region means that there is an increase in the demand for the landscaping industry. Subsequently, it also hopes to gain from the increased recommendation by the government to used indigenous plants rather than foreign plants. Firms in the industry need to develop the required plants in the landscaping of their clients. Additionally, there are hopes of having more business, as people seek to change their landscape cover. Another opportunity for the industry is an increase in the level of population, the increased use of technology in the region as well as the increased per capita income of the place. This means that the industry receives an increased growth and expansion. Additionally, with an increase in the level of student enrollment in the region, there is a likelihood of an increase in the number of professionals working in the area. However, it faces a number of threats, among them being the low household incomes, which means that people cannot afford to spend in their surrounding environments. Works Cited Bylaw Background 2013, “Nanaimo-quality city services through innovation; City of Nanaimo” retrieved 18 November 2013 GoNanaimo.com 2013, “natural abundance plant native nursery”, retrieved 18 November 2013, Nanaimo Rhododendron Society 2013, “Climate of Vancouver Island”, retrieved 18 November 2013, Pesticide free BC 2013, ‘Pesticide free BC’, retrieved 18 November 2013, Tpadvisor 2013, “Nanaimo Weather and When to Go”, retrieved 18 November 2013, www.nanaimo.ca n,d., “Controlling INVASIVE PLANTS: Information and Process Package, City of Nanaimo”, retrieved 18 November 2013 Read More