“We want people to come, learn and participate in the discussion about the critical importance of nature in cities...”
Photo: Tourism Vancouver
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) wants you to rediscover nature in your backyard at NatureTalks – City of Life: Rediscovering Nature in Your Own Backyard, happening on November 20 at Science World in Vancouver. Moderator Duncan McCue, Host of CBC Radio One’s Cross Country Checkup, will lead the discussion with a panel of top thought leaders, including scientists, artists and prominent community figures.
The event will shed light on a new era of urban nature in Canada. “For a long time, and probably still for most people, we see nature and cities as separate. If you want to see nature, you go to a nature reserve… but there’s a big transition happening,” says Dan Kraus, senior conservation biologist at the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
“It’s partly because the air and water in our cities is much better than it was a couple of generations ago. So across Canada, we’re really seeing some of the biggest and most ambitious ecological restoration projects happening within our urban areas... wildlife is returning.”
Photo: Tourism Vancouver
This is especially true in Vancouver, where local parks serve as habitat for endangered and rare species. For instance, over 240 different species of birds have been found in the Still Creek Corridor, more than anywhere else in Vancouver. This includes one of the largest urban great blue heron nesting colonies in North America. Several species at risk have also been documented, including Johnson’s hairstreak, a globally imperilled butterfly.
Similarly, Fraser River Park, which includes tidal flats, alder thickets and a restored wetland, provides habitat for the globally vulnerable Henderson's checker-mallow. The Canadian range of this colourful wildflower is restricted to estuaries and tidal flats in southwestern BC.
Still Creek Corridor and Fraser River Park are two areas included in NCC’s new list of the top 10 nature hot spots in Vancouver. The full list will be revealed on November 20 at NatureTalks, ultimately aiming to inspire attendees to rediscover the benefits of nature in their own backyard of Vancouver.
Speakers will include Dr. Kai Chan, Professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia; Dr. Melissa Lem, Physician and CBC Life Commentator; Fernado Lessa, Photographer and Author for the Urban Salmon Project; Robyn Worcester, Natural Resource Management Specialist for Metro Vancouver; and Dan Kraus, NCC’s Senior Conservation Biologist.
Find out what other hot spots made the new top 10 list by attending the upcoming NatureTalks event at Science World on November 20. Get your tickets today at natureconservancy.ca/naturetalks-vancouver.
