(Sherry Haaima photo)
Tuesday, April 22 is Earth Day in the Ottawa Valley and beyond and the theme this year is: Biodiversity.
“Nearly three-quarters of the Canadian population cannot define biodiversity or understand how to act to preserve it,” reads an EarthDay.ca press release. “However, a large majority wants to receive information to better understand the issues and get involved.”
The goal is to encourage as many citizens, municipalities, and organizations as possible to reconnect with nature and better understand the importance of preserving biodiversity for ecosystem balance, food security, and resilience to climate change.
EarthDay.ca provides a number of action ideas to protect biodiversity.
Citizens can: Participate in a bioblitz; Join a biodiversity collage; Support a biodiversity NPO; Make a gesture for nature; and/or Take part in the No Mow May challenge.
Organizations can: Organize a bioblitz for your employees using the iNaturalist app; – Participate in a biodiversity collage with your employees; and/or Organize a clean-up day.
Municipalities can: Adopt a biodiversity conservation strategy for your territory; Protect pollinators by creating flowering meadows; Develop green infrastructure and ecological corridors in your community; and/or Participate in the City Nature Challenge with your residents.
(Sherry Haaima)