Urbanization: I chose this article because I reside on Vancouver Island, where we face many of the same problems as Vancouver. The island is becoming populated at a rate our structures and resources cannot keep up with. My local municipality placed us on water restrictions at the beginning of May. This article discusses the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Vancouver, British Columbia, due to climate change. It highlights the challenges urban areas face in managing extreme heat events and the need for proactive urban planning and adaptation strategies to mitigate their impact on public health and infrastructure. This…

Media Article 1. Urbanisation’s role in the climate crisis is being overlooked. https://www.ft.com/content/e9ec7f6d-27a4-4533-a4f2-7b91968e1688   Urban land areas could more than triple between 2015 and 2050, and the current way of building new cities will require vast amounts of raw materials such as sand, metals and wood1. If humanity continues to build cities in the same way we have over the past century — low density, energy and material intensive — more raw materials will be required than the planet can sustainably provide1. The projected developmental needs of urbanised populations are of vital importance to conservation measures. Conservation measures are futile…

I selected two distinct articles from 2023, both focusing on conservation in British Columbia. While both articles address conservation efforts in B.C, they offer contrasting perspectives.The first piece from the Vancouver Sun, sheds light on a concerning fact: B.C. ranks second in Canada for the number of ecosystems facing threats. It highlights the urgent need for conservation action in the face of ecosystem collapse, particularly due to threats like logging, urban development, and climate change.The absence of a national classification system for ecosystems in Canada also raised questions about how we coordinate conservation efforts effectively. It’s a reminder of the…

Conservation: The article “Ecosystem collapse caused wildlife losses akin to those of Permian-Triassic mass extinction”, study says from The Guardian highlights a dire warning about the state of our ecosystems. The study reveals that current rates of biodiversity loss could lead to a collapse on par with the devastating Permian-Triassic mass extinction event. This connection to conservation challenges us to confront the urgency of preserving biodiversity. It underscores the importance of conservation efforts to prevent irreversible damage to ecosystems and the vital services they provide. The article prompts reflection on the lessons from Unit 3, emphasizing the interconnectedness of species…

Assignment #3 Connecting Past and Present Conservation –         The documentary, “The Heart of the Fraser” evoked a profound reflection on a quote by David Suzuki, as cited in Neil Forkey’s book, “Canadians and the Natural Environment to the Twenty-First Century”: “The Fraser River’s Sockeye Salmon are in trouble. And when the salmon are in trouble, we are all in trouble.” This connection to the salmon, the Fraser River, and conservation resonates deeply, particularly as Indigenous peoples have long shared the importance of preserving this vital resource. Since the arrival of the first settlers, there has been…