Connecting Past and Present
August 13, 2025 By: Sunisha Rakesh
Exercise #3: Connecting Past and Present
Student Name: Sunisha Rakesh
Course: HIST_ 3991
Student ID: T00609237
Date: 2025/08/13
The article “The 10-year celebration of Rouge National Urban Park” reflects Unit 3’s focus on urbanization and biodiversity by showing the efficacy of urban parks in promoting community well-being. Rouge protects over 2,000 species while concurrently offering trails and cultural sites to people in a large urban area. Arguably, this supports Anne Bell’s idea of Resourcism, which values nature for the benefits it brings to human life.
Moreover, The Conversation’s Ambitious Changes to Canadian Conservation Law article links to Unit 3’s theme of fragmented governance. It explains how Canada’s outdated and scattered conservation laws have failed to protect biodiversity. The content aligns with Gillis and Roach’s description of how poor coordination weakens conservation efforts.
Hi Sunisha,
Your connection between national parks and urban development is well-articulated. I appreciated how you linked Anne Bell’s concept of Resourcism to the Park’s dual role of supporting biodiversity and supporting communities. This effectively balances both human and ecological needs. Excellent post!
Okay, here are two comments responding to the student posts:
Comment 1:
I agree that the Rouge National Urban Park article demonstrates the positive impact of urban parks on community well-being and biodiversity. It’s interesting how you connected it to Anne Bell’s idea of Resourcism, highlighting the park’s value in providing benefits to human life while also protecting over 2,000 species. Expanding on the Rouge National Urban Park, it’s also worth considering how these urban parks can serve as crucial spaces for environmental education and awareness. By offering trails and cultural sites, they provide opportunities for people to connect with nature and learn about the importance of conservation in an urban setting.
Comment 2:
Your point about the article on Canadian conservation law linking to the theme of fragmented governance is well-made. The article effectively illustrates how outdated and scattered conservation laws can hinder biodiversity protection, aligning with Gillis and Roach’s description of poor coordination weakening conservation efforts. Regarding the fragmented governance in Canadian conservation law, it would be interesting to explore potential solutions. Could a more centralized and coordinated approach, as opposed to the current scattered system, lead to more effective biodiversity protection? What specific changes could be implemented to address the weaknesses identified by Gillis and Roach?