This talk stresses that nature is not a frill for any rapidly growing 21st-century city. Natural lands buffer our cities against flooding, heat, and air pollution. The talk addresses how natural landscapes can be both preserved and added to Toronto’s development, and how they benefit our environment and wellbeing, in terms of climate change, biodiversity, and physical and mental health. Toronto's remarkable bird biodiversity is also highlighted - Toronto is not just a random spot on the landscape, but a very special place in terms of biodiversity. The talk illustrates how we can preserve, restore, and create more natural spaces, showcasing both successes like the Brickworks and the Meadoway, and creative new approaches that Toronto could be exploring.
Ellen Schwartzel of the Toronto Field Naturalists will give the talk: The Toronto Field Naturalists connect people with nature in the Toronto area. We help people understand, enjoy, and protect Toronto’s green spaces and the species that inhabit them. We have been offering guided walks, lectures, stewardship and citizen science initiatives since 1923
