Winter 2018 NCC magazine

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undeveloped land like Bunchberry Meadows, the five families felt the looming pressure to sell, but also realized the value of this land in its natural state. Not wishing to sell to developers, they approached NCC. After visiting the Bunchberry property, NCC quickly recognized the unique opportunity the property offered. “It was a chance for us to get Edmontonians involved in securing a property that they could experience themselves,” says Ceh. “Most other NCC properties in Alberta are in rural areas. But Bunchberry is a perfect fit for Edmonton and area families who want to spend time in nature. Here, they can immerse themselves in a natural setting without having to invest a lot of time and effort getting to the property.” The trails are designed for easy walking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, with several options for short or long excursions. Small interpretive signs along the way help visitors understand what they are viewing and what lives there. Access to nature Edmonton is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. In the last six to seven years alone, the city has grown by almost 15 per cent. Should the pace of this population growth continue, it is estimated that the city would need no fewer than 150,000 new housing units in the next decade. Edmonton has sprawled outward in ever-expanding suburban neighbourhoods, into agricultural areas and aspen parklands. Today, more than 80 per cent of Canadians live in large and medium-sized cities. With more Canadians living in cities, access to nature is becoming increasingly critical. In fact, there is growing evidence that time in nature improves our overall physical and mental health. A study by Stanford University found that walking in nature yields measurable mental benefits and may reduce the risk of depression. There is also increasing recognition about the important services that nature provides to nearby communities and cities. Forests, wetlands and grasslands all play an important role in protecting our water, air and climate. The carbon that is stored in natural habitats is critical for mitigating climate change. These natural habitats also remove air pollution, and provide important services to local communities by filtering and storing water. Visitors to Bunchberry Meadows are welcome to hike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and connect with nature, but NCC has also posted a set of guidelines to ensure the natural values of the property remain protected. There is increasing evidence that time in nature improves our overall physical and mental health and that natural areas near urban areas help us understand their importance to our own well-being. Moreover, access to natural areas like Bunchberry Meadows near urban areas is increasingly being recognized as an important tool in helping people understand the importance of wild places to their own well-being. It’s become one more argument for the need to conserve such places. “Support for conservation is stronger when we care about places and their natural values,” says Erica Thompson, NCC’s senior national director of conservation engagement. “We believe that by providing Canadians with opportunities to forge personal connections with the natural world, we can foster a culture in which a conservation land ethic is a very important part of the national fabric.” In fact, it was the recognition of this relationship between personal experiences and a strong conservation ethic that prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to launch the #NatureForAll movement during the IUCN 2016 World Conservation Congress. The movement is a collection of partners, including organizations like NCC, with a portfolio of privately protected areas, national parks, zoos and aquariums, working together to connect and inspire people through experiences in nature and about nature. As Thompson describes, “#NatureForAll is a call to action to address the growing disconnect between people and the natural world, and to inspire a love for nature.” BRENT CALVER. 10 WINTER 2018 natureconservancy.ca
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: BRENT CALVER, MIKE DEMBECK, RICHARD DOUCETTE. Urban wilderness Many NCC properties are located within 100 kilometres of large urban centres, and provide opportunities for Canadians to connect with nature, such as the Rattlesnake Bluffs natural area on the outskirts of Kamloops, BC. Bordering Crown land to the north, Rattlesnake Bluffs is home to birds such as white-throated swift, red-tailed hawk and cliff swallow, as well as yellowbellied marmot, bighorn sheep that migrate through the property and the rare (and timid) western rattlesnake, which occurs in the area. Just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Kamloops, it’s a perfect place for school classes or families to spend time exploring and learning about nature in their backyard. On the other side of the country, NCC is working to establish a 379-acre (153-hectare) urban wilderness park within the Halifax Regional Municipality. The proposed park is only a few kilometres from downtown Halifax, is located on a city bus route and is already a very popular outdoor destination in the west end of the city, says Craig Smith, NCC’s program director for Nova Scotia. “Close to several city neighbourhoods, it is very accessible to people of diverse backgrounds.” The area is very rugged, and includes red pine and oak forests and two lakes. Several examples of rare jack pine and broomcrowberry barrens are found in the area, and it is home to over 40 species of breeding birds. Whether the property is near an urban centre or more remote, NCC staff develop access plans with a conservation-first approach. Trails and facilities are kept to a minimum. “Our top priority is to conserve and restore nature,” says Thompson. In fact, she adds that NCC is developing a visitor management framework to ensure activities such as hiking do not have negative consequences for the natural features NCC aims to conserve on each property. The framework will guide decision-making on trail design and location, as well as infrastructure, such as interpretive signage. Back at Bunchberry Meadows, I follow the trail across the grassy meadow and enter an aspen forest, where a sign at a trail junction offers the option of returning to the parking lot or taking another loop to visit a different portion of the property. I make a mental note to return in the near future and see what other natural treasures are revealed on the loop trail. At the small parking lot, I visit the interpretive kiosk to confirm the route I took and the significance of what I saw. Here, a list of visitor ethics is posted to remind guests to tread lightly when they visit. A tidy picnic area with a few tables and a restroom completes the available amenities. NCC staff are busy developing a stewardship plan to ensure the visitor footprint will be minimal, and the property’s values maintained in the long term. I leave, reflecting on the many ways that Bunchberry Meadows is a special place for Edmontonians and others to immerse themselves for a while in the ebb and flow of life in the wild.1 #NatureForAll Working together to connect and inspire people through experiences in nature #NatureForAll is a global movement to inspire a love of nature. At its core is a very simple idea: the more people experience, connect with and share their love of nature, the more support and action there will be for its conservation. The mission is simple, yet powerful — working together, partners will help create a culture of conservation and a diversity of opportunities enabling us all to fall in love with nature. #NatureForAll aims to inspire the next generation of stewards who know and care about the natural world, by connecting people with nature. natureforall.global/natureforall-canada NCC’s Rattlesnake Bluffs natural area, Kamloops, BC (left) and Williams Lake property, Halifax, NS natureconservancy.ca WINTER 2018 11
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2018 Get outside Access to w
Page 3 and 4: Contents Nature Conservancy of Cana
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Page 7 and 8: BACKPACK ESSENTIALS Big sky skating
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Page 15 and 16: Western screech-owl Volunteers in S
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Page 19 and 20: NATURE DEFINES US Our country is fi

Winter 2018 NCC magazine

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