This February 2 marks World Wetlands Day 50 years ago the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) occured in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is nestled within the West Swale, created by the Pleistocene era Yorath Island Spillway. The Yorath Island Spillway connected the Glacial North Saskatchewan River Valley and the Glacial Rice Lake to the Glacial South Saskatchewan River valley in a roaring surge of water cascading across low lying areas of the Cory Plain. Today, between the existing wetlands, the West Swale is visible on Google Satellite maps as lush green growth such as one might see along a river valley. All along this channel, this implies that the water table is higher, and there is evidence of spring waters connecting the wetlands along this ancient river created in almost tsunami like conditions.
In Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is the north end of Chappell Marsh, and the south side of Chappell Marsh is in the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area. This wetlands is quite a phenomenon to discover and marvel at. The ecological succession of the wetlands does indeed bear witness in scientific fact to the quotations by Richard St. Barbe Baker. As a visionary, Baker realized the correlation between trees and the water table years ago. And now, today we are following in Baker’s footsteps…..Isn’t this a delightful story? Call for Wetland Decade under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) which states; “We call for a specific programme on Wetland Restoration under the newly adopted UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)“
A new Natural Capital Asset Valuation NCAV study is being undertaken by the City of Saskatoon YXE Green Infrastructure Strategy at both the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and its attendant wetlands and the Small Swale.
How will you celebrate the 50th Anniversary of World Wetlands Day #WorldWetlandsDay? It is truly a global celebration!
The theme for 2021 is Wetlands and Water #RestoreWetlands #WorldWetlandsDay
When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear
Richard St. Barbe Baker
What is Natural Capital? “Imagine that nature is a trust fund, and humans are the beneficiaries. Humans live off the “interest” that the fund provides — the air, water, raw materials, carbon storage and its ability to regulate climate and mitigate floods, and so on. If humans keep dipping into the capital — by clearing too much forest, for example — we’re going to see diminishing returns from those dividends, to say nothing of their ability to continue to provide benefits over time.” How can there be a price tag placed on life?
The trees and vegetation, which cover the land surface of the Earth and delight the eye, are performing vital tasks incumbent upon the vegetable world in nature. Its presence is essential to earth as an organism. It is the first condition of all life; it it the ‘skin’ of the earth, for without it there can be no water, and therefore, no life.
Richard St. Barbe Baker
University of Saskatchewan students wrote a thesis about the Natural Capital Asset Valuation on the North East Swale in Saskatoon, and now the City of Saskatoon is writing their NCAV report for the West Swale and the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is 326 acres of mixed woodlands, meadows, and wetlands preserved in perpetuity in 1972 by the City of Saskatoon council, and in 1979 it was named an urban regional park.
For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date! Canada Helps
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. ” Wangari Maathai.
“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nations saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 