Earth Month – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

A Greater Miracle

“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eye for an instant?”
Henry David Thoreau

What nature and biodiversity is around you today? As science teaches about various plants, and animals, wildlife and nature, awareness increases that Elephants exist in Africa, Kangaroos in Australia, Koala Bears in China. What insects thrive in Saskatoon? What songbirds remain in Saskatoon? Are there any animals that can be seen in Saskatoon? How many did you come up with?

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.”
Kofi Annan

Join the #CityNatureChallenge from April 29–May 2! Document Saskatoon’s nature in the free @iNaturalist app by taking photos of wild plants and animals—and help contribute to the world’s largest citizen science event. More at FriendsAreas.ca

Celebrate National Volunteer Week which has a theme ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’

Check out these upcoming events

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Connect with Nature

Fri, Apr 29, 7:00 PM

George Genereux Urban Regional Park • Saskatoon, SK

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Connecting to Nature. Calling all Nature Lovers

Sat, Apr 30, 2:00 PM

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area •

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Nature Lover Observation Party

Sun, May 1, 2:00 PM

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area •

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE George Genereux Nature Canvass

Mon, May 2, 7:00 PM

George Genereux Urban Regional Park • Saskatoon, SK

City Nature Challenge ID Party – Insects! Help for insect IDs/questions

Tue, May 3, 2022 7:00 PM CST

City Nature Challenge ID Party FOCUS ON PLANTS!

Wed, May 4, 2022 7:00 PM CST

City Nature Challenge I.D. Party Fungi and LIchen

Thu, May 5, 2022 7:00 PM CST

City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challenge — Lichen

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!

YouTube

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 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!

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Three Days Away

Send in your cool/unusual/rare sightings! What is way interesting during the City Nature Challenge April 29- May 2? That is only three days away! Wow

For rare sightings during the City Nature Challenge CNCYXE don’t place your iNat observation on private but do protect your rare sightings with obscured! And do let us know, so that the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County can run a press release!

In Saskatoon and area we are taking part in #CNC2022! Join us between April 29 – May 2 as we take part in this International initiative to collect information about the wildlife flourishing in Saskatoon and area.

Researchers, school groups, citizens and wildlife enthusiasts across the world will be taking part in this race against the clock to put nature on the map, submitting photos and observations of wildlife in their neighbourhoods and greenspaces through the free, easy to use iNaturalist smart phone app.

New finds! Species that haven’t been recorded in particular areas before. Important finds of rare/endangered/threatened species. Observations that have a great story that go along with them. Really cool photos. Fun finds!

Send your photos of yourself, your friends or your family taking images in nature with iNaturalist! friendsafforestation@gmail.com

Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with iNat on a smart phone

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday! We have some cool events planned coming up!

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Taking part in Conservation

Taking Part in Conservation: the Value of Citizen Science

This description is a quotation from the event page.

Join the Canadian Wildlife Federation in celebration of Earth Day and CWF’s 60th anniversary in learning how you can contribute to conservation using just a phone or digital camera.

Ordinary people turned citizen scientists are contributing valuable information every day to help conserve our natural world. Through apps and websites like iNaturalist Canada and initiatives like the City Nature Challenge, thousands of people are contributing millions of observations, filling gaps that scientists can’t accomplish on their own.

Join CWF’s English Webinar with James Pagé to hear about the value of citizen science data and how to take part.

Apr 22, 2022 at 10:am CST or 12:00pm Eastern

**************

Remember*

Spring is back!

4 days to be inspired for nature

April 29-May 2

City Nature Challenge Saskatoon

Celebrate Nature

CNCYXE

Be the Voice for Nature

More information

Friendsareas.ca

The City of Saskatoon CNC is brought to you by

Friends of the Saskatoon Aforestation Areas

The Canada Wide host for the CNC is the CWF

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

#CityNatureChallenge #iNaturalistCanada #Biodiversity Founded by @NHMLA and @CalAcademy Community Science hosted by #friendsdareas #NatureCanada #CityNatureChallenge #BioBlitz #CitSciMonth #CommunityScience #CitizenScience #UrbanNature #UrbanBiodiversity #NatureInTheCity #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureForEveryone #NatureNerd #cnc #outdoors #nature #conservation #photography #biodiversity #citizenscience #inaturalist #wildlife #plantlife #wanderlust #naturelovers #optoutside #instagood #picoftheday #volunteer #training #parks #optingoutside #CNCYXE #CNCYXE2022 #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation #citizenscience #communityscience #EcologicalEmergency #naturelovers @sasktel #inaturalist #saskatchewanbirds #yxebirds #getoutdoors #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #citynaturechallenge2022 #yxe #thegreatoutdoors #citynaturechallenge2022 #citynaturechallenge #Canadacitynaturechallenge #citizenscience #Volunteering #nativeprairie #grasslands #wildlife #bees #pollinators #prairiepollinators #ExploreSask #NatureSask #wildlifewatcher #prairielife #sasklife #nativeprairie #speciesatrisk #conservation #KeepSaskWild #socialdistance #citizenscience #wildlifephotography #beesknees #LeavetheLeaves #NoMowMay #nature4all #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation @FriendsAreas #saskatoon #saskatooning

World Health Day

This World Health Day April 7 remember the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15, and how many benefits we derive from trees and forests for our physical and mental health! Check out some of our amazing ways we are celebrating World Health Day!

April 12 A Webinar on how to create Citizen Science Events to support the Health of Our Planet!

April 13 Sorting out noxious invasives from beneficial pollinator species. City Nature Challenge Webinar.

April 25 Webinar City Nature Challenge Fungi and Lichen Observation Hints and Tips

April 26 Webinar City Nature Challenge Insect Hints and Tips

BIO blitz in person connect with nature George Genereux Park Friday April 29 at 7:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area April 30 at 2:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area May 1 at 2:00 pm

BIO blitz in person connect with nature George Genereux Park Friday May 2 at 7:00 pm

May 7 Wild Spring Fling George Genereux Park

May 8 It’s A Spring Thing! Richard St. Barbe Baker Park

Exposure to forests enhances our immune system and increases our natural killer cells.

Come out to the afforestation areas during the City Nature Challenge April 29-May 2 and take action for global biodiversity. Download the iNaturalist app and start practising taking photos of nature today!

Renew, and rejuvenate, recharge your batteries by connecting with nature

Let your children play and connect with nature also!

“Love is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility towards one’s home landscape is where it leads.” – John Elder (1998)

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Indigenous Perspective

SK Arts

We are so excited that our project is recognized by SK Arts, a public arts funder. We are very thankful that due to receiving this grant from SK Arts, our project will now be able to move forward in a timely manner to bring an Indigenous perspective to interpreting the heritage and ecology of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional park, our two Saskatoon afforestation areas replete in cultural, geographical, historical, and natural heritage.

The Indigenous and Métis history of the land that is part of the afforestation areas is one of the many stories which can be told. The Old Bone Trail, by which Métis brought buffalo bones to the rail yards in Saskatoon, passed through the RSBBAA.

There is a wealth of heritage from identifying traditional connections with nature, as well as present day local plant names and the use of native plants for healing and medicinal purposes.

Thank you kindly for your consideration in this matter. This is a wonderful project for the 50th anniversary of our Saskatoon Afforestation Areas indeed.

This is in keeping with the spirit of Witaskêwin, living together on the land. We believe this project can be part of an effective long-term strategy to focus our vision on this ideal. In a significant way this project allows the past to meet the present and future. The rich geological, historical, natural, and cultural heritage of the areas honours where we have been. Science, conservation, and hands on learning and interpretive education increases awareness of the City’s environmental goals to ensure our strategic goals are aligned into the future.

If we commemorate, honour and respect the past, and celebrate the present we can provide a legacy for the future. These stories provide residents and visitors alike, the story of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, and the West Swale to increase the awareness of the mosaic of unique natural, cultural, geological and historic features.

“Love is where attentiveness to nature starts, and responsibility towards one’s home landscape is where it leads.” – John Elder (1998)

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Being Outside advocated by David Suzuki

David Suzuki turns 86 on March 24. Suzuki has been notable as host of The Nature of Things. In 1990, he Co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation which has a mission “to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us.” The foundation advocates for sustainability, climate action, and The One Nature Challenge.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas concur that spending 30 minutes, just 1/2 hour per day connecting with nature is a wonderful habit to foster a new habit for the year.

With the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, come outside and enjoy the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Park, they are a whopping 149 hectares of forest to explore.

There are some amazing events coming up for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area for the #CNCYXE2022. Help put the City of Saskatoon on the world nature scene! Using iNaturalist take photos of plants, animals, insects and mushrooms between April 29 to May 2, 2022! Saskatoon will compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City. We need your help. By observing local nature, everyone can support vital conservation research while connecting with nature and enjoying the outdoors.

That’s not all, it is a wonderful and vibrant spring with the Jane’s Walk festival featuring two tours, and events to celebrate Arbor Week. This year SOS Trees Inc. has proclaimed Arbor Week between May 21 to 29, 2022. This is all followed by events for the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day on June 5, and the same day celebrates the 40th anniversary of Richard St. Barbe Baker’s last tree planting. How absolutely wonderful to get outside in nature and celebrate Saskatoon’s Hidden Forests on the Prairies.

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

#EarthDay2021

As part of the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Area #GivingEveryTuesday Social Media Campaign we are spreading the word about #EarthDay2021. How can we learn about and help others become aware of #EarthDay2021? Learn more about the #TakeCareOfTheAfforestationAreas campaign!

Movement

Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park on October 3

Stewards

Take care of the afforestation areas campaign

Wildlife

Check out our Canada Helps Campaigns!

2020 Green Vision

Clean Green Community Scene

Community Engagement Forest Regeneration

and how to assist on iNaturalist

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Eco-Quest :

George Genereux Urban Regional Park Eco-Quest:

Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet!

There are also new eBird hotspots for the afforestation areas also for your bird sightings, and your bird counts!

We wish you luck with what you spy with your little eye.

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

United Nations 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

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

“Creative expression, whether that means writing, dancing, bird-watching, or cooking, can give a person almost everything that he or she has been searching for: enlivenment, peace, meaning, and the incalculable wealth of time spent quietly in beauty.”
-Anne Lamott

Take Care Of The Afforestation Areas

Today, a fantastic day to celebrate Earth Day! EarthDay.org advocates hat we all take action, whether to become a citizen scientist, reduce-reuse-recycle or have a plant-based meal.

“The world’s problem, is not a population explosion, but animal explosion. We’ve got to decide whether we are going to feed animals or humans. To feed animals is a roundabout way of getting food. It takes 18 times more land to feed people on beef than on vegetables, nuts fruits and grains.” Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Earth Day Canada has a campaign #TakeCareOfThePlanet! Doesn’t that sound like the best idea ever. There are more ideas of how to become involved in Earth Day.

Today is United Nations International Mother Earth Day! How can you take action on Mother Earth Day? Check out the United Nations Act Now! app

Trees Canada has 21 most excellent ideas for how to celebrate Earth Day today.

Even Project Learning Tree has Earth Day activities for youth

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. encourages everyone to take care of the Earth, by caring for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park with our own local campaign #TakeCareOfTheAfforestationAreas! Don’t cut elm in the park. Encourage everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle then we may not see quite so much trash illegally deposited in the forest. Participate in volunteer clean up days, or don’t wait….pick up an item of trash next time you are on a walk. If everyone picked up one or two items of trash, there would soon be none at all 😉

Comment with what you are doing today on Earth day, and what you plan to do for Earth Month.

Here are some great ways to become a citizen scientist for the Earth on Earth Day; Take part in the iNaturalist observations.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Eco-Quest :

George Genereux Urban Regional Park Eco-Quest:

Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet!

There are also new eBird hotspots for the afforestation areas also for your bird sightings, and your bird counts!

Angulate And Round Shouldered Spider Genus Araneus

We wish you luck with what you spy with your little eye.

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

United Nations 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

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

“They’re teaching about The Pyramid of Life in the schools today. There is the ground producing all the soil bacteria, which is in the top few inches. That grows the grass, and a a lamb comes along and eats ten pounds of grass, and that makes one lamb, and then a tiger comes along and eats ten pounds of lamb, and that makes one pound of tiger. We have too many tigers. The Pyramid of Life is upset, and one of the things we must do is to turn from an animal economy to a silvan economy. We’ve got to have tree crops, instead of wasting all this land for raising beef and bringing money to the beef barons, who are proud to call themselves beef barons. It takes eighteen times more land to feed people on beef than it does on nuts and fruit. Eighteen times more land. When half the human family today are dying from starvation. I don’t feel justified in making these demands on the earth. I, myself have been a lifelong vegetarian. ” Richard St. Barbe Baker

Earth Day phenology

Earth Day April 22

What are you doing for Earth Day this spring?

What a great time to discover phenological changes. How does winter change to spring? What kinds of leaf budding and inflorescence blooming can you see? How are your entomological skills as the weather warms up? Perhaps your skills lay in the field of ophiology or herpetology.

Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet! In your iNaturalist tree observation include the full photo of the tree, the tree bark and the end of a branch or a twig to help with identification! If it is an evergreen make a note if the needle rolls easily between two finger and is round, or if when rolled the needle feels square.

Besides capturing the imagery of plants, flowers and trees, find out if you can sight an animal, insect or bird!

Perhaps when out walking this spring, a discovery will be made regarding the Trembling Aspen bluffs. Pay attention, as each bluff is a clone, and the trembling aspen trees you see all belong to one root, and are all one large entity. That’s not all, some Trembling Aspen bluffs are female, and others are male. In the spring when the catkins can be seen is the best time to determine if the Trembling Aspen bluff is male of female! How many Trembling Aspen bluffs are out in the afforestation areas? How many of these clonal groupings are male, and how many are female>

We would be happy to get you acquainted with iNaturalist and how fun it is to use or if you having problems using iNaturalist, just Email friendsafforestation@gmail.com and we can certainly arrange a zoom meeting with you about using iNaturalist!

Child running through the forest having a great time connecting with nature

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) May 25, 2019 — Child running through the forest having a great time connecting with nature

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Eco-Quest :

Baker Area Eco-Quest

George Genereux Urban Regional Park Eco-Quest:

Genereux Park Eco-Quest

Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet!

There are also new eBird hotspots for the afforestation areas also for your bird sightings, and your bird counts!

We wish you luck with what you spy with your little eye.

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

United Nations 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

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven. And learn tranquility.”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

we can turn things around

April 30

Did you think it was easy being green for Earth Month? Can you continue with climate action for all of 2020? Besides being the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, 2020 is also United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020. This proclamation was made for “raising awareness of the value of biodiversity amongst the general public, and developing a broad consensus across society for the actions needed by individuals and communities.”^{UN Decade Biodiversity} “The Strategic Plan was created by the United Nations. Its mission is to “take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet’s variety of life, and contributing to human well-being, and poverty eradication.” ^{UN Strategic Plan for Biodiversity}

Take action for biodiversity locally. For a second activity today; how many smaller words or anagrams can be made from biodiversity?

Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper – Cypripedium parviflorum Courtesy Judy Gallagher cc2-0

Grasshopper_SparrowSMALL CC2.0 dominic sheronY

Grasshopper_Sparrow CC2.0 dominic sheronY

American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) sighted at Richard St. Barbe Baker spring 2019

Bumblebee on rose

The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill became the driver for change, and provided the impetus for founding Earth Day in 1970. 80,000 to 100,000 barrels (13,000 to 16,000 m³) of crude oil spilled into the Santa Barbara Channel. Following this, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was created and the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were passed.

Across Canada, “in a single decade, federal and provincial governments established ministries or departments of the environment, environmental protection Acts and environmental assessment legislation….the intergovernmental Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) began to define a national list of species at risk. ” ^{Canadian Encyclopedia} The Canadian Nature Federation grew out of the Audubon Society of Canada.^{“Canadian Encyclopedia} “Recognizing the need for better environmental management, the federal government passed the Canada Water Act in 1970 and created the Department of the Environment in 1971, entrusting the Inland Waters Directorate with providing national leadership for freshwater management.”^{Environment and Climate Change}

The Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, the City of Saskatoon’s tree nurseries, were planted in 1972-1973 as part of the Green Survival Campaign in the war against ecology abuse the afforestation area exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time on developments in town-planning, and architectural landscape design program aimed at improving the future environment of the city;

George Genereux Urban Regional Park and Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area are the only places of their kind which have survived to this day from the original Green Survival afforestation project. They are afforestation areas ‘preserved in perpetuity’ based on the Green Survival Strategy which are excellent examples of the horticulture phase in the history of Saskatoon, and North America.

Take action for biodiversity at the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas.

The Green Survival Program ’Green Survival’ was an award-winning program for improving the environment, more beauty to see, and conservation of land from erosion with plantings of trees and shrubs in the fight against environmental deterioration and focusses attention on the important role that plant life plays in a healthful environment.

Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority. Bill Gates

Kathy Cronkite of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix wrote the “Green Survival War against ecology abuse. This concrete and asphalt jungle, filthy air and cold, stark, angular outlines devoid of greenery, are the characteristics of the modern metropolis. But man is instinctively against this type of life and often retreats to the country to enjoy fresh, clean air and green landscape as far as the eyes can see. …Saskatoon’s parks and recreation board has preserved the areas of Beaver Creek and Cranberry Flats and the rifle range as open space to be enjoyed by Saskatoonians in pursuit of passive recreation such as picnics. It [parks and rec] has also ventured into a massive project of planting 200,000 trees for local parks, on 600 acres of land south of Diefenbaker Park and south of the CNR station [Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area].

The Green Survival Campaign spread across North America in 1972 and 1973. “A ‘Survival’ Message Green Survival has a message. It is simply that “each individual can have a positive, meaningful effect on the quality of life by planting trees and other living plants.” The appeal of this simple message has spread across the nation, and beyond, to Canada, England, Holland and Germany.

“We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we are the last generation that can do something about it.” — Jay Inslee

“‘Green Survival’ Time. In France and in Canada’s French-speaking Quebec Province they say, “L’air pur… par la verdure.” In Germany they say, “Grun ist leben.” In some half-dozen countries, they express the message in their own language and here, all across the United States, it is said this way: “Green Survival. It’s something you do.” The term “Green Survival” is being seen in relation to almost any of nature’s growing gifts of plants and trees and shrubs. While communities have adopted programs to receive national recognition as ‘Green Survival Cities.’

“Green Survival …the battle tends to center around water and air pollution,” said Mr. Kay. “One of the most important parts of our environment has been largely overlooked – the land itself. And it is here that the individual can serve a profound role in improving the world around us.” According to the Green Survival publication, steady progress is being made toward more abundant use of plant material in urban renewal, and toward providing more open space in the center cities of America. It reports that shopping malls are “Including landscaping in their designs and highway planting is becoming more and more apparent. Industry, too, has come to grips with the necessity of pleasing surroundings -both for employee satisfaction and neighborhood good-will, the booklet states. Copies of “Green Survival and the Environmental Crisis”, explaining the role of plant material and the individual in environmental quality …Joining in an all-out national campaign to stimulate individual action in the fight against environmental deterioration” (Free Press, 1970)

Today is Thursday April 30, and celebrating Earth Month. This year’s Earth Day 2020 theme is Climate Action.

“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” — Albert Einstein

Facebook Event page

Canada Helps

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

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

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 SW 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

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Instagram: St.BarbeBaker

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Please help protect / enhance /commemorate your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers)

Canada Helps

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ^***

“While the problem can sometimes seem overwhelming, we can turn things around — but we must move beyond climate talk to climate action.” — Ted Turner

“Preparing for climate change has to be a national priority backed by tens of billions in federal investment. Lives are on the line.” — Bill de Blasio

“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

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