“Unveiling the Wonders: Celebrating World Wildlife Day and the Extraordinary Legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker”
World Wildlife Day on March 3rd is not just a date; it’s a global celebration and a call to action to recognize the importance of wild fauna and flora in our world. This day serves as a reminder of the immense value wildlife holds and the need for its preservation. Let’s embark on a journey to discover the incalculable contributions of wildlife and delve into the profound connection between forests, trees, and the habitats they provide.
1. Biodiversity Marvels: World Wildlife Day invites us to marvel at the rich tapestry of biodiversity that encompasses our planet. From the smallest insects to the largest mammals, each species contributes to the intricate balance of our ecosystems.
2. Keystone Species: Wildlife plays a crucial role as keystone species, influencing the balance of entire ecosystems. Their presence ensures the stability and health of the environment by controlling populations of other species.
3. Ecosystem Services: Forests, in particular, offer a myriad of ecosystem services. They act as natural filters, purifying air and water, and provide habitats for countless species, contributing to the overall well-being of the planet.
4. Richard St. Barbe Baker’s Legacy: The legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker, the pioneer of global reforestation efforts, underscores the profound impact individuals can have on the environment. His dedication to tree planting has left an indelible mark on the preservation of wildlife habitats.
5. World Wildlife Fund Recognition: St. Barbe Baker’s tireless commitment earned him the distinction of being the first Honorary Life Member of the World Wildlife Fund in 1989, a testament to his outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation.
6. Habitat Preservation: Forests and trees are not just silent witnesses to the wonders of wildlife; they are active participants in ensuring habitats remain intact. Their preservation is vital for the survival of countless species.
7. Cultural Significance: Wildlife holds immense cultural significance for many communities around the world. It is entwined with traditions, stories, and rituals, highlighting the deep connection between humans and nature.
8. Climate Change Mitigation: Forests play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, making them essential for maintaining a stable climate.
9. Unique Adaptations: The incredible adaptations of wildlife species showcase the brilliance of nature. From camouflage to migration patterns, these adaptations contribute to the resilience and diversity of life on Earth.
10. Ethical Responsibility: Celebrating World Wildlife Day is not just an acknowledgment of the beauty and importance of wildlife; it is a call to action. We, as stewards of the planet, bear the ethical responsibility to protect and preserve the habitats that sustain life.
As we commemorate World Wildlife Day, let’s honor the legacy of visionaries like Richard St. Barbe Baker and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the world’s wild fauna and flora for generations to come.
Every living being is connected intimately, and from this intimacy follows the capacity of identification and as its natural consequences, practice of non-violence .. Now is the time to share with all life on our maltreated earth through the deepening identification with life forms and the greater units, the ecosystems, and Gaia, the fabulous, old planet of ours.
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. 52ยฐ 06โฒ 106ยฐ 45โฒ
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 โ Afforestation Area โ 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 โ SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) โ 355 Township Road 362-A
S ยฝ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) โ 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 โGeorge Genereuxโ Afforestation Area โ 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
Presented here are the ways in which the Saskatoon Afforestation areas and the Legacy of Saskatoon’s Secret Forest package supports the UN SDGs.
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Our goal is to aim towards UN SDG 2 -Zero Hunger- when the time is right and if approved. Richard St. Barbe Baker promoted the concept of agro-forestry in Kenya, Africa before the concept or word was invented in contemporary times. In this way Baker supported the health and survival of the Kikuyu. In a similar vein, there may possibly and perchance be a future opportunity to do restoration work in the afforestation areas in support of agroforestry endeavours, pollinator gardens, and food forests.
Contributing to UN SDG 3 -Good Health and Well-being- currently the Legacy of Saskatoon’s Secret Forest package follows Richard St. Barbe Baker’s International Tree Foundation mission โto develop a tree sense in every citizen, and to encourage all to plant, protect and love their native trees.” By protecting trees, there is protection of the 132 hectares [326 acre] Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in Saskatoon, and the 60 hectare [148 acre] George Genereux Urban Regional Park for health and wellness as people come out to an urban greenspace to reap the benefits of cycling, walking in nature which has multiple health benefits as extolled by the Canadian PaRx program, shinrin-yoku (โforest bathingโ or โtaking in the forest atmosphereโ)
UN SDG 4 -Quality Education -is supported by an educational package in pdf format available for free download for the general public, teachers, classrooms worldwide to experience place based learning and immerse in the morphology of Richard St. Barbe Baker’s humanitarian efforts advocating for forests and trees worldwide.
UN SDG 5 -Gender Equality- is supported by encouraging everyone to take Baker’s Watu Wa Miti (Forest guardian) pledge to 1/ plant ten trees, seedlings or seeds each year 2/ take care of trees everywhere 3/ Do a good deed every day. By encouraging all to do a good deed every day, then environmental conservation, stewardship and guardianship creates a safe greenspace for all users. Illegal trespass is not encouraged to support gender equality for the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas and all efforts are being followed to mitigate all illegal trespass and to encourage legitimate users and the general public of Saskatoon who honour UN SDG 5.
UN SDG 6 -Clean Water and Sanitation- has seen a great partnership with members of the community to become as Watu Wa Miti and take care of trees everywhere. Richard St. Barbe Baker said “Men and trees, water and trees, man and water are inseparable. This is the trinity of life.” As the community has repeatedly come together to protect trees, in a partnership with the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup the West Swale Wetlands named Chappell Marsh are protected. The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas have had a great partnership with the City of Saskatoon, Meewasin, SOS Trees, Montgomery Place community Association, Fatlanders Fatbike Brigade, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Saskatoon Baha‘i community, Len’s Hauling, the CISV, Childrenโs International Summer Village, and the Peace Bus programme and we are grateful to many more who have come out to restore the wetlands and greenspace environs for human visitors, the semi-wilderness habitat and the species at risk who make these areas their home. The afforestation areas situated in the West Swale is a watershed created by the Yorath Island Glacial Spillway connecting the North Saskatchewan River, and draining into the South Saskatchewan River, the locale of the City of Saskatoon’s drinking water.
UN SDG 7 -Affordable and Clean Energy- is supported in following the example of Richard St. Barbe Baker who wrote many books, and spoke on radio programs about the importance of education and awareness. The heritage and environmental tours, and interpretive programming focuses on messages by both SK Energy and Sk Power for providing to our province much needed power and energy in a cold semi-arid climate (Kรถppen: BSk) near the humid continental climate (Dfb), with typically warm summers and long, cold winters. Energy conservation strategies are brought forward in the Friends interpretive and tour packages.
UN SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities – ties well into the legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker who travelled by steam boat between the two Great Wars led campaigns around the world including the reclamation projects for the world’s deserts and protection of virgin forests from destruction. The International Tree Foundation was established by Baker at its height in over 105 countries. Baker, one of the first students at the fledgling University of Saskatchewan, always wished to have a branch of the ITF here in Canada. Working in that vision, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, work with the City of Saskatoon, Meewasin, green groups and classrooms in Saskatoon and around the world to follow in Richard St. Barbe Baker’s footsteps so vital in this era of climate change, and in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
UN SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production- is so very vital to the protection of forests and trees, along with wetland habitats. There are certain items so easy to recycle which the flora and fauna of forest and wetlands cannot use sustainably. By following Baker’s Watu Wa Miti pledge “take care of trees everywhere” the legitimate users in the forest help to support a “Leave no Trace” greenspace ethic. Reduce, reuse, recycle takes action on waste reduction- and protects our forests and wetlands.
UN SDG 13 – Climate Action- is supported by this Green Survival initiative of the City of Saskatoon to plant and preserve 660 acres of afforestation areas in 1972. The early parks department initiative of 1972 did indeed follow Baker’s Watu Wa Miti pledge to 1/ plant ten trees, seedlings or seeds each year 2/ take care of trees everywhere 3/ Do a good deed every day. Richard St. Barbe Baker founded, assisted and inspired were responsible for planting at least 26 billion trees, internationally, during his lifetime. International groups founded from his inspiration, continue onwards planting trees! โWhen the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appearโ.~Richard St. Barbe Baker
UN SDG 14 – Life below water- is supported by realizing and supporting the legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker Baker said, “Trees above all are the beings which attract the waters of the Trees above all are the beings which attract the waters of the firmament, conserve them in their shade, govern the whole vegetable kingdom in its great economy of water, leading it gently into springs, streams and rivers and maintaining fertile potency in the soil of a region.“
UN SDG 15 – Life on Land- is honoured time and time again by the work, teachings, and legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker. โThe importance of forests cannot be underestimated. We depend on forests for our survival, from the air we breathe to the wood we use. Besides providing habitats for animals and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change. Yet, despite our dependence on forests, we are still allowing them to disappear.โ (WWF, 2019) The World Wildlife Fund WWF, made St. Barbe the very first inaugural Honorary Life Member.
UN SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – was apparent in Baker’s holistic worldview as he met and learned the Kikuyu language in Kenya Africa, and implemented an agro-forestry campaign to provide food for a population facing extirpation from colonial slash and burn agricultural methods employed at the time of Baker’s Kenya posting as Assistant Conservator of Forests. From there Baker went on to create this working model of the International Tree Foundation, which inspired the formation of other World Green Groups. Ecologists, environmentalists, conservationists who knew Richard St. Barbe Baker were honoured and grateful to spoke to the legacy of Richard St. Barbe Baker during the heritage documentary.
UN SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals- has been discussed already in this article. Local groups adopting stewardship and guardianship roles for the afforestation areas as users of the greenspace are amazing in supporting the UN SDG goals as mentioned. International environmental groups, and persons locally and from around the world coming together to advocate for the example set by Baker, supports local and UN SDG goals is totally enlightening! The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas have seen some remarkable examples of the provincial motto; multis e gentibus vires: from many peoples, strength. Richard St. Barbe Baker had a similar motto, Twihamwe or Twahamwe, a word from the Kikuyu of Kenya, Africa.
โKind people have been expressing superlatives on my work. But I can assure you that anything which I have been able to achieve has been team work. We have a motto in the Men of the Trees. TWAHAMWE. It is an African word meaning โpull togetherโ and I pass this on to all those concerned with conservation in this country. I would like to call you to silence for a moment with the words of Mathew Arnold:
โCalm soul of all things, make it mine, To feel amidst the City โs jar That there abides a peace of thine Men did not make and cannot mar. โ
World Wildlife Fund “[WWF], along with many colleague and partner institutions, is focusing on 2020 as a โsuper yearโ for nature. ”
Young bucks
Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane
Also on the World Wildlife page is a quotation by Sir Julian Huxley from 1960, the year the afforestation were bought by the City of Saskatoon, โPolitics we shall always have with us: but if wild life is destroyed, it is gone for ever, and if it is seriously reduced, its restoration will be a lengthy and expensive business.โ
Their five year planย “will begin by working in iconic Canadian spaces that are high in ecological riches and are facing existing or pending development pressures.”
The non-profit group, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., formed to continue to hold steadfast to the 1972 goal to “preserve the afforestation areas in perpetuity” as decided by City Council.ย The City of Saskatoon and the P4G long range planners have designs for all the land areas around the afforestation areas.
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. 52ยฐ 06โฒ 106ยฐ 45โฒ
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 โ Afforestation Area โ 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SW 23-36-6 โ SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) โ 355 Township Road 362-A
S ยฝ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) โ 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 โGeorge Genereuxโ Afforestation Area โ 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
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)
Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year).ย Pleaseย donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfersย Please and thank you!ย Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated.ย Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
โSt. Barbeโs unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing โThe Man of the Treesโ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.โ Allan Grainger
โThe 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 manโs aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation 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 Godโs loveliest creatures โ the tree.โ ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.
โI 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.โ Richard St. Barbe Baker
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 