Canadian Wildlife Federation – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

City Nature Challenge Results

There is no doubt about it, the people who took part did take action towards global conservation efforts. It was Great to Be the Reason Nature Believes in Humanity. Thank you one and all for taking part for Saskatoon and Area!

View our Thank You Video!

To see the results and observations for our involvement in the City Nature Challenge, check out both iNaturalist Saskatoon and Area AND BioSmart portal for Saskatoon and Area. In Saskatoon we had amazing support from the City of Saskatoon for the City Nature Challenge.

The Saskatoon Nature Society came on board, and really pulled through! The City of Saskatoon entomologist, Sydney Worthy, was host at an insect workshop which helped the CNC and this workshop is still having ripple effects through the school system. The Saskatchewan Mycological Working Group were host to a Fungi and Lichen Workshop which likewise is having amazing spin-offs! Appreciation is extended to the Prairie Conservation Action Plan for hosting a City Nature Challenge presentation for the Native Prairie Speakers Series. For these and other City Nature Challenge virtual webinars and workshops, see YouTube. Thanks to the University of Saskatchewan environment and sustainability classes for their contributions. The classrooms of students from the Saskatoon Public School Board and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools were wonderful to see the student enthusiasm at both Brightwater at the afforestation areas, and around Saskatoon. Thanks to the Meewasin staff at Beaver Creek for helping out! Thank you to the Canadian Wildlife Federation WILD group for their assistance. Appreciations and rounds of applause to @lysandra, @MaryKrieger, @sarasims, Jacey Bell, Donovan Thiessen, andall the iNaturalist Observers and Identifiers. Thanks to the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Nature Society, SaskTel, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, Mosaic, EcoFriendly West were super to help with the logistics for the planning this event. Thanks to everyone in the area around Saskatoon. Check out “explore” on iNat or go to BioSmart. Hats off to Wild About Saskatoon, Cpaws and Nature Conservancy of Canada for helping to make the event happen, indeed. We wish to say thank you kindly to the Saskatoon Media Group for their radio announcements also, that was wonderful to get the word out! Thanks to everyone who shared the social media assets as well. It was wonderful to meet the organizing crew of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, California Academy of Sciences, Natural History Museum Los Angeles County. In the words of Richard St. Barbe Baker, Twihamwe or pull together echoes the Province of Saskatchewan Motto, Multis e gentibus vires (From Many Peoples Strength). This pulling together happened during the first ever Saskatoon City Nature Challenge and our statistics show we had the second highest results for the prairie provinces in Canada – imagine that! What a show of support for wildlife and conservation! If we have inadvertently missed any group or contributing organization, please email, and we apologize most humbly – it has been a most busy week. And, of course, thank you to all the individuals who are passionate about nature and who helped out just because they like to be out in nature, and taking observations, or helping with identifications, it was an amazing four day bio-blitz cram session.

The Global City Nature Challenge Statistics show an amazing result: 1,570,392 Observations worldwide. 50,270 Total Species were observed Globally. 64,238 People around the World took part.

In Saskatoon and area, in this very early springtime, there were 14 species at risk sighted.

American Elm Ulmus americana

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Blackbottle Protophormia terraenovae

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Early Blue Violet Viola palmata

Goldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis

Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Louisiana Broomrape Aphyllon ludovicianum

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Prairie Violet Viola pedatifida

Togwoteeus biceps

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Yellow-banded Bumble Bee Bombus terricola

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

George Genereux Park – Connect with Nature

Here’s a great opportunity for you, your family and your friends to connect with nature while taking part in an international event designed to track biodiversity.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are hosting an event on Fri., 29 April 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Central Standard Time at George Genereux Urban Regional Park Range Road 3063 Saskatoon, SK S0K 1V0

The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual event run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Since launching in 2016, the CNC has grown into an international event that inspires people around the world to find and document wildlife and birds (flora and fauna) in their cities. Last year over 419 cities in 44 countries participated, including 26 Canadian cities from coast to coast. The Canadian Wildlife Federation hosts the Canada wide City Nature Challenge, and the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Area hosts the Saskatoon area City Nature Challenge. It’s a friendly challenge to see which city can gather the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. Last year participants tracked over 1 million observations!

The CNC is a fun, simple, and family-friendly event that’s easy to execute and can easily fit within public health guidelines. Using the free downloadable app found at iNaturalist.ca, people can search for and document their local biodiversity simply by taking pictures and uploading them through the app or online. It’s a wonderful way to get local area residents involved in a “citizen science” event that contributes to an international database of biodiversity.

The CNC 2022 event takes place April 29 – May 2, and we would welcome involvement from you, your friends, your family. Anyone can participate in the CNC, and inspiring people to explore local green spaces and natural habitats has added benefits, including developing a record of local wildlife or finding invasive species. If you are sitting at a baseball game outside, and see a fly flittering by, take a photo of it with iNaturalist loaded on your camera. If you see a ladybug wandering past as you sit at a soccer game, take a photo of it with the iNaturalist app. As you are walking your puppy dog, and your pet sniffs a beetle, take a picture with the iNaturalist app, there are so many opportunities!

Your involvement will also showcase Saskatoon’s commitment to biodiversity and conservation.

iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

iNaturalist Observation with smart phone connecting with nature, supporting vital conservation research worldwide. — iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

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

Let’s talk Forest

A project which the Canadian Wildlife Federation WILD Group is underway. A COVID initiative featuring little trail messages introduces this youth group – young men and women between 14-17 who have come out to the afforestation area and walked along the trails.

Sadly some of the signs the teenagers have worked hard on all winter long have come down. The initiative was a part of a unique safe COVID project. If you see any of the signs down, please place them at the benches area east of the SW dog park and they will return to finish up their project – which will include an online component. Thank you so much for your help as the CWF initiative takes shape for the afforestation areas east of the SW OLRA.

A large afforestation area welcome goes out to a new group who loves the forest. The dog walkers, cyclists, wedding parties, dog photographers, astronomers, nature lovers are all welcoming people, and it is great that the teenagers are learning about the afforestation areas, and enjoying the trails and man-made woodlands created on the prairies.

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

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

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

YouTube

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

Support with Canada Helps

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Support via a recycling bottle donation

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

Health is wealth

April 7 is World Health Day
For people one would say that “Health is wealth”. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an especial awareness of the health of the human species. Hoping today is finding you and yours healthy and well.

Children enjoying their time collecting leaves in the autumn forest.

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) May 25, 2019

“Who plants a tree loves others than himself” Richard St. Barbe Baker. For the love of trees.

National Sweater Day First Thursday of February

A very interesting thing has come to light also, because of this tragedy; wild animals wander through deserted cities under Covid-19 lockdown. “This is the habitat they once had and that we’ve taken away from them,” said Marcelo Giagnon

“It gives us an opportunity to see what it might be like if we do reduce our movements,” said James Pagé, the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s species at risk and biodiversity specialist.

As humans retreat to their shelters in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, wild animals are having a rare opportunity to come out of their shelters.

“God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. “-Mother Teresa

As we consider our human species health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is good to be cognizant also of the health of the animals who live locally, and have less and less areas for their habitats and homes.

Reflecting on the health of the human species health during the COVID-19 pandemic, consider the health of the planet.

Health is wealth for animals, and the planet.

“You can gauge a country’s wealth, its real wealth, by its tree cover.”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Today is Tuesday, April 7, and coming to the close of the first week of Earth Month. This year’s Earth Day 2020 theme is Climate Action.

Did you know, that protecting the habitat of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park as the urban footprint grows ever larger exponentially, that being aware of the environment will stop the extirpation and extinction of endangered species.

The horned grebe and barred tiger salamander are listed as a species of special concern by the Committee On The Status Of Endangered Wildlife In Canada – an Independent Advisory Panel to the Minister Of Environment and Climate Change. The Red-necked Phalarope, Baird’s Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow are special concern, and Bobolink, Bank Swallow is threatened nationally under the federal Species at Risk Act SARA Schedule 1. The provincially listed small yellow lady’s slipper is another species in need of environmental guardianship. Protecting critical habitat is thus a key concern. So, where exactly do the small yellow lady’s slipper grow in the afforestation area?

“The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.” Albert Einstein

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:

Canada Helps

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

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

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

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For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

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