“Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.”
— Jane Goodall
Discover the heritage of Saskatoon’s Secret Forests converting and transforming to Saskatoon’s Hidden Gems. The Wildwoods of Saskatoon Monday October 24 at 7:00 pm Treasure Saskatoon’s ecoheritage. Come to Nature. Come to Life. . . bit.ly/3rk33pN Eventbrite Link
“As we progress into the twenty-first century, anyone who considers themselves a realist will have to make the environment a top priority.”
—Leonardo DiCaprio
mail friendsafforestation@gmail.com phone or text Thanks! stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
A secret is elusive and evasive. So it is with the afforestation areas. Many stories hide and lurk in and about the afforestation areas. And so the picture in the film – the imagery revealed in the film -Wildwoods of Saskatoon- becomes more wonderful to us than it really is, and reveals to us a secret of which, in truth, it knows nothing, and the music of the mystical prose is as sweet in our ears as was that flute. And in this it is right, for the meaning of any beautiful created thing – such as the afforestation areas – are, at least, as much in the soul of him who looks at it, as it was in his soul who wrought it. Nay, it is rather the beholder who lends to the beautiful thing its myriae age, so that it becomes a vital portion of our lives, and a symbol of what we yearn for, or perhaps of what, having yearned for, we wonder what we may receive.
Discover the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Sunday September 18 at 2:00 pm at the Remai Modern. Register Now
Fraxinus_pennsylvanica Green Ash American Elm Ulmus Americana autumn leafCommemorate #NationalForestWeek with a theme in 2022 “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.”
2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada Walking in the forest Photo by Brynna SpencerWalking in the forest
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Out of control pollution.
Out of control pollution. Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
This biodiversity Challenge is a great way to discover new trees and unexplored forest places, or perhaps it is a time to return to celebrate a favourite forest you love and are familiar with
It may be that in some of my readers’ minds—those who, like the sceptical friends and those who have been in the afforestation areas whom perhaps you have met. They are not distinctly conscious of the cause or secret of the expression of the afforestation areas—some doubt may still remain after what has been said of this place, of these wildwoods. Such a doubt ought to disappear when the time and history are considered, and when it is found that the expression peculiar to trees and greenspaces varies infinitely in degree, and is always greatest in those shades of the colour which come nearest to the most beautiful spring and autumnal colors to grace the viewer. Delve into the many and several secrets of the afforestation areas of Saskatoon
Discover the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Sunday September 18 at 2:00 pm at the Remai Modern. Register Now
Forest Secrets RevealedForest Film DocumentariesForests and their StoriesForest Film DocumentariesWhat tales could be told
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Out of control pollution.
Out of control pollution. Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
This biodiversity Challenge is a great way to discover new trees and unexplored forest places, or perhaps it is a time to return to celebrate a favourite forest you love and are familiar with
When the forest speaks to us and tells us their own secrets- they can always charm our ears to listening and our lips to silence. The world will never weary of watching, and yearning for their ears to hear and delve into the silence, and the secrets held in the afforestation areas. Can it be called the forests’ autobiography? -the autobiography that is irresistible?
Perhaps you have sometimes thought that the story of the afforestation areas’ secrets might be really an artistic myth, created in critical days, and serving to remind us, not merely that the Great Poet is always a Seer, seeing less with the eyes of the body than he does with the eyes of the soul, but that he is a true singer also, building his song out of music, repeating each line over and over again to himself till he has caught the secret of its melody, chaunting in darkness the words that are winged with light.
The image stained upon the afforestation areas in our minds. For those who know little of the life of the afforestation areas this film reveals the secrets. For the secrets of life and death belong to those, and those only, whom the sequence of time affects, and who possess not merely the present but the future, and can rise or fall from a past of glory or of shame. Maybe you heard of something hinted at, a glimmer of a rumour, or a tale about the afforestation areas.
Discover the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Sunday September 18 at 2:00 pm at the Remai Modern. Register Now
Forest Film DocumentariesCommemorate #NationalForestWeek with a theme in 2022 “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.”
2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada Tree Planting SongRichard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, -George Genereux Urban Regional Park Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaRichard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area -George Genereux Urban Regional park Forest
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Out of control pollution.
Out of control pollution. Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
This biodiversity Challenge is a great way to discover new trees and unexplored forest places, or perhaps it is a time to return to celebrate a favourite forest you love and are familiar with
The afforestation areas are an enigma. There are so many secrets to unravel!
Come to the film Wildwoods of Saskatoon where it will be revealed —the secret of their charm. What has been hiding? A deep dive tries to explain the individual and very special charm of this these particular forests—what I have ventured to call the secret of the afforestation areas — to be revealed.Sunday Sept 18 at 2:00pm. After all, it is not a deeply hidden secret, and has indeed been half guessed or hinted by various writers expounding upon the heritage and mystery of the afforestation areas. What secrets are hiding which come out in the film? The forests have held secrets, and now, the woodlands will have no secrets from the world, and the stories do not want to hide any longer.
To these and many more questions come to the Wildwoods of Saskatoon heritage documentary on Sunday Sept 18 at 2:00pm Register now
50th anniversary of World Environment Day,Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional park Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaForest Film Documentaries
National Forest Week brings attention to our forests and trees from coast to coast across Canada. Our forests and trees provide habitats for wildlife, insects, polllinator species, birds and so much more! What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Out of control pollution.
Out of control pollution. Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events. Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die. We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Wildwoods of Saskatoon Film premieres Sunday Sept 18 at 2:00 p.m. Remai Modern #NationalForestWeek introduces thousands of people to these unique natural afforestation areas the 132 hectare Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and the 60 hectare George Genereux Urban Regional Park.
The Wildwoods of Saskatoon heritage documentary spotlights their rich history and heritage. Walking tours delve into the diverse natural features.to appreciate the mature pine and spruce groves, a large marsh area with numerous waterfowl including horned grebes, and other endangered species, native trembling aspen, wild rose and much more.
We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their afforestation to trees which also aligns with the centenary of the International Tree Foundation, and the 30th anniversary of National Forest Week. Forest Walking Tours –Wonders of the Forest! Walking tour and Forest Gathering Walk – 50th anniversary-re Saturday and Sunday Sept 24 and 25 at 2:00 p.m. Wildwoods of Saskatoon Film premieres Sunday Sept 18 at 2:00 p.m. Remai Modern Register Now Friends Areas.ca http://friendsareas.ca friendsafforestation@gmail.com https://bit.ly/3B6Ta3q Eventbrite Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. is a non-profit, environmental charity focused on the protection and enhancement of both the. The areas were planted in 1972 under the Green Survival Program, and preserved in perpetuity by Saskatoon City Council in 1979.Tree planting initiatives, environmental stewardship work together to prevent, enhance nature aesthetics, biodiversity habitats and reverse degradation of the environment honouring the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
What is the ‘triple environmental emergency we are facing?
1. Loss of biodiversity
2. Climate change
3. Out of control pollution.Our native biodiversity needs wild spaces, food and homes such as trees and forests provide in which to thrive. Forests, tree planting, and forest conservation initiatives are nature-based solutions towards climate action. Pollution, pesticides, herbicides are escalating the extinction events.
Creating safe, organic forest spaces is a large step to halt and slow down the silent sixth mass extinction event of invertebrates, the planet’s bird food on wings. Ornithologists and botanists have noticed that the songbird, and raptor populations have declined by a staggering 48%. The monitored wildlife populations are reduced by a catastrophic 68%. A loss of forests and habitats have caused over 2/3 of our animal populations to totally disappear.
Richard St. Barbe Baker said it this way, “If a person loses one third of his or her skin, the person will die; if a tree loses a third of its bark, the tree will die, and if the world loses a third of its trees, the world will die.We live less that five minutes without air and the trees give us air we breathe. We live less than five days without water, and trees are absolutely essential in the water cycle. We live less than five weeks without food, and without the trees we could not grow food.” (Filson, Bruce K. October 7, 1982, Western People, p. 5)
Tree planting events, forest tours, a heritage film “Wildwoods of Saskatoon”, in person and virtual events will take place during National Forest Week. PaRx has arrived in Saskatchewan attesting to the increased health and wellness benefits people experience when getting out to enjoy our forest greenspaces. Nature enriches the lives of visitors. #NationalForestWeek events are wonderful ways to help create new healthy biodiversity habitats, to discover new trees and unexplored forest places, or perhaps it is a time to return to celebrate a favourite forest you love and are familiar with.During this era of climate change take part in #NationalForestWeek This is the change to tie events together to enhance the multifaceted experience of all visitors.
Commemorate #NationalForestWeek with a theme in 2022 “Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate.”
2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada Yellow Sunflower Moth
Stiria rugifrons on top of Curlycup Gumweed Grindelia squarrosa Hairy Woodpecker male (note the red) (Picoides villosus)
Linking communities, and nations to encourage sustainability.
A film to disseminate the narratives of tree planting, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Life On Land, and the imperative of forests worldwide.
Join the celebration at the Remai Modern Friday July 22 at 7:00 pm CST as the local community comes forward to value cultural heritage, heritage education, and new ways of exploring conservation collaboration.
What is intangible heritage? Experience the richness of Richard St. Barbe Baker as the film commemorates the centenary of the International Tree Foundation founded by this global conservationist on July 22, 1922.
It is the heritage of our city, and the heritage of the world. Bringing together memories and celebrating our story. It’s capturing the lost and forgotten and celebrating the significance of nature based solutions to climate change as foreseen by Richard St. Barbe Baker, a visionary ahead of his time.
Hear from International Speakers and the story they tell of our local champion.
What makes the the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genreeux Urban Regional Park a special place? What is the value of species at risk, trees and wetlands? This heritage community film Wildwoods of Saskatoon is the inaugural event of National Forest Week. This year’s theme is Canada’s Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate. 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of Maple Leaf Day or National Tree Day in Canada, and the 50th anniversary of Saskatoon afforestation areas planted to trees in 1972. The event starts at 2 p.m. on September 18 and is free with a general admission to the Remai Modern. This film features special guests. Visit Eventbrite for more details.
Get creative with a selfie or photo, and post it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #HistoricPlacesDays before July 31 for a chance to win $1,000! Enter the contest today. http://www.historicplacesdays.ca/contests @nationaltrustca
Do you have a fond or meaningful memory of visiting the afforestation areas? Post a selfie or a photo and describing your experience with us for #HistoricPlacesDays by July 31 for a chance to win awesome prizes! @nationaltrustca #HistoricPlacesDays Join us as we discover the history, culture and story of all these amazing historic sites. Save the date to visit and explore the history around you. www.historicplacesdays.ca @nationaltrustca Come Out July 22 and July 24 for events!
Historic Places Days Historic Places Days Thousands of visitors will celebrate #HistoricPlacesDays by visiting historic sites around the country from July 8 -31, 2022. Join us in celebrating through film and in-person. Learn more today!
George Genereux (March 1, 1935 – April 10, 1989) photo courtesy SPL b-875950th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in SaskatoonJuly 22 at 7:00 pm Reviving Local Heritage Film screening at the Remai Modern.Reviving Local Heritage. July 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm Remai Modern
Meet Tony Rinaudo at a zoom session! Ask questions about Farmer-managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). Sign up now on eventbrite Wed, May 25, 2022 at 7:00 pm CST
Tony Rinaudo received his Bachelor’s Degree, Rural Science University of New England Australia, and agronomy through the University of Armidale as well as attending the Bible College of New Zealand (Diploma in Bible and Missions).[1] Rinaudo is known for putting forward a deforestation management practice known as farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR). Following his marriage they ended up for 18 years in Niger, Africa which Rinaudo described as a “moonscape.”[1][2] Though many tree planting methods were tried the degraded land and the population were facing desert like conditions, famine, disease and drought. Though these degraded conditions exist, without resources for sustaining life FMNR provides sustainable land regeneration to restore Africa’s uplands.[3][4] Through FMNR, a means of pruning and management, the underground forest of roots catalyzed into trees above ground. Rinaudo worked with local farmers in Niger in the transformation of hectares of dry land.[5] He has worked as the Principal Natural Resources Advisor for World Vision Australia, and is currently the Senior Climate Action Advisor.[6][1] Rinaudo is recognized for both his environmental and humanitarian approaches for global initiatives.[7]
Rinaudo led his formative years in Victoria’s Oven’s Valley in Australia. He had first hand knowledge of land degradation as forests were cleared for plantations and cropping the land.[1] Marrying Liz, they had four children. They both were Serving in Mission (SIM) missionaries arriving in the Niger Republic in 1981 remaining there until 1999.[8] While there, Rinaudo was placed in charge of the Maradi Windbreak and Woodlot project.[9] The actual ground on arrival was so sandy, that vehicles could not be driven without letting air from the tires less they bog down. Rinaudo took to calling it a “Moonscape”. “I was in shock,” he [said]. “We had windstorms that would bury the seed or carry it away. We had a mouse plague. We had locust swarms—hatchlings moving across the ground like a carpet. We had crows who knew where the drill holes were. For a young agricultural adviser—I was born in 1957—it was just mind-boggling.”[10] “Farmers in the Sahel had learned from French colonists to clear land for agriculture and keep crops separate from trees. Under French colonial law and new laws that countries adopted after independence, any trees on a farmer’s property belonged to the government. Farmers who cut down a tree for fuel would be threatened with jail.”[11] Soon it was seen that the trees were nitrogen-fixing the soil, and drawing water up facilitating bio-irrigating. It was the crop yield which sent the technique viral. The micro climate of the forests was cooling the soil of the hot desert climate.[9]
When Rinaudo arrived, he attested that the water table was forty to sixty meters deep.[10] Rinaudo was familiar with the work of Richard St. Barbe Baker who wrote in his book Land of Tane (1954) “When the trees go, the rain goes, the climate deteriorates, the water table sinks, the land erodes and desert conditions soon appear.” Trees raise the water table.
This no-cost method of FMNR, relying on labour turned around lives, and provided food security.[8] Rinaudo was able to combine an assessment of the landscape, permaculture principles with FMNR to literally turn deserts into “food bowls”. Rinaudo took the experimentation started in the Niger Republic, and it quickly spread to Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal. [12]
UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration #GenerationRestoration hashtag and tag @UNEP and @FAO
Rinaudo worked with both the Forestry Service and the farmers, and soon farmers could benefit from trees regenerated on their own land enhancing the greening of the land.[13] Rinaudo began with an socio-geographical-ecological assessment of the land and area leading to opportunities to overcome, and the adoption of FMNR techniques.[14]
The technique now known as FMNR began under the term of “Dirty Fields” in contrast to the previously used system of “Clean Fields.” In this Dirty Field system, native trees and shrubs were encouraged. The name FMNR name was inspired by a another practice known as Farmer-Managed Irrigation Systems. (FMIS) FMNR was featured in the Tenth World Forestry Congress of 1990. The countries across Africa utlizing FMNR and engaged in EverGreen Agricultural practices have continually increased. FMNR expanded with the implementation of other frameworks to increase success for the farmer. The Nature, Wealth and Power (NWP) framework, the SEED-SCALE Framework and the Climate Resilience Framework (CRF)[15] Garry Tappan, a U.S. Geological Survey geographer was blown away when he began to see green on satellite imagery. Comparing historical satellite imagery with current imagery, Tappan discovered that FMNR revitalized the Great Green Wall campaign.[11]
Rinaudo was the 2018 Laureate of the Right Livelihood Award[16] and bestowed the Member of the Order of Australia.[1] Rinaudo, the “alternative Nobel” winner was portrayed in a documentary “Forest Maker” created by German director and film maker Volker Schlöndorff’[17][11] Following the making of the film, a panel session went into the FMNR approach, and the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)[18]
Australia’s ISCAST (The Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology) published his autobiography, entitled The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis.[9]
The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in CrisisThe Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis1982)The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis
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!
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 