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

Arbor Week 2023: Healthy Trees, Healthy People

May 20th – 28th, 2023

Join us for a week-long celebration of Arbor Week, where we come together to recognize the vital importance of trees and their profound impact on our health and well-being. This year’s theme is “Healthy Trees, Healthy People,” highlighting the significant connection between the well-being of our environment and ourselves. We invite you to participate in our upcoming events and take action towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

During Arbor Week, we have planned invigorating walks in two remarkable parks, the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park. These green spaces offer a serene environment to appreciate the beauty of nature and learn about the invaluable role of healthy trees in our lives.

Sept 24 clean up at both Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and at George Genereux Urban Regional Park, Saskatoon The Clean Green Community Scene — Forest Gathering Walk

Forest Gathering Walk 50th Anniversary #NationalForestWeek and the 30th anniversary of Maple Leaf Day and #NationalForestWeek — Forest Gathering Walk

Led by knowledgeable nature enthusiasts, our guided walks will provide insights into the numerous benefits trees bring to our environment. From purifying the air we breathe to providing habitats for diverse wildlife, conserving water, and enhancing our mental and physical well-being, trees are truly life-sustaining. You’ll have the opportunity to observe a variety of tree species, discover their unique characteristics, and develop a deeper appreciation for their beauty.

In addition to the walks, we have planned engaging activities and educational presentations that promote environmental awareness and tree conservation. These sessions will expand your knowledge and understanding of the critical role trees play in sustaining our planet.

Arbor Week is also a time to foster community engagement and connection. You’ll have the chance to meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for nature and environmental conservation. It’s an ideal occasion to network, make new friends, and build lasting memories with fellow nature enthusiasts.

Here are the details of our upcoming events:

Sunday, May 21, 2023 – 2:00 pm PaRx Nature Prescription: Combining Fitness & Nature in a Tree-filled Walk Location: George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Monday, May 22, 2023 – 6:30 pm Habitat Heroes: Exploring Tree Diversity and Wildlife Conservation Location: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Tour Guide: Madeline Berezowski
Friday, May 26, 2023 – 6:30 pm Tree Trekking: A Guided Walk Through Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Location: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Tour Guide: Madeline Berezowski
Saturday, May 27, 2023 – 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM CST Clean-Up Event: Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area & George Genereux Urban Regional Park Location: George Genereux Urban Regional Park Trucks are welcome. Let’s take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land and support the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) by participating in this clean-up effort. Together, we can make a difference!

We cordially invite you to join us during Arbor Week and be a part of this meaningful celebration. Lace up your walking shoes, embrace the beauty of nature, and learn about the critical role trees play in our lives. Together, let’s celebrate and protect our precious green spaces for generations to come!

Remember, “Many hands make light work!” Let’s come together, Twihamwe, and showcase the strength that arises from diverse communities.

Multis e gentibus vires – From Many Peoples, Strength.

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
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

Thank You for Joining Us! Take Part in the Saskatoon City Nature Challenge and Discover Urban Biodiversity

Hello nature enthusiasts of Saskatoon and beyond! We want to extend a big thank you to all the observers who came out on the first day of the City Nature Challenge on April 28. Your enthusiasm and dedication to documenting urban biodiversity is truly appreciated!

For those who are not familiar with the City Nature Challenge, it is an annual, global, community science competition that aims to engage residents and visitors in documenting the plants, animals, signs of life and other organisms living in urban areas. The challenge is a bioblitz, where participants use the iNaturalist app and website to document their observations. The goal is to collect biodiversity data and promote awareness and appreciation of nature in our urban environments.

The City Nature Challenge is not just about making observations and identifying species, but also about engaging the public and fostering a sense of community in citizen science. Participants do not need to be experts in species identification, as help is provided through iNaturalist’s automated species identification feature and the community of users, including professional scientists and expert naturalists. It’s a great opportunity to learn from each other and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for nature.

The observations on the first day of the City Nature Challenge were phenomenal, with a large network of nature enthusiasts supporting the crowd-sourced species identification system. The power of image recognition technology has made it easier than ever to identify the plants and animals that are all around us. From birds and insects to lichens and fungi, there is so much to discover in our urban greenspaces, yards, sidewalks, afforestation areas, swales, and riverbanks.

If you haven’t participated in the City Nature Challenge yet, don’t worry! There’s still time to get involved. The challenge is happening from April 28 to May 1, 2023, and you can participate by yourself, with your family, or even as part of a group. Simply take pictures of wild plants and animals using the iNaturalist app or website during the observation period. The next stage is identifying what was found, which will take place from May 2 to May 7, 2023. The results will be announced on Monday, May 8, 2023.

In addition to being a fun and educational activity, the City Nature Challenge is also a great way to monitor the biodiversity in our urban areas and contribute to scientific research. By participating, you are helping to create a valuable dataset that can be used to better understand and protect our local ecosystems. It’s a meaningful way to make a difference in our community while enjoying the beauty of nature.

We also encourage educators to engage their students in the City Nature Challenge as a way to promote community science and nature exploration. There are activities available on the City Nature Challenge website that can be used in classrooms and for youth groups to teach about biodiversity, ecology, and citizen science. It’s a hands-on way to get students excited about nature and encourage them to become stewards of the environment.

So, let’s continue to explore, document, and appreciate the urban biodiversity in Saskatoon and the surrounding areas. Join us in the Saskatoon and Area iNaturalist City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023 and be part of a global movement to celebrate and protect our natural world. Together, we can make a difference and contribute to our understanding of urban biodiversity. Happy observing!

Planned events

Thank You Observers! Join the Saskatoon and Area City Nature Challenge for Biodiversity Conservation

Dear Nature Enthusiasts,

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the observers who came out on April 28, April 29, and April 30 for the City Nature Challenge in Saskatoon and Area. Your participation in this global community science competition to document urban biodiversity has been truly inspiring!

The City Nature Challenge is an annual event that engages residents and visitors in finding and documenting plants, animals, and other organisms living in urban areas. The goals are to collect biodiversity data and raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation. This year, Saskatoon and Area are competing for the title of the most biodiverse city, and we’re excited to see the numbers rise higher and higher!

We’re especially grateful for the participation of teachers and their classes, who have been competing against each other in a friendly challenge. Engaging students in community science and nature exploration is a fantastic way to foster curiosity, promote environmental awareness, and inspire the next generation of conservationists.

The City Nature Challenge relies on the use of the iNaturalist app and website to document observations. Even if you don’t know how to identify the species you’re observing, help is available through iNaturalist’s automated species identification feature and the community of users, including professional scientists and expert naturalists. It’s easy to participate – simply download the iNaturalist app, take a sound recording or a photograph of nature in your local area, whether it’s a tree, plant, insect, signs of life or animal, and upload it to the app. You can log back in later to learn more about what you’ve spotted as teams of experts review and update the information.

By participating in the City Nature Challenge, you are contributing to global efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect our natural world. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, providing food, medicine, and other resources, and supporting cultural and recreational activities. Unfortunately, biodiversity loss is a pressing issue, with many species threatened with extinction, including insects, which are suffering from the sixth global extinction event. This has consequences for our birds and other wildlife, and addressing biodiversity loss is a critical part of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 to conserve life on land.

Documenting biodiversity on iNaturalist can help us track trends in increases and declines in wildlife populations, which can inform conservation efforts and help us better understand the state of our local ecosystems. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to scientific research and make a difference in protecting our natural heritage for future generations.

As we reach the final day of the Saskatoon and Area City Nature Challenge on May 1, we invite everyone to join us in this exciting competition. Whether you’re participating by yourself, with your family, or as part of a group, every observation counts! Let’s work together to raise the number of observations, species, and engagement in our city, and put Saskatoon and Area on the world stage for the City Nature Challenge 2023.

To learn more about the City Nature Challenge in Saskatoon and Area, please visit FriendsAreas.ca. Thank you for your participation and support in conserving our urban biodiversity!

Planned events

What will you find above you in the sky, below you in a sidewalk crack, beside you in the fence picket, on the other side in the bark of the tree? What is crawling in the grass? What is flying overhead? What little insect creatures swim in the wetlands? Do you have eyes to see, and ears to hear? Are you connected with the land?

Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience: Building a Sustainable Future

The world is experiencing the impacts of climate change, and we must act now to prevent further damage. While planting trees and protecting existing forests are important steps in combating climate change, reducing our carbon footprint is equally crucial.

There are various ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and some of these methods offer additional benefits beyond just mitigating climate change. For example, improving our personal health and well-being is an excellent way to reduce our carbon footprint. By prioritizing exercise and healthy eating habits, we can not only feel better physically and mentally, but we can also lower our energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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 — Solutions for a Changing Climate.” 2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada

Caragana arborescens, the Siberian peashrub, Siberian pea-tree, or caragana blossom — Solutions for a Changing Climate.” 2022 is the 30th anniversary of “Maple Leaf Day” or National Tree Day in Canada

Decreasing energy use is another essential step in combating climate change. We can do this by choosing energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights when not in use, and using renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines.

Reducing automobile use is another critical means of reducing our carbon footprint. We can do this by carpooling, using public transportation, biking, or walking. Not only does this help us reduce our carbon emissions, but it also promotes a healthier lifestyle and helps to reduce traffic congestion.

Shifting our diet towards plant-based foods is also an excellent way to reduce our carbon footprint. The production of meat and dairy products requires a significant amount of energy and resources, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. By consuming more plant-based foods, we not only reduce our carbon footprint, but we also improve our health and support sustainable agriculture practices.

Finally, reducing unnecessary purchasing can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. We can do this by buying less, buying second-hand items, and supporting companies with sustainable practices. By being more mindful of our purchasing habits, we can reduce the amount of waste we generate and lower our carbon emissions.

In conclusion, reducing our carbon footprint requires action in various areas of our lives. By improving our personal health and well-being, decreasing energy use, reducing automobile use, increasing active transport, shifting our diet towards plant-based foods, and reducing unnecessary purchasing, we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment. Let’s take steps towards a more sustainable future and prioritize the health of our planet and ourselves.

Nature-based solutions have increasingly become a significant area of focus in climate action. Trees and forests, in particular, play an essential role in mitigating climate change. Trees inhale carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun, and through photosynthesis, they emit oxygen while turning the carbon dioxide into sugars that feed the tree. Forests are also the largest land-based carbon sink on Earth, and they absorb greenhouse gases emitted from cars, trucks, power plants, and other sources.

Wildlife in Forest — Maple Leaf Day and #NationalForestWeek

However, forests’ security as a carbon sink is diminishing due to climate change, wildfires, human development, and other disturbances impacting forest health and expanse. For example, wildfires burn more intensely and over more acres, increasing the likelihood of grassland regrowth instead of forests. Since grasslands sequester less carbon dioxide, reliable carbon sinks that forests provide will shrink.

To address this, reforestation has been identified as one of the most effective strategies for tackling climate change. Recent research by ETH Zurich suggests that atmospheric carbon can be reduced by about 25% if 500 billion trees are planted. NASA also suggests that reforestation can eliminate half of all carbon emitted from human activity since 1960. Canada, in particular, plays an important role in global reforestation efforts, and the government has committed to planting two billion trees in the next ten years.

The planting of two billion trees by 2030 in Canada could sequester between 1.8 to 4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, starting around 2030, according to estimates by Ottawa-based think tank Smart Prosperity. This is equivalent to taking off 1,225,456 cars or 4% of all cars in Canada off the road. By 2050, the government of Canada projects that the initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 Mt. Although the carbon storage benefits of reforestation take time to grow, they remain an essential part of mitigating climate change.

Forest carbon

How trees make oxygen, and other ways they are vital to human existence

Trees: Our Allies in Addressing Climate Change

An invaluable resource

Indigenous Perspectives on the Land and Virtual Prairie Forest Guide

As technology continues to advance, the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives is becoming increasingly important for the development of virtual guides. This is especially true for the virtual smartphone wayfinding guide for the prairie forests of North America. Through the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous heritage, this guide will provide an invaluable resource for all.

The prairie forests of North America, and in particular the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park, are home to a rich diversity of plants and animals. Through the integration of Indigenous philosophies, this virtual guide can provide a model for how to relate to the land and restore and build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The inclusion of Indigenous perspectives will provide an invaluable resource for all those seeking to explore and appreciate the natural world.

By utilizing traditional ecological knowledge and ethnobotany, this virtual guide will provide an in-depth look into the prairie forests and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Through the use of Indigenous languages, this guide will also provide a unique window into the heritage and culture of the Indigenous communities that have lived in the prairie forests for generations.

The virtual guide will also be an invaluable resource for those looking to explore the prairie forests, the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the George Genereux Urban Regional Park. By providing GPS maps, descriptions, and photos of the flora and fauna, this virtual guide will make it easier for users to explore the prairie forests and appreciate all that they have to offer fostering environmental protection, conservation and guardianship.

By incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the virtual guide, this resource can be used to foster understanding and appreciation of the prairie forests and the Indigenous communities that have lived there for generations. Through the integration of traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous heritage and culture, and Indigenous languages, this virtual guide will provide an invaluable resource for all who seek to explore and appreciate the natural world.

The ideal candidate for this stage one contract position -Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App Editor / Content Writer- will have a degree in ecology, environmental studies, or a related field and will be knowledgeable about the prairie forest and its various plants, animals, and traditional uses to edit existing content and add missing interpretive stories. They must also have excellent communication skills, be organized and detail-oriented, and be comfortable working with a variety of software tools.

If you are interested in this opportunity and believe that you have the skills and experience necessary for success, please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining why you are the best person for the job to our email address friendsafforestation@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and West Swale Wetlands , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

More Information is at KIJIJI on this position

More about this Contract position is posted at Sask Culture

This is STAGE ONE of the Call for Tender.

Please email friendsafforestation@gmail.com for clarification or for further details

Editor for Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App

Seeking an Editor for Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App

Are you passionate about the Canadian Prairies and their unique cultural and environmental heritage? Do you have a degree in education, as well as hands-on success and experience in outdoor and environmental education learning experiences? If so, then you may be the perfect fit for the position of Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App editor.

The Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App is an innovative educational tool that seeks to promote reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous persons. It focuses on the social and natural aspects of the prairies and allows users to explore and learn about the unique culture and environment of the area.

As the App editor, you will be responsible for ensuring the content of the App is accurate and up-to-date. You will work with a team of designers, developers, and content specialists to create an engaging and informative experience for users. Additionally, you will be responsible for editing existing App stories, and including additional relevant content which is missing.

The ideal candidate for this position should have a degree in education or a related field and experience in outdoor and environmental education learning experiences. You should be comfortable working in a team environment and have an eye for detail. Additionally, you should be passionate about the Canadian Prairies and the unique cultural and environmental heritage of the two Saskatoon Afforestation Areas namely Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

If you are interested in this position and think you have the qualifications and experience necessary, we look forward to hearing from you. Please submit your application and any supporting documents to the Cultural and Environmental Heritage Prairie Forest Guide App team at friendsafforestation@gmail.com.

Hairy Woodpecker male (note the red) (Picoides villosus)

More Information is at KIJIJI on this position

More about this Contract position is posted at Sask Culture

This is STAGE ONE of the Call for Tender.

Please email friendsafforestation@gmail.com for clarification or for further details

Gifts for You : Seasons Greetings

Share the gift of health and wellness this winter. Come celebrate winter in the forest! Appreciate this semi-wilderness habitat with species at risk, eBird hotspots for bird viewing, and an off leash recreation area. Have you come out to the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area or to the George Genereux Urban Regional Park yet? Join the growing community who appreciate these forest spaces. Directions

A 2023 calendar for you to download and print presenting both wildlife and wilderness habitats from Saskatoon’s hidden gems. In gratitude for everyone who became members, and gave donations, we were happy to be able to have calendars this year to showcase these natural heritage greenspaces. We have no more printed copies, so we would like to share the pdf with whomever would like a copy to download and experience the forests this way.

The 50 for 50 Legacy Activity Book is now online to view on ISSUU or download page by page! Thanks for all the amazing donations to make this book come online page by page. Enjoy the crossword puzzles, word searches, challenges, arts activities, and so much more.

There are also forest pamphlets and more activity pages.

Also in development is the smart phone self-guided digital wayfinding GPS app, the Prairie Forest Guide Interpretive Stories for the forest journey. The rich geological, historical, natural, and cultural heritage of the areas honours where we have been. Science, conservation, and hands on learning about the land, the environment and sustainability ensure our future.

50th anniversary of World Environment Day, 50th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon — Wildwoods of Saskatoon film now online, 50th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon

Legacy of Saskatoon’s Hidden Forest Now online; 50th anniversary celebartion Richard St. Barbe Baker Global Conservationist and Humanitarian receives Honourary Doctorate of Laws U of S

Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.

YouTube intro Video Eventbrite Link bit.ly/3rk33pN

“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

friendsareas.ca

#NatureInTheCity #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureForEveryone #NatureNerd #outdoors #nature #conservation #photography #biodiversity #wildlife #plantlife #wanderlust #naturelovers #optoutside #instagood #picoftheday #volunteer #training #parks #optingoutside #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation #citizenscience #communityscience #EcologicalEmergency #naturelovers #saskatchewanbirds #yxebirds #getoutdoors #naturephotography #yxe #thegreatoutdoors #nativeprairie #grasslands #wildlife #bees #pollinators #prairiepollinators #ExploreSask #wildlifewatcher #prairielife #sasklife #nativeprairie #speciesatrisk #conservation #KeepSaskWild #socialdistance #citizenscience #wildlifephotography #beesknees #LeavetheLeaves #NoMowMay #nature4all #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation @FriendsAreas #saskatoon #saskatooning #sustainability #sustainable #events #nature #forest

😃🍁🍄🥀🌼🌞🌷🌾🎋🌳🌲🐾🐀🐿🐁🐇🐇🕷🐛🦋🐞🐜🐌🐛🕷🦗🐢🐍🦇🐦🦉🦅🦆🐥🐣🐦🦇🐌🦋🦋🦄

The Non Profit Charity has a SARCAN drop and go number of 106100594 should you wish to help out with your own drop off..

Just email friendsafforestation@gmail.com phone or text Thanks!

stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

friendsareas.ca

Please help protect / conserve 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 via friendsafforestation@orgmail.com https://www.paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/…

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. receives e-transfers via friendsafforestation@orgmail.co

Canada Helps https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charit…

Donate A Car https://donatecar.ca/org/charitypage/…

Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated.

The Charm of the Afforestation Areas

The secret of the charm of the afforestation areas, I imagine, is traceable to the fact that there is distinctly something mysterious, unknown, and heretofore hidden. From this it will be seen that I am not claiming a discovery; that what I have called a secret of the charm of the afforestation areas is a secret known to every man, woman, and child, even to those of my own friends who stoutly deny that they have any such knowledge. But I think it is best known to children. What I am here doing is merely to bring together and put in form certain more or less vague thoughts and feelings which I (and therefore all of us) have about the afforestation areas; and it is a small matter, but it happens to be one which no person has hitherto attempted.

Discover the Wildwoods of Saskatoon Sunday September 18 at 2:00 pm at the Remai Modern. Register Now

At the follow up place based forest tours Sept 24 and 25 meet Forest Guide: Sam Ereke, BSc, MSc, Research Scientist who will also be leading the Saskatoon and Area BioDiversity Challenge iNaturalist tours Sept 15-18.

Sept 15 at 6:00 pm

Sept 16 at 6:00 pm

Sept 17 at 2:00 pm

Sept 18 at 6:00 pm

Sat, 24 September 2022 2:00 PM

Sun. Sept 25, 2022 at 2:00 pm

Biodiversity Challenge YouTube Sept 15-18 Pamphlet

Wildwoods of Saskatoon YouTube Sept 18 2:00 Pamphlet I Pamphlet II

Tours with Samuel Ereke Sept 24-25 Pamphlet

Elm Trees_CC-BY-SA-2.0 BriYYZ — Forest 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)

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
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 heav

World Honey Bee Day

Today, August 20 is #WorldHoneyBeeDay, being the third Saturday of August!

Did you know that planting trees and even the planting of forests will help the World Honey Bee population?

Saskatoon, pincherry, chokecherry to name a few are pollinated bushes in the afforestation areas which rely on our bees and pollinator species. According to John Mola et al in The Importance of Forests in Bumble Bee Biology and Conservation writes, “forests and woody edges provide food resources during phenologically distinct periods, are often preferred nesting and overwintering habitats, and can offer favorable abiotic conditions in a changing climate.” Wildlife Preservation goes on to say, “forests provide lots of nooks and crannies for bumble bee queens to start their new colonies. Not only that, but the trees and shrubs in forests help slow down harsh winds, protect bees from the rain, and keep temperatures down during the heat of the summer by providing shade from the sun.” From the American Forest Foundation; “Mature stands [of forests] are also well suited for bees. Especially stands that include a variety of species, as well as openings or gaps. Mature forests can provide shade and protection from extreme weather for hives.”

What can you do?

Destroy your bug-zapper! Bug zappers kill all bugs and don’t pick and choose the bugs you don’t like. So all beneficial pollinator species bugs are also eliminated, and all the bird food on wings goes away, so the food web for the declining bird population is also gone.

Write a letter to your local, provincial and federal politician asking for a ban on pesticides and herbicides.

Buy organic food only in the supermarket or farmer’s market – or grow your own food.

There are light-free zones for star gazers to enjoy our milky way galaxy which is splendid! Why are there not Electro-magnetic Field EMF-free zones also? Environmental Health Trust EHT Executive Director Theodora Scarato writes, and says on YouTube; 5G and Small Cell Environmental Effects: Birds, Bees Trees and Climate. Take action now! Dana Dovey from Newsweek, says; “Technology is quite literally destroying nature, with a new report further confirming that electromagnetic radiation from power lines and cell towers can disorientate birds and insects and destroy plant health.” BeeHeroic says “Bees Plea, Stop 5G “Due to several factors – including body size, the magnetite that all animals have in their bodies and more – pollinating insects and animals are highly susceptible to 5G. In addition, the fact that mmWaves make plants toxic – to animals and humans – creates a combination that is forcing accelerated extinction of nearly all life on Earth.”

Plant trees and forests.

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.

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)

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