In a time when conserving…

In a time when conserving wildlife and recreational areas, flood plains and water tables, for all who rely on them, is proven by science to be paramount to mitigating climate change, providing refuge for endangered species, addressing human mental health and so much more, it alarms me to see the amalgamation of such a well established system. I believe now is a time to augment such institutions, not diminish them into large amalgamations.

Watering down the management of very diverse and important watersheds and key nature reserves for both people and biodiversity is a backwards approach to addressing all current facts.

One of the most urgent human dilemma is the growing mental health crisis that not only brings homelessness into some of these conservation areas but naturalized spaces help address eco anxiety that is through the roof in young people today. Conservation areas need direct local scrutiny and careful planning.

Diminishing direct resources and local management of such diverse ecosystems is a sign that government is not listening to science, teachers, neighbours or the community at large. The dramatic increase in use of all our outdoor spaces that continues since the pandemic should be proof enough that these conservation areas need more resources, more lands, and more local direct management than ever before.

Canada is rich in natural spaces. If we don’t carefully preserve and help give people good access to these spaces, manage their ecosystems well to help mitigate the surrounding development that keeps growing, we are impoverishing our future generations even more.

I think this proposal is extremely short sighted and priorities of the government are backwards. Every effort to expand, research and collaborate with the indigenous, who know plenty about these urgent needs, should be honed in on and invested in at this pivotal moment in to help preserve the human race. If that is not reason enough to keep life giving lands funded and properly managed I don’t know how else to wake the minister up.