A Panel Webinar with Nature Canada, Protect our Winters and the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative
Nature is arguably one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against climate change, and yet it has too often been disregarded as such.
Nature-based climate solutions are the emerging response, and a reminder that protecting, restoring and better managing natural areas — like our Inland Temperate Rainforest and the Columbia Wetlands — can be one of the most effective ways of addressing the accelerating impacts of a changing climate. In fact, according to a Nature United report, “natural climate solutions could reduce Canada’s greenhouse gasses by as much as 78 megatons per year… more than 10% of Canada’s total emissions.”
This is perhaps particularly true in a region like our own, which has been rated by global scientists as providing one of the best opportunities on the planet for successfully addressing the impacts of climate change.
But what actually constitutes a nature-based climate solution? And how can we mobilize them to effect change in our region?
Tune into our panel webinar featuring exciting leaders in this new field of climate action to learn more about what NBCS are and how organizations in the Kootenay-Columbia region are using them to advance the climate resilience of our communities.
As governments across Canada try to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, we urge them to include measurable, nature-based climate solutions like restoring and maintaining carbon-rich forests, coastal vegetation, freshwater basins, peatlands, and wetlands. Not only do these ecosystems capture and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, they also do double duty by providing vital habitat for wildlife. Nature-based climate solutions are about figuring out the most efficient way to help nature do its job when it comes to fighting the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
WWF Canada
Panelists
Teagan is a Nature Network Organizer at Nature Canada working on the Nature-based Climate Solutions program. She was born and raised in a small town outside of Ottawa on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. For 5 years now, she has been working in the environmental non-profit sector focused on creating change from the ground up. On days away from the office, you will find her spending time with family and friends, enjoying outdoor activities and trying to get outside no matter the weather.
Nat is a climate scientist, wilderness conservationist, and outdoor athlete. Her research focuses on mitigating climate change, managing its inevitable impacts, and using outdoor recreation and tourism for sustainable socio-economic development. She completed a Master of Science on these topics at the University of Oxford and is now a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo. Nat was named 2019 UN Young Champion of the Earth finalist for her work on conservation-based tourism with the Kayapo Project in Brazil. While currently an avid backcountry adventurer, as a former alpine ski racer she won two NCAA National Championships with the University of Denver, and represented Canada at the World Junior Championships and the World University Games.
Dr. Misun Kang is an aquatic ecologist and leads ecological research for the Lands and Resources sector of the Ktunaxa Nation Council based in Cranbrook, BC. She sits on the Implementation Team and Technical Working Group of Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative. Along with work on swaq̓mu (salmon), Misun studies other aquatic species, such as ʔa·q̓uǂam (Burbot), tuhuǂ (Bull Trout), tuq̓¢qamnanana (insects), and their dynamics with ʔakxamis q̓api qapsin (All Living Things) to support Ktunaxa governance and stewardship. Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative is an Indigenous-led collaboration of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation, Canada and British Columbia.