Even just a couple hundred years ago, most of Ontario - and likely where you are sitting as you read this - was covered by a dense forest. In the 18th century settlers began to clear the land for agriculture. By the turn of the 20th century, Southern Ontario's forests were all but decimated.
More recently we witnessed another shift - one of rapid urbanization and increasing urban sprawl. Issues such as lack of biodiversity, degraded soil and rising air pollution are the by-products of this change. Once again we are dramatically altering a landscape to support our lifestyle. But these changes bring about a challenge and an opportunity.
What does it all mean? What have we lost and what have we gained in the process? How can we move in a direction that enhances our experiences within this relatively new environment? These are some of the questions I hope to answer next Sunday July 15th in Markham on Our Changing Landscapes Tree Tour.
Throughout history we have shaped our environments based on the priorities and philosophies of the day. Today, in an era of increasing environmental awareness and appreciation for the natural world we desire a high standard of living and healthy environments. While we require houses to live in and streets to connect us, it’s also important to have clean air to breathe and safe beautiful neighbourhoods to call home. We not only have the ability, but also the responsibility to work towards improving the world around us.
Uniquely situated on the edge of a woodlot, agricultural plot and new suburban development this tree tour will not only teach you about forest ecosystems and the urban forest but also encourage you to become a steward in your own neighbourhood. Our urban forest is one of the most valuable resources we have and in order to enhance and protect we must first learn to understand and appreciate. The tour will use trees and forests as a lens to look back at our history and into the future as we piece together the story of our changing landscapes.
Great change is upon us. Let's discuss!
Erin Silverstein is an Arborist with LEAF's Residential Planting Programs . She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto in both Forest Conservation Science and Geography, Environment and Natural Resource Management and has held various forestry field positions in the Yukon Territory and Toronto where she researched forest ecosystems and worked to restore delicate environments.