International Year of Biodiversity

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). It is time to raise awareness of the value and importance of biodiversity, as well as the threats to biodiversity and ways to conserve it. It is also a time to reflect on and celebrate our achievements to safeguard biodiversity, and focus on the urgency of our challenge for the future. It is a time to act, and opportunities to do so will occur throughout the year.

You can look here for major Ontario IYB events, or access our 2010 Community Bulletin Board to find out what may be going on in your region or local area. Check back often, as events will be posted throughout the year, and get engaged! Event organizers – sign in here to post your event.

The Canadian home page for 2010 provides additional information on national and international events, and an opportunity for you to share your own story about biodiversity.

Countdown 2010 gives individuals and organizations the opportunity to sign the Countdown 2010 Declaration and join a network actively working to help meet the 2010 Biodiversity Target: to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss. Sign up and get to work!

Community BioBlitz Project, Lanark County

The Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County and the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds will be hosting 3-6 BioBlitz events in Eastern Ontario during the spring and summer of 2010.  A BioBlitz is a 24-hour event where “species experts”, volunteers, and community members come together on a property to identify as many species as possible.  The first BioBlitz event will be held May 15th -16th at Otty Lake, just south of Perth, Ontario.  This event will begin 3pm on Saturday and conclude with the final tally and celebrations by 3pm Sunday. Experts from the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists (RVFN) and Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) have already generously agreed to assist with the event; however more experts are still needed. Any contribution to this event will be greatly appreciated.  The dates and locations of the remaining BioBlitzes have yet to be determined, however, organizers are currently recruiting experts for these events as well.  To participate, or for more information, contact BioBlitzIntern@gmail.com.

International Biodiversity Day, May 22nd, 2010

Each year, the world celebrates its biodiversity on a single day in May, one month after Earth Day. Each new Day is themed, and 2010's theme is Biodiversity and Development. Here's more on the IBD internationally and federally, including a short video showing a global perspective on biodiversity and development.

Once again for 2010, Ontario's Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network promoted a day of local action based on the theme of Sustainable Development, profiling what various partners and stakeholders are doing, or would like to do, to protect and/or restore biodiversity within this context. It may have addressed community development, First Nations, business/industry or renewable resources (agriculture, fisheries, forestry, horticulture).

Some events related to the IBD are running until mid-June.  Find out what’s still happening by clicking on the links below.

Click here for more on biodiversity and Sustainable Development and related 2010 IBD events.

BEAN is also providing support for continued elimination of Garlic Mustard from sites where removal was begun during IBD 2009.  Many of these events are also open to the public.

More on Garlic Mustard removal, and related 2010 IBD events.

Current event results for 2010.

2010 Youth Summit for Biodiversity

Ontario Nature is inviting high school students from across the province to join the 2010 Youth Summit for Biodiversity, being held June 4th-6th at Camp Cedar Glen in Schomberg, ON. The Summit will bring together about 100 participants from across Ontario for a weekend of learning, discussion, and fun.

Highlights of the Summit include:

• a keynote presentation by Dr. Roberta Bondar - astronaut, neurologist, nature photographer, and environmental educator;
• a presentation by Matt Tod, a professional facilitator and youth leadership expert;
• compelling, interactive naturalist workshops featuring reptiles and amphibians, birds of prey, photography, bird banding, and more;
• a wonderful venue to explore, complete with hiking trails and nightly campfires; and
• leadership skills workshops led by Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada, the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots program, and many more  

The deadline for registration is May 14, so sign up soon!