Celebrate the role of Biodiversity in climate change mitigation and adaptation with the Edmonton Valley Zoo this Environment Week!

With all of the fuss and attention on the negative impacts of climate change in recent years, it is easy to understand why many have overlooked a climate change mitigation and adaptation powerhouse: local biodiversity.

Biodiversity provides the building blocks of nature itself - it is the variety of all life on Earth, in all of its forms and functions. Every organism plays an important role in their habitats, with each species contributing to create the unique ecosystems we have around us. The more native plants and animals in an area, the healthier the ecosystem becomes–which is both beneficial for humans and for the climate. Not only do our natural systems provide healing properties to us, they can also withstand and protect us from natural disasters such as floods, fires, droughts and landslides.

Most recently referred to as “nature-based solutions,” humans are increasingly using nature and its biodiversity as an effective mitigation and adaptation strategy to address the impacts of our changing climate. For example, by restoring forests, grasslands, and wetlands, the air and water is purified through filtration and carbon sequestration. You may not know it, but ecosystems, and their biodiversity building blocks, are climate superheroes in disguise!

However, when the natural world faces irregular patterns of rising temperatures, also known as “climate change”, the lives and roles of these organisms are also threatened. Maintaining the biodiversity of every ecosystem in the world is key to a healthier planet. The first step to maintaining local biodiversity is understanding it and as a Citizen Scientist you can help!

From June 8 to 11, 2023, the Edmonton Valley Zoo encourages Edmontonians to celebrate our local biodiversity by participating in the 2023 Summer Biodiversity Challenge.

Although it sounds like a challenge, participating is so easy. Just use the following steps:

• Download iNaturalist by visiting Google Play or the App Store (or visit inaturalist.ca)
• Search for and join the “metro Edmonton Biodiversity Challenge 2023” project
• Take photos of native biodiversity between June 8-11th (for example, the flora and fauna you find in nature - not your flower beds, cats, or dogs)
• Upload your sightings to iNaturalist by June 18 - your sightings will automatically be filtered into the Summer Biodiversity Challenge results!

Sounds too daunting but still want to get involved? Come to the Edmonton Valley Zoo June 10 and 11 where educators will help walk you through the process as well as other family fun activities to help educate about Edmonton’s wild and local biodiversity. While there, you can also learn about how the Zoo is working to protect international wildlife as well.

The zoo will have iPads available to use for iNaturalist and species identification, but we also encourage you to bring your own devices!

With your help, we will be able to learn more about, and help to conserve, the plants and animals that call Alberta home. By being an environmental steward, your efforts to learn about the natural world around you can help to protect and preserve the diverse communities that call earth home.