County’s Field Naturalists invite public on call to action
Administrator | May 20, 2019 | Comments 0
Prince Edward County Field Naturalists’ invite the public to join them on a call to action at MPP Todd Smith’s office Wednesday – International Day for Biological Diversity.
The call, said PECFN’s Gerry Jenkison, is prompted by a report released last week on the State of Biodiversity in the World by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
“The news is not good. One million species are on the brink of extinction worldwide. In Ontario, over 230 plant and animal species face extinction, that is, disappearing from the province,” said Jenkison.
“The Ford Conservative government has let the people of Ontario down by eliminating, or drastically weakening many important environmental programs:
· Reducing carbon emissions
· The 50 Million Tree program
· Endangered species protection
· Wetlands protection
· Flooding protection by the Conservation Authorities
· And many others that affect our natural heritage, e.g. BEAN, MNRF
“We need to let Todd know that his constituents are very concerned about the direction the provincial government is taking on environmental and natural heritage issues, including biodiversity and climate change.”
Jenkison said, for example, Ontario’s 50 Million Tree program is essential for mitigating climate change, as all trees remove carbon from the atmosphere.
“However, the Ferguson Tree Centre in Kemptville would have had to kill 3 million tree seedlings because of the program’s cancellation. Apparently private funding will continue the program, but government funding should never have been cancelled.
“We’re sure Todd wants to know what are important issues to his constituents. It’s our responsibility to make him aware of them.
Please join us on May 22 at 10 am – Wednesday, May 22 at Todd Smith’s Office – 5503 Hwy 62, Belleville.”
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