May 22, 2025: Happy International Day for Biological Diversity! This year’s theme, as set out by the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity is Harmony with nature and sustainable development.
And, did you know that ACER has been a pioneer in urban and riparian forest biodiversity monitoring in Ontario ever since the 1993 Convention on Biodiversity was adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro?
Over the past three decades, as part of our “Go Global” program, we have established a network of one-hectare forest monitoring plots across Southern Ontario, working with local partners and the community. Then there are the two experimental biodiversity plots at the Humber Arboretum. But that’s not all! As part of ACER’s P4C program, over 70 mini “climate change” labs have been planted in schoolyards across Southern Ontario! The tree monitoring data, collected over the past decades from these plots following strict Smithsonian forestry protocols, can be used by scientists to help assess the impacts of climate change and other environmental and social factors to biodiversity and tree health in forest ecosystems.
If you want to learn more about ACER’s programs, visit our program pages here. And, if you want to learn more about this special day, its history and how you can help restore, protect and increase biodiversity, visit here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day.
How YOU can help restore, protect and enhance biodiversity in your community:
>In Your Daily Life
• Buy sustainable products
• Buy local and organic foods
• Reduce energy and water consumption
• Choose sustainable travel options
>In Your Garden
• Hold off on cleaning up your yard in the early spring as the leaf and plant litter provide shelter for many pollinators and beneficial insects that are still SLEEPING!
• Plant native species and avoid invasive species
• Plant a pollinator garden
• Avoid the use of pesticides and herbicides
• Install birdbaths or bee hotels
>In Your Community
• Join or support local greening and conservation efforts
• Participate in community green space clean-up events
• Participate in biodiversity monitoring programs
• Volunteer with ACER!
• Support ACER by making a donation today!!!
>Through Education & Advocacy
• Learn more about biodiversity – check out our Useful Resources page for links!
• Raise awareness in your community, and amongst your family, friends and peers
• Advocate in your community for native and biodiversity-friendly landscaping in public spaces and streetscapes
• Advocate for policies that protect and restore biodiversity and promote sustainable development
And, if you haven’t already, check out our new Spotlight on Urban Biodiversity published earlier this week!
