The City of Toronto has been named a “role model city” by the United Nations Environment Program for Supporting Urban Ecosystems. It’s part of an initiative the UN calls “Generation Restoration,” part of their Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.<\/p>\n
To find out why Toronto has been named a role model, and what that city can teach others across the world about fostering and protecting their urban ecosystems, we speak to Kim Statham, director of Toronto Urban Forestry, and Wendy Strickland, project manager for the Toronto Ravine Strategy.<\/p>\n
It may seem counterintuitive, but cities need to lead the charge on protecting ecosystems. As Strickland says:<\/p>\n
Cities are seen as the culprits in biodiversity loss, but we can be, and should be, at the forefront. The UN is actually recognizing this now: that cities have to play a role. Because they are the main way that people engage with nature\u00a0 (with most people being in urban centres). Many cities like Toronto are biodiversity hot spots.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Listen to the episode to hear how cities can play a role in ecosystem restoration.<\/em><\/p>\n