The Society for Conservation Biology – Toronto Chapter is all geared up for another year of projects. We have a new executive on board who bring with them a fresh set of ideas and interests. Please stay tuned as we update our website and introduce the SCB executive.
SCB Toronto invites you to our next Conservation Conversation this coming Thursday, September 29th.
The purpose of these monthly discussions is to get people together in an informal setting to discuss topical and sometimes controversial conservation issues. Everyone is welcome, please feel free to bring friends, and to pass this email along.
Date: Thursday Sepetember 29th
Conservation Conversation: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Location: Green Room
296 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, ON M5S 2M7
(416) 929-3253
You enter via the back alley, which runs parallel to Bloor. We should be upstairs on the 2nd floor
This month we will be talking about an array of topics loosely related to:
(Dis-)Connection between conservation science and practices: threats to biodiversity in your own backyard and the role of space and time
Threats to biodiversity are many and their sphere of ecological influence varies over space and time. For example, climate change and habitat loss, two of the most prominent threats to biodiversity, influence biodiversity and ecosystem processes over varying and interacting scales. At the same time, there appears to be a disconnect between conservation science and actual conservation. Why is this the case? Is this a function of what we see as conservation issues in our own backyard? Are our understanding of threats to biodiversity and conservation actions related to perceptions of the problem, which are likely a complex function of cultural, spatial (i.e. where we live), political factors?
Some other questions to think about include:
Is it easier and more pragmatic to focus on conservation issues of relevance in our own backyards?
How do we generate interest and actions at the local scale?
Should our priorities for action shift depending on scale: scale of
the problem, scale and levels of organization of goverment, time-frames of action.
Does conservation science lead to effective conservation actions?
Does public engagement depending on geo-political-cultural contexts – i.e. how does where we live, what type of place we live in, cultural differences and norms influence of space influence understanding of conservation issues and actions?
How does the media influence perceptions of the threats to biodiversity – consider climate change doubters, also a recent article in Nature links cosmic rays with climate warming and downplays the role of CO2.
Links of possible interest
http://conservationbytes.com/2010/07/21/research-rarely-conservation/
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110824/full/news.2011.504.html
Everyone welcome.
Upcoming Event:
CONSERVATION CONVERSATION
& WELCOME MIXER
_______________________________________________________________
Date: Wednesday October 27th
Conservation Conversation: 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Welcome Mixer: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Sylvester’s Cafe
Upstairs from the Graduate Student Union Pub
16 Bancroft Ave, University of Toronto
Join the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology for an informal discussion on
‘Conservation Triage‘
Considering there are scarce resources for conservation, actions require prioritization. This means that some species or habitats may fall low on the priority list. Does this mean extinction for some species is unavoidable? Should we set zero extinction as a goal? Come and discuss your views with us.
Please feel free to read some of the posted articles below.
This event is part of the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology series ‘Conservation Conversation‘. The purpose of these monthly discussions is to get people together in an informal setting (Pub!) to discuss topical and sometimes controversial conservation issues.
Reserve the date:
the ‘Conservation Conversation‘ series are held on the
last Wednesday of every month.
Everyone welcome.
Related articles
Jachowski, D. and Kesler, D. (2009) Allowing extinction: Are we ready to let species go? Trends Ecol. Evol. 24, 180
Parr, M.J. et al. (2009) Why we should aim for zero extinction. Trend.Ecol. Evol. 24, 181
Bottrill, M.C. et al. (2009) Finite conservation funds mean triage unavoidable. Trend.Ecol. Evol. 24, 183
_______________________________________________________________
PAST CHAPTER EVENTS
Conserving Biodiversity in the GTA
5 PM Wednesday March 2nd 2011
Room 432 Ramsey Wright Building
25 Harbord St., University of Toronto
_______________________________________________________________
| Time | SpeakerAssociation | Topic |
| 5:00 – 5:25 PM | Snacks and Refreshments | |
| 5:25 – 5:30 PM | Welcome and Introduction | |
| 5:30 – 5:50 PM | Christine TuToronto & Region Conservation Authority | GTA Collaborative Conservation |
| 5:50 – 6:10 PM | Meg St. JohnAquatic Habitat Toronto | Aquatic Habitat Banking |
| 6:10 – 6:30 PM |
Dave Lawrie
TRCA, Rouge Valley Foundation, Citizen Scientists
|
Rouge National Park? |
| 6:30 – 7:00 PM | Desserts and Coffee | |
| 7:00 – 7:20 PM | Mart GrossUofT, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | GTA Green Roof Biodiversity |
| 7:20 – 7:40 PM |
Tatiana Koveshnikova
Credit Valley Conservation |
Valuing GTA Biodiversity:Credit Valley Wetlands Case Study |
| 7:40 – 8:00 PM | Gail FraserYork University, Biology | Valuing GTA Biodiversity:Cormorant Case Study |
| 8:00 – 8:05 PM | Concluding Remarks | |
Everyone welcome.
JANUARY 14, 2010
Join the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology on the evening of Thursday January 14, 2010 as we host a dialogue on current and future Toronto-area Lake Ontario conservation issues. The event will begin at 6pm with a screening of selections from the 2009 documentary Waterlife (http://waterlife.nfb.ca), in which director Kevin McMahon, recipient of the 2007 Hot Docs Focus On retrospective, navigates us through the complex ecological and anthropological story of the Great Lakes. Waterlife investigates the present and future challenges facing the largest supply of fresh water, and one of the largest regions of economic production, on the planet.
Following the film, four Toronto-area experts will share issue-specific perspectives, and the evening will conclude with an audience Q&A / panel discussion. Our panel includes:
* Susan Doka, Department of Fisheries
* Christine Tu, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
* Ted Bowering, City of Toronto
* Shidan Murphy, UofT Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The event will take place in room 432 of Ramsey Wright (25 Harbord St.) on the St. George campus of University of Toronto. From the main entrance off Harbord, take the elevator to the 4th floor, turn left, then right at the end of the hall. Doors of RW-432 will be open at 5:45pm and the screening will begin at 6pm. Donations accepted. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
****************************
first pub night / meet and greet
location: Sylester’s cafe, upstairs from the GSU pub
16 Bancroft Ave, Toronto, ON
click HERE for a map
date: december 2nd
time: 5-8pm
* meet the current Toronto Chapter Executive
* meet current members
* sign up and become a member
* have a drink, talk conservation, share ideas
JANUARY 14, 2010
Join the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology on the evening of Wednesday, January 27, 2010 for an informal discussion on Assisted Migration. Come and discuss the consequences (ecological, policy, economic etc) of moving species threatened by extinction from climate change to places where they have previously not occurred.
Click on the link below to view the poster. PLEASE NOTE the DATE should read Wednesday January 27:
Assisted Migration
Where: Graduate Student Union Pub, University of Toronto
When: Wednesday January 27th, 2010, 5-7pm
The Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology is hosting its first Conservation Evening. To be held on the last Wednesday of every month, the purpose of these monthly discussions is to get people together in an informal setting (Pub!) to discuss topical conservation issues from a more philosophical standpoint. Everyone welcome.
Please feel free to read any of the following short pieces on assisted migration.
RicciardiSimberloff2009_TREE_assisted
Rm 140, University College, 15 Kings College Circle
Join the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) as we celebrate the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity with an exciting event focused on Toronto’s very own urban biodiversity. On Thursday May 27th from 4-8pm SCB Toronto will host Biodiversity Toronto: Past, Present & Future to acknowledge the impressive and always changing urban biodiversity that has called Toronto home as we’ve expanded from Muddy York to Mega City. We will hear from local experts about Toronto’s past, present and likely future biodiversity, including perspectives on tree, insect, bird and mammal communities. Some highlights include Andy Kenney, coordinator of University of Toronto’s Masters of Forest Conservation program, who will describe his concept of Toronto Neighbourwoods, and Chris Darling, Senior Curator of Entomology at the Royal Ontario Museum, who will shed light on Toronto’s hidden insect communities. Complete schedule will be posted soon on the SCB Toronto Chapter website.
Biodiversity Toronto: Past, Present & Future will also function as a rallying call for participation in Toronto’s first ever BioBlitz to take place over a 24 hour period in May 2011, when the often underestimated extent of Toronto’s biodiversity will finally be quantified and compared to other major metropolises. Will we get the better of those overconfident New Yorkers and the 800+ species found in Central Park in 2003? To do so we’ll need your effort and expertise. Come on May 27 and find out how you can help contribute. If you are unable to attend on the 27th but would like to get involved in the BioBlitz, please email SCB Toronto Conservation Chair Eric Davies at eric.davies@utoronto.ca.
