#BiodiversityIsLife

Why is it important to understand your local, natural context?

  1. Understanding the ecosystem: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth, but it also refers to the diversity of life found in a particular habitat or ecosystem. By understanding what species are present in an area, we can better understand the dynamics of a given ecosystem. This knowledge can help inform conservation efforts, as well as land management and development decisions.
  2. Preserving species: Knowing which species are present in an area can also help identify endangered or threatened species that may require protection. By helping biodiversity, we help the habitats and species that are crucial to maintaining the life-support systems of the planet.
  3. Supporting human well-being: Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being, including clean air and water, pollination and nutrient cycling. Understanding the biodiversity around us can help us appreciate and sustain these ecosystem services.
  4. Advancing scientific knowledge: Studying biodiversity can help advance scientific knowledge and contribute to our understanding of evolution, ecology and conservation biology.
  5. Encouraging engagement: By understanding the biodiversity around us, we can also become more engaged with our natural surroundings and comprehend how nature impacts – and is impacted by – every facet of society.

Mapping Your Natural Context

Use the quick guide for Google Earth to create and customize your map.

  1. Open Google Earth, or Google My Map, and create a new project.
  2. Zoom into your community. Define the borders you wish to explore within – this could be just your neighbourhood, your town/city limits, or maybe your broader region!
  3. Think about which areas might be rich in biodiversity: local parks, ponds, backyards, trails and green spaces. Search on Google Earth or zoom in to find these spaces. Go ahead and label them by adding a landmark! Add what species might be found in these locations. Do some research on local green spaces (iNaturalist is a great resource) and add any details you’ve missed. 
  4. Reach out to local experts (naturalists, scientists, Indigenous leaders) that have experience with or knowledge of the areas labelled on your map. Ask them about their experiences and what species-at-risk might be found in the area. Add any information gained from these conversations to your map.
  5. Make your map more engaging by adding visuals to help tell the story of the places you’ve identified. How? If possible, with your family, visit the areas you’ve highlighted, and take pictures or draw sketches and add them to your map.
  6. Present your map to others and discuss what you did and didn’t know about the biodiversity in your area.

Answer these questions about your community by referencing your map:

  1. What are the major water ways? Are they ponds, wetlands, rivers, lakes and/or oceans?
  2. Describe the general lay of the land of your community. Is it urban? Farmland? Mountainous? Remote? 
  3. What is the population of this area? 
  4. What ecoregion is your community a part of? 
  5. Select one plant or animal in your community and determine its niche/role in the environment. Is it endangered in your community? What are the main threats to this species? 
  6. How might your map – and the information it contains – be a tool to inspire your community to better balance the needs of people and nature?